Nat housing announcement – far too little far too late

Written By: - Date published: 1:16 pm, May 16th, 2017 - 83 comments
Categories: housing, national - Tags: , ,

Useful but – mostly re-announcing existing developments, far too little, far too late, and open to property speculators…

https://twitter.com/andykirton/status/864282324409516032

83 comments on “Nat housing announcement – far too little far too late ”

  1. You know that sinking feeling you get when you’ve been held up getting to the airport and you see that jet plane taxiing into position ready for take off just as you start the lengthy process of checking in , – knowing you’ll never make it ?

    Well that’s the feeling that will be filling the lower regions of many core National party MP’s as they start to ponder other areas of employment after 9 long years riding on the pigs back…

    And the feeling all the rest of us have about National and its ‘ housing policy’ is that you had 9 long years to do something about it and you didn’t. You didn’t even plan for it. Why?… because you didn’t give a damn about homeless New Zealanders and family’s sleeping in cars and garages and because it lined your speculative voters pockets and that’s all you cared about. Staying in power , and appeasing your filthy rich corporate mates.

    Auf Wiedersehen , National.

  2. michelle 2

    +100 Wild Katipo

  3. Ed 3

    Bill English’s National Party doesn’t react when kids sleep in vans and families live on the street. It reacts only when it might lose some votes.

    • indiana 3.1

      Is this any different to Labour reacting when they can’t get any votes?

      • WILD KATIPO 3.1.1

        Then the questions become ;

        ‘ Why has National issued this latest limp policy of building houses when for years they’ve denied there IS a problem ? , furthermore ,- why did John Key campaign TEN YEARS AGO about there being a housing shortage – yet nothing adequate has EVER been done about it ?

        Is it because they know they have been caught out trying to string the voters along but now that they cannot conceal it any longer , – its election year and they are panicking ?

        • indiana 3.1.1.1

          From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11856473

          “CoreLogic’s estimates also show that the property’s value rose at a greater rate under Labour than under National.

          Under Labour, it rose by $255,000, or 81 per cent. Since 2008, when National came to power, it has risen by 48 per cent, or $273,000.

          Little wouldn’t comment, but his office said the story highlighted the current problem and the need for a solution.”

          Trying to frame that there was a housing crisis under National is really trying to pull the wool over voters eyes. I brought my first home in the late 1990’s and even then there was not any major housing developments going on. Land was never being freed up for housing. In my view if you want more development allow more people to split up their sections or if people want to knock down and rebuild, they have to build a townhouse not a single dwelling.

          • WILD KATIPO 3.1.1.1.1

            Load of poppycock.

            Yes there may have been a greater percentage of price increase under Labours term , but we ALL KNOW that AFFORDABILITY has gone beyond the reach of first home buyers under National – particularly gaining momentum over the last half decade.. The news is full of it day after day.

            And you know as well as I do that quoting percentages of price increase is completely different to actual current affordability based on debt servicing . You can play with statistics all you like but if peoples wages and debt servicing ability cannot keep pace with housing affordability you have a problem. Especially when you are a govt that has a reckless immigration policy such as National does.

            The figures do not add up on so many fronts. One obvious fact is there is a ceiling of affordability based on real time earning capacity. Go beyond that , – you lock out people from purchasing a house – particularly first home buyers.

            You cannot keep sustaining over 50,000 + new arrivals per year if the housing stock isn’t adequate in keeping pace.. So why did National keep on doing it? Look further down the thread and you will find out. I’m not going to keep repeating what you and everybody else already knows.

          • greywarshark 3.1.1.1.2

            indiana usa or jones
            National calls itself the good financial party and disses Labour as not. So
            then why has it not produced a good business model catering for the obvious demand for housing BY NZs?

            And trying to make a case for something quoting some figures showing how fast prices rose in Labour and National terms just shows your pathetic lack of interest in the problem, and your need to suck-up to National which apparently is your safe haven dummy. Poor little person, afraid to think and care for other people, and scared a change will leave you missing out on something. Not fair daddy!

          • michelle 3.1.1.1.3

            Are you upset Indiana cause people have finally seen through the lies and deceit after 9 years of the nasty gnats and now its bye bye

      • Ed 3.1.2

        Defend psychopathic behaviour if you so wish…

  4. Sacha 4

    Apparently $650k is ‘affordable’ now.

    And as usual, they’re counting some already-planned and announced housing in the Tamaki, Hobsonville and Northcote SHAs: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/92623598/next-steps-for-aucklands-social-housing-programme-announced

    • Ed 4.1

      What’s a mortgage at 5.5% of $ 530 000 ?
      Interest payments of $ 29 150 – alone.

      It’s a joke.

      • Tamati Tautuhi 4.1.1

        If you are on a minimum wage you won’t even cover the interest payments.

    • Wayne 4.2

      Sacha,

      For Labour, in Auckland $600,000 is affordable (stated on the Labour website) and that is from a few months ago.

      In truth no real difference in what the two parties think is affordable.

      Also Labour says 100,000 houses over ten years for the whole country. National says 34,000 in Auckland over ten years. So again not such a big difference.

      • WILD KATIPO 4.2.1

        The difference is , however ,… ‘ Wayne ‘ ,… that this govt has had almost a DECADE to foresee the results of their policy’s , – and don’t try to tell me or anybody else they didn’t know what the social fallout was going to be because of it.

        Trying to deflect the issue away to one of ‘similarity to Labour ‘ to excuse Nationals bullshit social policy’s aint gonna cut it. And don’t try and say that National haven’t been busy denying report after report after report from social agencies year after year.

        And they are still in denial. If you have a govt that is so arrogant that at the very last stroke before midnight they submit some queasy anemic looking ‘ housing policy’ simply to try and bolster up the vote count , – then that tells us all we need to know about how much they ever gave a damn about New Zealanders.

        Which is bloody Jack shit.

        • Johan 4.2.1.1

          Anything coming out of Amy Adam’s mouth needs to be treated with great care.
          Her figures on social housing for needy New Zealanders included privately owned motels as a form of accommodation. One sick puppy!

      • ankerawshark 4.2.2

        What do you think about the fact that had Labour of won the 2014 this build programme would be well underway already Wayne.

        Why are Nats going to build all these houses if there is no housing crisis.

        We need a govt that is proactive, not reactive only when they think they will lose votes.

        • WILD KATIPO 4.2.2.1

          A decade.

          Remember when John Key ranted about housing and criticized a street in Auckland called Mcgehan close IN Mt Albert ?

          TEN YEARS AGO !!! .

          And do you remember what caused his apology ? , – that he compared that street to the sort of streets he wanted to see gone? And that the mother of Aroha Ireland objected because it slighted the community she loved?

          Aroha of McGehan Close flees NZ | Stuff.co.nz
          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10468960/Aroha-of-McGehan-Close-flees-NZ

          TEN BLOODY YEARS AGO !!!!

          And National has done bugger all of anything to improve the lot of working people since . Except that now , – we have 3 family’s living in a house designed for one , family’s living out of cars and large numbers of homeless !!!

          AND A BLOODY HOUSING CRISIS FFS!!!

          National need to be voted out on sheer principle !!!

          • Wayne 4.2.2.1.1

            It is not as if nothing has happened in the last few years. There has been a massive house build programme in Christchurch since 2011 which has largely solved the problem thee..

            It is now very difficult to get builders in Auckland. There has been a big ramp up of building in Auckland in the last three years. There is no doubt that current levels of immigration into Auckland (50,000 people in Auckland last year) has also rapidly pushed up demand. A lot of the builders are in fact immigrants.

            The 34,000 will largely deal with the lower end of the market, both in state houses and first homes.

            • Ad 4.2.2.1.1.1

              Since you can’t, English will figure it out when he heads under 40%.

              Time’s up.

            • Ed 4.2.2.1.1.2

              Excuses….excuses……….

            • lprent 4.2.2.1.1.3

              At present 34k would probably deal with the backlog in a decade. But it is effectively useless right now.

              It is a pity that this campaign wasn’t started a decade ago BEFORE National opened the inwards migration floodgates. It was clear back in 2008/9 that there was a flood of kiwis returning from Europe, that there might be one from Aussie, and that we were still running then with relatively high immigration. Moreover more than half of them all settled in Auckland.

              FFS: the National government came in promising to deal with housing. They (and you) sat on your hands, gave yourselves an undeserved taxcut, and did absolutely frigging NOTHING about housing up until the ChCh earthquakes. Then belatedly started gearing up for ChCh after the first and second earthquakes. Meanwhile the building and infrastructure problem in Auckland just kept getting worse.

              About the only thing that our National layouts did was to waste more time by putting in an expensive, time consuming, and completely unnecessarily excessive city reorganization that further delayed infrastructure and consent processes.

              At this point, National needs to cut all immigration until Auckland catches up. After all Auckland doesn’t set those policies. National needs to do something that they appear to be incompetent at and plan. Thye need to get off their fat lazy arses and pay for the infrastrucure updates to allow more people to be housed and work in Auckland before they send them here.

              Better still, the useless idiots in National would do better to get out of the way and let some competent people do the required work. Just like they did after 1999.

            • WILD KATIPO 4.2.2.1.1.4

              ” There has been a massive house build programme in Christchurch since 2011 which has largely solved the problem thee..”

              There also was a bloody massive earthquake that caused there to be a rebuild as well , mate.

              But what about Auckland ?

              There hasn’t been a volcanic cone erupting to the best of my knowledge out there somewhere in the Waitemata harbour recently .

              So while we are talking ‘ current levels of immigration into Auckland (50,000 people in Auckland last year) ‘ , – are National THAT inept and incompetent that they COULD NOT foresee the inevitable end results of having such an irresponsible immigration policy ???

              Pull the other one , mate.

              They did that to pander to bogus private education providers and create a boon for property speculators , both foreign and domestic , – and many of the domestic speculators they knew would be National voters or could be bribed to vote National . With the side bonus of importing cheap labour and driving down wages.

              National are as deceitful and crooked as a dogs hind leg.

              Stop the bullshit.

            • Robert Guyton 4.2.2.1.1.5

              Jeeze, Wayne!

            • ankerawshark 4.2.2.1.1.6

              Umm………….wasn’t the house build in Chch cause of the bloody EQ????

              National were elected in 2008 with JK claiming there was a housing crisis then. What was the plan back then? How did they work around that plan
              when the CHCh EQ happened?????

              Why wasn’t there a plan back in 2008 to train more builders????? If there had of been maybe we wouldn’t have had to import so many builders from overseas.

              The Govt’s only plan is to look after the rich and stay in power so they can continue to look after the rich. It is shameful.

              I would recomend you read Simon Wilson’s article on the The Spinoff about how National are trying to clone Labour and LYING to do so to stay in power.

              • Wayne

                Indeed it was, which is why I mentioned it. Basically for a few years a large number of all the builders in NZ were in Christchurch. Now they are in Auckland, which is why house building is powering ahead. But perhaps not keeping up with immigration of 40,000 just in Auckland.

                • ” Now they are in Auckland, which is why house building is powering ahead ”

                  Much like the housing un – affordability issue , with so many builders building McMansions and disregarding more modest accommodation for first home buyers. And that is the issue. That and irresponsible immigration settings.

                  But then , we don’t have a housing crisis do we….

                  Or is it election year again…

                  Blam Blam Blam – No Depression in New Zealand (1981) original …
                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HVogejKx_c

                • mac1

                  “Perhaps”, Wayne?

                  I love spin. I read a TV scrolling message that said that Bill English responded to John Oliver’s response to his critique by saying the publicity would be good for New Zealand.

                  You should have heard the guffaws from my fellow watchers at that silly sally.

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  Only someone whose vision is confined to what the market can provide would make that statement.

                  Anticipating and planning for the market forces you describe are a small step for government, but a giant leap for a Tory.

                  Take off the ideological blindfold or get out of the way.

          • michelle 4.2.2.1.2

            I see miss know it all Adams has said we don’t want to create social housing areas but they were instrumental in creating ghettos and so was Labour and they put our Maori people in these ghettos the same ghettos they knocked down and built 500 k houses for who not us ? I see a lot of foreigners brought these.

        • Patricia 4.2.2.2

          When are they going to build on the empty sections out in Glen Innes and Panmure ? A good start should have been made there already.
          Where will the 8500 plus families go when they are moved out of the HNZ houses that are going to be demolished ? Hopefully some of those houses will go up North and be used for another 50 odd years.

      • weka 4.2.3

        “For Labour, in Auckland $600,000 is affordable (stated on the Labour website) and that is from a few months ago.

        In truth no real difference in what the two parties think is affordable.”

        The difference is that at the same time Labour intends to build state housing and make HZN a govt department again instead of a profit making machine. So it is also looking at lower cost housing.

        “Also Labour says 100,000 houses over ten years for the whole country. National says 34,000 in Auckland over ten years. So again not such a big difference.”

        FFS, NZ has a housing crisis. Not only is the Ak number not enough, if the rest of the country isn’t sorted out the problems will continue to increase for everyone.

        • Sacha 4.2.3.1

          And I agree both parties have bastardised the word ‘affordable’.

          • weka 4.2.3.1.1

            true. But then I know people that live happily in housebuses and yurts, so my idea of affordable is going to be different again 🙂 Plus the whole affordable thing looks really different on a benefit. IMO housing isn’t affordable across the board. So I don’t have too much of a problem if Labour build $600,000 dollar houses for first home middle class couples, because that frees up some rental accommodation for people that can never buy a home. Then the issue is tenancy rights. I’m less interested in helping lower income people get into the housing market because it’s the getting into the housing market that caused all the problems in the first place and assisting more people to do that will create more problems. Time we stopped treating homes as capital.

            Beyond that, the whole building industry in NZ is rort, it’s not just the land that is too expensive.

            • WILD KATIPO 4.2.3.1.1.1

              ”I know people that live happily in housebuses and yurts, so my idea of affordable is going to be different again ”

              Yep ,… it actually is like that , I lived in a 100 year old stone miners shack in the back country near Queenstown for over a year when I was gold mining in the rivers ( floating dredge system ) , – and two years in a mountain tent when I was vagabonding around the South Island before that.

              But that’s OK for a born and bred hillbilly like this kid.

              HOWEVER,.. I go into bat for those with young family’s who need to be near facility’s , jobs and a secure place to live. A decent warm place. Same for the older ones. And its a govt’s job to ensure speculative racketeering is regulated to minimize its harmful effects. And this govt has not only NOT done that , – it has actively encouraged the process of speculation .
              Were on the same page anyways. Though I wouldn’t mind checking out a yurt tbh … just having a power socket for a cup of tea and the internet might be a wee problem …

              • weka

                Plenty of people living in tiny homes with kids. And you can run power into a yurt pretty easily 🙂

                I agree it’s not for everyone. But tiny housing is a really good option for some people and that frees up conventional housing for others. The best that Labour can do won’t be enough. Compare benefit rates with mortgages and tell me how people on low incomes can ever afford to buy again. Yes, beneficiaries in NZ used to buy homes. Unless the housing market collapses back to the prices of the early 90s, housing will remain unaffordable for many.

                • Second paragraph , – very true. Unfortunately.

                  The best that can be done is to mitigate the negative effects created by wholesale lending by banks for purchasing speculative property’s and push ahead with Labours plan of build , sell , build … and providing good safe rental accommodation for those who cannot realistically raise a deposit.

                  Then again , if we got rid of the Employment Contracts Act and reintroduced collective bargaining , award rates and a living wage… I’m sure the banks would be happy to be able to lend even more for those newly endowed with a realistic way of servicing their mortgages…

                  But we devour the elephant one mouthful at a time , don’t we now…

                • Sacha

                  “beneficiaries in NZ used to buy homes”

                  Like our current deputy PM, yes.

                  And not all of us yearn to own a home, no. Better rental regulations are important. Thank you to the Greens for proposing that for years now.

                • greg

                  these high prices can only be held up with mass immigration and record low interest rates and massive tax payer subsidizes sooner or latter reality kicks in .

      • michelle 4.2.4

        The gnats have had 9 years and in that 9 years they have maintained there isn’t a housing crisis it has been manufactured. Now they want to buid houses and how come none of our media have asked properly and directly why , when , how and who because they are sacred and gutless as they might not get funded just like Mr bully bags ngaro said.

  5. Ad 5

    New Zealand is the most likely country in the world to undergo a real estate PRICE collapse within two years:

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-15/new-zealand-housing-market-most-at-risk-of-bust-goldman-says

    “New Zealand’s housing market is the most over-valued among the so-called G-10 economies and the most at risk of a correction, according to Goldman Sachs.

    In research published this week, the investment bank said there is about a 40 percent chance of a housing “bust” in New Zealand over the next two years, which it defines as house prices falling five percent or more after adjustment for inflation.
    The report looks at housing markets in the G-10 countries — those with the 10 most-traded currencies in the world — and finds they are most elevated in small, open economies such as New Zealand, where house prices have rocketed in recent years. In Auckland, the nation’s largest city, the average price has surged 91 percent since 2007 to more than NZ$1 million ($688,000).”

    • Ed 5.1

      English must be praying it happens after September.

      • Ad 5.1.1

        The rest of us are praying for a gradual deceleration and decine to stability.

      • Sacha 5.1.2

        Heck, why do you think Joyce brought the election forward as much as he thought he could get away with.

    • Johan 5.2

      To Ad,
      Wow, a drop of 5%, investors must be shaking in their boots, considering how little they have been making in the last 10 years;-))))))
      sarc.

      • Ad 5.2.1

        The ones I know are outraged and terrified.

        • WILD KATIPO 5.2.1.1

          So now they are getting a taste of what it feels like to be evicted / homeless / living in a car / garage / or have a child die in a cold damp shitty moldy crap hole that passes as an excuse for a ‘ home ‘.

          The poor wee bastards , – my heart bloody bleeds for them.

          • Ad 5.2.1.1.1

            They’ll lose a percentage.

            Don’t compare the 1% to the homeless.

            • WILD KATIPO 5.2.1.1.1.1

              Nay Harrogat, … I’m not. And I’m not putting down the good landlords either but the other bunch who give the rest a bad name. But I’m sure even you can admit its time for regulations for renters rights and landlords rights. Because as it is, it is one sided.

  6. Keith 6

    Being National, it should be relatively easy to pick apart.

    How many state houses are/were they planning either to sell or condemn in the same period?

    How many of the total package was planned anyway well before the announcement in some other announcement or budget?

    And why use tax payer money to build houses for speculators?

    This will yet again be National Party deception!

  7. roy cartland 7

    “Gov’t promises to” blah blah blah.

    Haven’t they promised to build houses already? And once again, they’ll do such-and-such way in the future.

    Would they really bother to, if they got elected? They’d have proved they could just say they’ll do it while doing nothing.

    Utterly pathetic.

  8. Keith 8

    Its quite ironic that a property speculator like Amy Adams is announcing this.

  9. Andrew 9

    “National’s ‘bold new housing plan’ builds 10% as many houses as Labour will”

    Is Labour promising to build 340,000 houses?
    #mathsfail

  10. mickysavage 10

    Sounds like the numbers are rubbery. Be good to see an analysis of what has already been promised and what are new houses.

    • roy cartland 10.1

      NRT sheds some light on it:

      http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2017/05/the-usual-story.html

      “Firstly, those houses are being built by demolishing 8,300 existing homes, so the total is only 26,000. Secondly, it includes already announced and underway (and in some cases, built) projects in Tamaki, Northcote and Point England – so they’re back to re-announcing old news to get a new headline. Thirdly, two thirds of those houses will be sold to speculators rather than being state houses.”

      • WILD KATIPO 10.1.1

        ” Thirdly, two thirds of those houses will be sold to speculators rather than being state houses.”

        Jeez Wayne.

        • wayne 10.1.1.2

          Wild Katipo

          You are wrong. The two thirds will be sold to homeowners, almost certainly all will be first homeowners. Unless you think all homeowners are speculators.

          Labours policy is also a mix of state houses and first home owner homes.

          Stick to the facts, not the prejudice.

          • WILD KATIPO 10.1.1.2.1

            Well , then , – you’d better take that up with NO RIGHT TURN , hadn’t you now…

            But as I recall, it was the last sentence that caused your response, so tell me then , – what proof have you got that those houses will be given preference to first home buyers rather than speculators with such an open ended policy ?

            So I’ll stick to the facts as we currently know it until you can prove it otherwise.

            Until then , unless specifically stated by National policy , the burden of proof is on you , not me.

      • Keith 10.1.2

        All National can come up with is trickery, so bereft of ideas are these clueless liars.

        • WILD KATIPO 10.1.2.1

          In some ways they are quite a sad bunch.

          Slaves to their free market neo liberalism , they effectively paint themselves into a corner and cut off any lateral movement. I cannot think of a more straight jacketed approach to governance than this . And that’s the root cause of their appearance of being so incredibly clueless , their inertia and being void of any workable ideas.

          And ideologues such as Bill English encapsulate this sad state of affairs perfectly.

      • greg 10.1.3

        typical national thanks roy

  11. UncookedSelachimorpha 11

    I’m waiting for the NActs to announce a great new policy to solve the housing crisis by 2075.

    When they said a “Brighter Future” – they meant it. A crap now, and tomorrow, and maybe the next few centuries – but after that – the Future will be Magic!

    • greg 11.1

      what crises 9 years of denialism then to days bull shit numbers

    • Tamati Tautuhi 11.2

      The “Brighter Future” goalposts have moved out to 2035, I have heard through the grapevine ?

  12. The decrypter 12

    Going to be a skinny budget, Mainly just to reinforce –As announced-bla bla As announced –bla bla As announced— on and on for ever,–bit of sniping at the left -then on and on,—-As announced —-“Beam me up scotty”

  13. Draco T Bastard 13

    The Government is promising to build 34,000 homes in Auckland over 10 years

    3400 houses per year and we’re 20,000 per year short…

    ..Yeah, that’s not going to work.

  14. Cinny 14

    Hey Nick Smith, haven’t you already done this? Or did the outgoing government decide it might be more believable coming via Amy… hey Nickoff is that because she owns more real estate than you do? Turns out she has one more property than this time last year, crikey maybe that’s why she got the job.

    1. Where will the people go who current reside it state houses that have now been ear marked for demolition? Motels? Dang that’s already costing us $100,000 a week. Motel owners profiting from via our taxes due to the negligence of the outgoing government.

    2. Will state houses sit vacant for years prior to demolition? And once the state houses have been demolished how long will it take to build the new state houses? Or will land sit vacant for years while more people suffer from lack of housing.
    As well will the materials from the old state housing be reused, those houses are often full of rimu, maybe it will be left to rot, wasted in a landfill .

    3. I’m sure they announced last year they were building more houses, and I’m sure this new announcement is part of the initial number of houses promised to be built. With that in mind… are they behind in their building schedule?

    4. What’s happening with all the other vacant state houses in NZ? Nada ? Or are they still working out who owns the houses, which remain empty while families sleep in cars, winter is coming.

    5. Will one large company be building all these houses or will the work be carried out by a number of seperate entities? Will the building supply monopoly issue be addressed, would be rather timely to do so, or will large coporations carry on exploition the situation?
    Have all cost effective ways been considered for building, utilising new technology, kitset housing etc etc?

    6. Will these new houses be energy efficient? Will they have solar hot water etc?

    7. As the housing crisis has now spread to the regions, how will this annoucement help families currently residing in sheds and cars outside of Auckland?

    8. Are there enough tradies in Auckland to build the houses? Or will the outgoing government continue to charge NZer’s who wish to learn a trade in a sector suffering a skill shortage? Tertiary students are now struggling to afford food, is that helping them learn? Maybe they should live in a car in order to have enough to eat?

    What I do know is there are plenty of people who would love to learn a trade, but they just can’t afford to do so, and the vicious cycle carries on. Not enough builders… I wonder why.

    9. Does the outgoing government currently have the land to build these houses on, or is it yet to be acquired? If it is yet to be purchased, how much has the value of said land increased in the eight long years since the national party came into office ?

    10. Have the outgoing government considered the infrastructure required to support the build, after all they have been responsible for ensuring NZ infrastructure has kept up with population growth.

    11. Finally.. why did Amy Adam not front up on Radio Live this afternoon when asked to be interviewed by Ali re this annoucement? Alpha Andy fronted up, Ali Mau even commented that Andrew Little always fronts up when asked to be interviewed on her show. And after listening to the next PM of NZ and leader of the Labour Party, Andrew addressed many of the questions I have on this issue.

    One thing is for sure.. NATIONAL IS NOT MY FUTURE

  15. simonm 15

    More election year waffle from the Gnats. Amy Adams is just Nick Smith in drag.

    • Duncan 15.1

      I’m sure Nick and Ami could both be cured if someone held them down and administered a full syringe of vexpex in each ear.

  16. Muttonbird 16

    To me, the policy is symbolic. It’s a way to show Labour is on the side of renters wanting to own and get away from the self interested decisions of their landlords. Is a way to show Labour is on the side of young families who want to buy their first home. And it’s a way to show that dallying in the ‘investment’ property market and rental services market as amateurs is not what we want in NZ if you are only in it for yourselves and your own retirement but not in it for the tenants.

    The money, $150M, is not relevant economically but it was a nice touch to say it will be put straight into insulation.

  17. David Mac 17

    Imitation is the sincerest form of vote stealing.

    The fundamental difference remains. Kiwibuild is about people, Natbuild is about money.

    We need houses, not more Fletchers anointed knights.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-27T21:20:51+00:00