National doesn’t know what it’s doing on foreign buyers

Anthony R0bins
9 years ago
Categories: housing, national, spin, you couldn't make this shit up
Tags: housing, omnishambles, register

National really doesn’t know what it’s doing on the issues of foreign buyers of NZ land. They’re clear about the need to put the boot in to Labour of course:

John Key criticises Labour’s desperate attempts on property data

Prime Minister John Key has criticised Labour’s use of leaked real estate data as desperate, and believes most people with Chinese-sounding names who buy property have a real connection to New Zealand.

…

“It’s desperate in my view, they know the information is wrong and they know the information is misleading and they can claim whatever they want…it’s very different from the Labour Party I always knew,” John Key said.

Thanks for your “concern” John.

“No one is arguing that we don’t need better information, the Government has moved on that. But they know that, they know that there is better information coming.”

Well now, is no one arguing that we don’t need better information? Nick Smith on Saturday:

‘No foreign-buyers register’ says Housing Minister

Housing Minister Nick Smith says he won’t be introducing a foreign-buyers register for New Zealand property.

In 2014 this was also reported as the government’s position:

NZ government rebuffs calls for register of foreign homebuyers

The New Zealand government rebuffed moves to start a register of foreign homebuyers on Thursday after earlier appearing to soften on the idea in response to Australian moves to record overseas buyers. … On Thursday, the opposition New Zealand First party introduced a bill in Parliament to establish a Foreign Ownership of Land Register, but it was knocked back by the government.

Compare and contrast:

Officials quietly working on foreign buyers register, Bill English admits

Officials have been quietly working on a register of foreign buyers of New Zealand real estate even as the Government shrugged off the need for such information, it emerged today.

…

Last week however, Finance Minister Bill English and Prime Minister John Key said officials were keeping an eye on Australia’s work towards a register of foreign buyers and wouldn’t rule out following suit. This morning Mr English said he understood some work was already underway amongst New Zealand officials on the issue.

So the right hand of the National party doesn’t know what the far right hand is doing? Thank goodness Judith Collins is here to sort it all out:

Debate continues over foreign buyer register

Ms Collins say calls for a register are unjust as “we’ve never had that in New Zealand” but admits perhaps it’s time the Government considering having one.

Thanks for that Judith, clear as mud.

National are all over the place on this issue. The only thing they’re clear about is the need to bash Labour.