Nats’ affordable housing policy: for the 70-80th percentiles

Written By: - Date published: 6:56 am, August 12th, 2013 - 142 comments
Categories: class war, housing - Tags:

So, let me see if I have this right: National’s big announcement on affordable housing was the increase the income and house price limits for getting the Kiwisaver First Home Deposit Subsidy. In other words, pour more money into the over-heated housing market. And do that, not by helping those in real need who are shut out of the market now, but by giving cash to people previously considered too well-off for the subsidy – ie families in the $100,000-$120,000 income bracket, that’s the 70-80% highest income households.

What a fantastic idea! That’s far better than building affordable homes, passing on the government’s low cost of borrowing to young families to buy a home, and locking out speculators both foreign and domestic. Just give piles of public money to people who, let’s face it can buy a house anyway – it’s not like $5k more for your deposit when you’ve got an income over $100,000 is going to be absolutely crucial.

142 comments on “Nats’ affordable housing policy: for the 70-80th percentiles ”

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  1. karol 1
    12 August 2013 at 7:57 am

    How much worse can Key’s government get. I am amazed at how blatantly and cynically this Key announcement supports the haves and thumbs his nose at the have-nots.

    And Tracy Watkins reckons it is Aucklanders who will most benefit. So not doing anything for the rejuvenation of the provinces either.

    • travellerev 1.1
      12 August 2013 at 1:17 pm

      Maybe in the short run but with people walking away from properties such as this I reckon Auckland will also suffer while the rich get richer

      • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1
        12 August 2013 at 2:15 pm

        That’s a good example of the greed in NZ and the rentier attitude of charging for nothing.

    • muzza 1.2
      12 August 2013 at 3:49 pm

      The provinces are finished, many of them!

      Under current monetary/fiscal conditions, money will be sucked out of the provinces, such as can be seen around NZ via factories closing, services being cut off etc.

      The roll up effect will continue, and is tied UN Agenda 21!

  2. Dv 2
    12 August 2013 at 8:09 am

    I just heard Key on MR!!!
    He was asked how he bought his first house in the 80s. He had saved a deposit (from a good income) and borrowed balance from the bank.

    Reminded me about how I bought my first house in 1979.

    Cost $43k – 3x salary
    I had a deposit of ca $18k – mostly from a saving scheme with the post office for housing.

    I borrowed about 15k? from state advances at 3%? – That is all they would lend!!!! (about 33%)
    I had to get the balance from the bank as 2 mortgage at 15%!!!

    What sticks in my mind were
    the very good govt supported housing saving scheme
    the low amount in % terms from the state advances. (33%)
    The low interest by state advances.
    The high interest from the bank

    The govt support with
    saving scheme
    low interest state advances loan

    were critical.

    • Mike S 2.1
      12 August 2013 at 4:19 pm

      I’d also add that it was probably critical that the house was only 3x your salary. These days, 6x and 7x are the norm and that’s for household incomes. For individuals it is way way more.

  3. BM 3
    12 August 2013 at 8:16 am

    I don’t want the government in the House building market.

    Sure, build state homes but keep out of residential housing market.

    You may want this big government runs everything, builds everything “utopia” but I certainly don’t and a so do a large chunk of NZ.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 3.1
      12 August 2013 at 8:19 am

      Your proposal that the government only provides when there is genuine need makes a lot of sense. It also seems in complete contradiction to your avowed political allegiance.

    • Colonial Viper 3.2
      12 August 2013 at 8:20 am

      If the private sector cannot or will not provide social housing, then the Government must.

    • mickysavage 3.3
      12 August 2013 at 8:23 am

      You may want this big government runs everything, builds everything “utopia” but I certainly don’t and a so do a large chunk of NZ.

      Yep Central and Local Government have never built anything of use to the country.

      Apart from the hydro dams and the roads and footpaths and electricity delivery systems and sewerage plants and water delivery systems and libraries and schools and railway lines and stations and …

    • vto 3.4
      12 August 2013 at 8:45 am

      “I don’t want the government in the House building market.”

      It already is in the house building market BM. It has a bigger effect on house building costs than any other organisation in NZ. Examples;

      1. GST and its recent 20% increase.
      2. Lack of intent to attack building supply cartels.
      3. The largest landlord in the entire country.
      4. Constant upgrade to building code by government depts. and cost effects.
      5. Control over money supply by act and ommission.

      Wake up fulla, you’re in dreamworld if you imagine govt isn’t in house building right now today.

      It is the biggest player of the lot.

      • BM 3.4.1
        12 August 2013 at 8:56 am

        But it’s not competing directly with private building companies.

        The governments role is to provide services that can’t be met or supplied by private business not to compete with private business.

        • vto 3.4.1.1
          12 August 2013 at 9:12 am

          Who says so BM?

          It is a free market isn’t it? This is your political fancy isn’t it? Free market? If the people of NZ choose to get together collectively via government and build themselves houses then good fucking luck to them – this is the free market in action. Stop imposing rules on it.

          Suck it up mate, it is a free world.

        • miravox 3.4.1.2
          12 August 2013 at 9:44 am

          “build state homes but keep out of residential housing market”

          State houses are homes therefore they are in the residential housing market. They reduce demand, which would affect private builders if private firms were actually in the business of producing affordable housing.

          “But it’s not competing directly with private building companies.”

          Who do you think does the builds, BM? The government has not competed with private companies when built houses before, it has bankrolled them. The MoW didn’t build those houses, Fletchers did.

          “The governments role is to provide services that can’t be met or supplied by private business not to compete with private business.”

          That’s one of the reasons why the first state houses were built – private firms didn’t have the money to do the job (or there was no profit in putting their money into it). We’re in the same situation now, with the the profit margins on affordable housing so poor the private builders concentrate on expensive housing. There is a gap in housing that the government needs to fill so people aren’t living in garages, caravan parks or other over-crowded, sub-standard accommodation.

          Key is not even bothering to try and lie anymore. The believers seem to have made him think he can chuck any useless policy out there and it will be lapped up. Actually it’s not even policy, it’s just changing the threshold on Kiwisaver and removing the only assistance that might have been available for people who have difficulty scraping together enough for the Kiwisaver bonus.

        • muzza 3.4.1.3
          12 August 2013 at 12:53 pm

          BM – But your cool with the govt bailing out private enterprise ?

    • Sable 3.5
      12 August 2013 at 9:12 am

      Really, took a survey of New Zealanders in your spare time did you? If so lets see the stats of people lining up to agree with you and no quoting government crap or the herald, etc, we all know what that’s worth!!!

        • Molly 3.5.1.1
          12 August 2013 at 10:47 am

          Sable said a survey of NZers… you have replied with a link to the 2011 election – why??

          Given the historically low turnout your 47% for National translates to 1,058,636 votes.

          Using NZ population clock – 4,472,481 at 10.37am this morning, this means your “survey” has the recorded support of 27% of NZers.

          Of course – this is a pointless exercise, as it seems that many voters – including National supporters – don’t bother reading policy before voting.

          Also, as this is not a policy that was floated at the time, your somewhat simplistic point is moot.

          Lastly, you are making the erroneous assumption that one vote every three years is the full extent of democratic participation – aligned with the equally immature expectation that once you have aligned yourself to a particular party, all criticism is withheld as a indication of strength.

    • Richard Down South 3.6
      12 August 2013 at 1:06 pm

      While im not a fan of the Government as a landlord, you must remember that Market Rentals mean that if people are willing to pay $500 a week for a 3 bedroom home, then thats ‘the market’, and there should be a means tested State-run rental option, for those that need it… the other option means the government (aka tax payers) lining the pockets of investors through subsidizing ‘market rentals’

      Id rather see the Government make or lose a little each week on a house (remember a house should last 50+ years, where as investment wise, its looked at over 10-15 years), than helping someone make $100-200 extra a week because they went and bought a few houses

    • xtasy 3.7
      12 August 2013 at 1:59 pm

      BM – The market, the much hailed “market”, meant to be the “free market” has failed the average and low income earners, when it comes to housing, and as so much distorting and re-distribution of wealth in the form of housing investment has occurred, ONLY the government can within reasonable time change the housing market, to actually deliver what it is there for, to provide housing for those that need it to live in.

      This endless mantra about supply needing to meet demand may sound nice to free market purists, or near purists, as there is NO place on earth where there is a real “free” housing market anyway.

      Also only the state can generate the financial capital needed to pull off big enough, economically viable project, by introducing new laws, rules and mechanisms, to deliver what is needed.

      The individual small scale Donald Trump made in NZ housing investor, owning one to three or so homes, plus the bigger players, they are only interested in maximising returns and profits, and they are playing the market as it is. Extending portfolios is the agenda, to own more, to have a bigger foothold and generate more returns into fewer hands. Sadly most middle class property owners (whether paying off mortgage or not), also fall for the Hooton spin that is now being spread around by an unholy “Matthew” (not the one mentioned in the “gospel”).

      Too many are only self interested, and for the fear that their property, on which they can borrow more money from banks to spend on a new car or whatever (money going into imports), to lose value, they fall for this spin and will keep on voting National or National Light (aka “Labour”).

      But that is the biggest problem the NZ economy faces, this obsession with property ownership, investment, in borrowing ever more off-shore to finance this “addiction”. As if the lesson of the time between 2003 and 2008 has not been learned.

      Homes must be affordable, based on income people earn, and other earnings should go into other investment and consumption to keep the rest of the economy moving somewhere.

      I see a disaster, where dairy exports may suffer due to NZ’s reputation having gone down the toilet, this meaning less exports, the manufacturing sector being unable to replace such shortfalls, the rest of the economy standing still, and people again sitting on truck loads of borrowed money from overseas. Thank you John Key and consorts, you are digging a big hole here, and offer no answers to it getting bigger by the day.

      When are the ones in NZ politics learning true economics 101, that actually serves all the people, not just a few that have the cash and incomes, to play the local markets, housing or whatever?

      For a start, put in restrictions on property investments by overseas players, also forcing them to disclose local front people involved, bring in capital gains tax, bring in also a version of Gareth Morgan’s land tax idea, and only allow a few exemptions, so “land-banking” in the urban zones does no longer get encouraged, same as property speculation driving up prices. More can be done on top, like a proper home building scheme, better than what Labour have come up with so far.

      I am waiting for some up there in Wellington to bloody wake up! Wakey, wakey David!!!

      • Richard Down South 3.7.1
        12 August 2013 at 3:12 pm

        All a free market provides is things which bring profit… businesses dont generally set up to make 1% or less margin…

        MONEY MONEY MONEY… thats what counts… when it comes to a free market

  4. Colonial Viper 4
    12 August 2013 at 8:25 am

    Dont know why we are complaining. Labour’s $400,000 “affordable housing” targeted the 60th-70th richest percentile households.

    Both major political parties idea of “middle NZ” are quite similar.

    • Lanthanide 4.1
      12 August 2013 at 8:36 am

      Sure, but at least Labour were trying. They looked at the figures, talked to some industry people and had to conclude that $400k was as cheap as they could make them.

      Should they try and do better? Yes. Can they do better easily? Difficult to say.

      • geoff 4.1.1
        12 August 2013 at 10:12 am

        $400,000 is not as cheap as houses can be made, they can be made significantly cheaper. This is the problem with talking to industry players as partners to these social projects, the industry partners have absolutely no motivation in providing for the social good, it’s all about money.

        The fucktards in the Labour caucus may have good intentions but in terms of understanding what is technically and economically possible they have no fucking idea.

        • Bunji 4.1.1.1
          12 August 2013 at 11:55 am

          $400,000 (price in Auckland) includes the section – which if you can’t get a section under $300,000 in Auckland without going out to the whops, makes it hard to make a house+section under $400,000.

          That’s looking at $1000 / sq m, which is what it should be, vs the $3,500 most Kiwis are paying right now. So it is looking at putting the screw to those big players in the building industry & buying in bulk.

          As I understand it they are hoping to have apartments for less than $400k in AK, but it’s hard to put promises on any price until you’ve had the negotiations etc. (Also, apartments aren’t for everybody…)

          Building a lot of houses may help section prices go down (or more likely stay flat and drop in real value with inflation), which would attack a harder part of the problem.

          Providing enough supply will help the equation, increasing demand (from the already comfortably off) will not.

          • Jackal 4.1.1.1.1
            12 August 2013 at 12:38 pm

            Isn’t $400,000 the average price? Meaning that some builds will cost more (Auckland) while some will cost less.

            Also, Labour and the Greens housing policy’s actually increase the housing stock, which would reduce demand. This will be advantageous for poorer families as well because there will be less renters competing for the same houses.

            Furthermore, the government already owns thousands of empty sections zoned in residential areas of New Zealand, meaning there is no capital expenditure to purchase those sections. The only cost is in building the actual houses, which would be easily recouped from the people placed into those new homes.

            • Lanthanide 4.1.1.1.1.1
              12 August 2013 at 12:52 pm

              “Also, Labour and the Greens housing policy’s actually increase the housing stock, which would reduce demand.”

              Pedantic nit-picking here: increasing supply doesn’t reduce demand, it simply increases supply. What it does do is satisfy demand.

              In fact, increasing supply, if the new supply is in excess of demand, results in a drop in prices, to the point where demand increases to meet the price resulting in demand and supply being back in equilibrium.

              Eg, flood the market with imported cars, people will decide they should pay less for a car since so many are available, and the price will drop to a point at which all of the cars can be cleared out of the market.

              • Jackal …
                12 August 2013 at 1:04 pm

                I guess that’s why Labour’s policy only proposes to meet demand, thereby not spooking those voters who already own their own homes with reducing values. However the effect of stabilizing the market on rental accommodation should be positive, which is more than can be said for National’s pathetic excuse for a housing policy.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                12 August 2013 at 3:07 pm

                In fact, increasing supply, if the new supply is in excess of demand, results in a drop in prices, to the point where demand increases to meet the price resulting in demand and supply being back in equilibrium.

                Ah, yes – the Market Equilibrium hypothesis. You know, the theory that just crashed the entire global economy.

                It’s cheaper to buy outside of Auckland so why are people moving to Auckland?

                • Lanthanide …
                  12 August 2013 at 3:25 pm

                  Because price of housing is only a small factor in why they choose to move to Auckland.

                  Market Equilibrium is a very simple theory, so I don’t think anyone claims that it always correct and explains everything.

                  I just brought it up as an example to show that “increase in supply” can lead to “increase in demand”, assuming that the supply increase results in a price drop. Which if you think about it is actually the same thing as Jevon’s Paradox.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    12 August 2013 at 4:35 pm

                    Market Equilibrium is a very simple theory, so I don’t think anyone claims that it always correct and explains everything.

                    The economists do.

          • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.1.2
            12 August 2013 at 3:03 pm

            (Also, apartments aren’t for everybody…)

            No they aren’t but I think you’ll find that most people would be happy with them and that a fairly significant amount of the population will prefer them once they get to live in one. Same can be said of terraced housing and pretty much all other forms of higher density housing.

    • SpaceMonkey 4.2
      12 August 2013 at 9:43 am

      Which is why they are natural coalition partners…

    • Draco T Bastard 4.3
      12 August 2013 at 2:58 pm

      And “middle NZ” are solidly in the 7th to 10th deciles. Everything below that is ignored by both main parties.

  5. BM 5
    12 August 2013 at 8:28 am

    Yes build state houses for those who can’t afford it and they can rent off the government/taxpayer

    Don’t build houses to sell that will just fuck everything up.

    Buying a house has never been that easy, the media, once again is being very irresponsible and presenting a view that basically in the “old days”, houses were pretty much free and every one had one and it took no effort to buy one.

    Which is complete rot, buying a house is a big commitment, it may take people 5 -10 to save up enough for the deposit and meet the criteria required for a mortgage.

    Young people are fussy and expect everything to be handed to them on a plate, I say fuck them and make them work for it like every one else.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 5.1
      12 August 2013 at 8:39 am

      Do the words “housing bubble” mean anything to you?

      Here’s a picture.

      • BM 5.1.1
        12 August 2013 at 8:45 am

        I have to say.

        Why the hell did Labour let it get so out of control.
        That line was practically vertical when Labour was in power, it’s only since when National took the reins that the housing market has started to stabilize.

        Why didn’t Cullen do something about the banks throwing money at people.
        Why did he allow this insanity to continue.

        • Lanthanide 5.1.1.1
          12 August 2013 at 8:48 am

          Yes, that’s what happens when the economy is growing vs the economy being stagnant.

          In Labour’s case, they didn’t want to seriously upset the housing market (eg, put capital gains tax in place or other measures to cool investment) because it would have made them a gonner at the 2005 election, which they only managed to scrape through with the student loan bribe (which is excellent policy, but a bribe nonetheless).

          If Labour had put in some sort of CGT, you can be sure that National would have vowed to repeal it and then given tax cuts to everyone, which is what they did after winning in 2008 even though we can’t afford it.

          So, blame National.

          On the other hand, working for families is exactly the sort of middle-class welfare that we don’t need, and that is something that you can pin squarely on Labour – but note also that National hasn’t repealed that either.

          • vto 5.1.1.1.1
            12 August 2013 at 8:57 am

            “working for families is exactly the sort of middle-class welfare”

            working for families is actually corporate welfare

          • BM 5.1.1.1.2
            12 August 2013 at 8:59 am

            On the other hand, working for families is exactly the sort of middle-class welfare that we don’t need, and that is something that you can pin squarely on Labour – but note also that National hasn’t repealed that either.

            See paragraph 2 and 3 of your post.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 5.1.1.2
          12 August 2013 at 9:26 am

          BM, I note that the graph at 5.1 utterly refutes your assertions at 5. Your credibility is suffering again, especially when the best you can manage in response is to blame Labour. We’re talking about the situation now. I further note that Labour’s current policy is a lot closer to your stated preferences.

    • Skinny 5.2
      12 August 2013 at 12:38 pm

      Hey BM someone above has made a very good point. Back in the baby boomer days the relative annual household income compared to house prices was 3 years. Not sure what it running at the moment, but I’d say it’s x 6 & growing. 

      I take it your of the baby boomer generation? Compare apples to apples mate. It’s not really a case of work hard like you did. It’s a different playing field today.

      • BM 5.2.1
        12 August 2013 at 3:01 pm

        Nope.

        I brought my first house in 1999.
        Paid 130k for it, was valued at around 350k there for a while, thanks to Helen and team labour, probably dropped around 20k under team National.

        Labour blaming National for out of control house prices, fuck they must think people are stupid.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.3
      12 August 2013 at 3:09 pm

      Buying a house has never been that easy,

      Back a few years ago they were actually that easy to buy. Has something to do with house prices only being between 3 and 4 times the median wage rather 5+ times.

      • BM 5.3.1
        12 August 2013 at 3:18 pm

        You buy what you can afford.
        Problem is first home buyers these days are a bit older now and have normally rented out quite good digs.

        They won’t settle for a house in the not so good areas or the house without the brand new new kitchen or bath room.

        Younger people are soft cocks they can’t handle roughing it at all.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.3.1.1
          12 August 2013 at 4:34 pm

          You fail to understand the problem, even cheap houses are out of reach of the younger generation due to a few people buying up all the houses as rentals.

      • johnm 5.3.2
        12 August 2013 at 5:25 pm

        DTB
        +1 In 1980 I was earning $10,000 a year and was able easily to buy a three bedroom house on a very large backsection overlooking central Johnsonville for $32,000. The house was only 18 years old at the time…FANTASTIC! All gone now destroyed by greed.Meaning the greedies have totally stuffed up the market for all time. 🙁

  6. srylands 6
    12 August 2013 at 8:35 am

    You are missing the point. If you have a household income less than $100,000 you are not going to be able to afford to service a mortgage no matter what the Government does. $100,000 is 2 x average salary earners (a bit over).

    Getting poor people signed up to mortgages caused chaos in the USA. It won’t happen here.

    For those with permanent incomes less than $100,000 it is renting, unless their baby boomer parents hand over some of their equity before or after death.

    For those with household incomes less than $50,000 welfare housing is the best bet.

    • Lanthanide 6.1
      12 August 2013 at 8:41 am

      Ah, really?

      Just did ANZ mortgage calculator. Two people on $48,000 each, with 2 dependants and 2 cars, calculator says ANZ would lend up to $608,000 at maximum for such a couple.

      Now if we’re realistic about it, and say they borrow $320,000 with an $80k deposit for a ‘reasonable’ house in Christchurch or Wellington for $400k. Repayments on such a mortgage, at 5.85% interest, is just $1,888/month for a 30 year term. I’d say that’s likely to be around what this family is paying in rent.

      Now if we go to $400k borrowed with $100k deposit for a $500k house, repayments are just $2,360 for 30 years at 5.85% interest.

      Looking at the above figures, the biggest thing that stands out as being impossible to achieve is the initial deposit required to get you up to 80% LVR, not the monthly repayments. Which is exactly what all of the media commentators have been focusing on – saving for a deposit is hard.

      • just saying 6.1.1
        12 August 2013 at 9:05 am

        To put your “just $1888” per month in perspective, Lanth, that’s pretty much the net minimum wage.
        Oh and $96,000 would probably be the 90th decile for young couples. I presume the mummy-and-daddy bank stump up the 80,000 in this kind of situation.

        How is the air up there?

        • Lanthanide 6.1.1.1
          12 August 2013 at 12:09 pm

          ???

          I’m simply refuting srylands statement that those earning a household income of less than $100,000 could not afford a mortgage. Using the calculator I showed that it is possible for a household income of less than $100,000 to afford a mortgage.

          I made no claims about how many people have household incomes of $96,000, or the ages of such people. I’ll note that srylands also didn’t say anything about the ages of such couples, either.

          • srylands 6.1.1.1.1
            12 August 2013 at 12:23 pm

            Just to amplify my earlier statement which may have been a generalisation. It is more correct to say that it is very difficult for a household with an income of less than $100,000 to service a mortgage covering 80%+ of a sale price on a median value home in the main centres. Sure your ANZ bank calculator shows that the bank will lend but do they really want to go there? The couple (lets say it is a couple) should do their modelling based on interest rates 2 percentage points higher than currently. Then look at the money they have left over after their mortgage payments and ask themselves so they want to lead that life for the next decade?

            The policy announced yesterday will do nothing for affordability.

            In Auckland, the biggest problem to tackle is that section prices average $300,000. It is mad. Find ways to get that down to $200,000. There are many other things to do on the policy front but that would be a good start.

            Introducing policies that just add to demand are a waste of time – they will actually make things worse.

            • Skinny 6.1.1.1.1.1
              12 August 2013 at 12:48 pm

              I’ll start the day off nicely because I want an answer. Good afternoon srylands please tell us how Mr Keys tinkering in housing encourages punters to the share market and out of property?

              • srylands …
                12 August 2013 at 3:05 pm

                “I’ll start the day off nicely because I want an answer. Good afternoon srylands please tell us how Mr Keys tinkering in housing encourages punters to the share market and out of property?”

                It does nothing at all. In fact it will have the opposite effect. Stupid policy.

                • Skinny …
                  12 August 2013 at 4:32 pm

                  Question by me for John Key today after 5pm on Duncan Garner’s Radio Live Drive show. Tune in or drop out!
                  Q: Why is National sending mixed messages. PM John Key wants the public to stop investing in property & invest in the share market i.e. Power shares & in NZ listed businesses. This tinkering does nothing to encourage the shift. Probably the opposite, increasing house prices in Auckland’s case. 

            • Lanthanide 6.1.1.1.1.2
              12 August 2013 at 1:04 pm

              Actually srylands a higher interest rate doesn’t make a huge difference:
              $320k at 6.85% = $2,097 over 30 years
              $320k at 7.85% = $2,315 over 30 years

              Now, we’re not at those interest rates just yet – 5 year fixed is 6.60%. It’ll be some time before the shorter rates approach the 6.85% level, maybe 2-3 years, and probably longer still for the 7.85% – after all the current 5 year fixed rate is still 1.2% lower than that. So if you make more than the minimum payments in the short term, then when these higher rates kick in, you may still only be paying the equivalent of $1,888 per month of current money, however inflation and pay rises should mean this is a smaller proportion of your paypacket in the future than it is today.

              Of course that’s assuming you pay more than your minimum, which a lot of people don’t or can’t, etc. But it’s also not taking in account that banks will often give you a discount off their posted rates.

              I currently pay $1,603.33 a month rent for a decent 3 bedroom house near central Christchurch. It’d be perfectly suitable for a family with 2 kids, perhaps a little cold but hardly terrible like many rental houses are claimed to be. The area isn’t the greatest but good enough. Stretching out to pay a mortgage at $1888/month isn’t too much to ask I don’t think.

          • just saying 6.1.1.1.2
            12 August 2013 at 12:31 pm

            Sorry Lanth.
            It was the “just” $1888/month” and the “just $2360″ that set me off.

      • infused 6.1.2
        12 August 2013 at 2:34 pm

        They may say that, but they will never lend it to you.

      • Mike S 6.1.3
        12 August 2013 at 4:29 pm

        ‘two people on 48k each’

        All well and good, but 70% of the population earn less than 48k.

    • vto 6.2
      12 August 2013 at 8:48 am

      And with each of srylands four paragraphs he pleasingly provides perfect proof that the current capitalist system fails the vast majority of the population.

      • Sable 6.2.1
        12 August 2013 at 9:08 am

        That’s why poor old srylands is here. I suspect he knows National have failed but isn’t quite ready to admit as much to himself yet. Why else bother with a bunch of lefties???

    • Sable 6.3
      12 August 2013 at 9:09 am

      I think you protest too much srylands. If you are so sure of Nationals glorious success in all aspects of government why are you worried what the left thinks???

    • Lightly 6.4
      12 August 2013 at 9:15 am

      my family income is well less than $100,000, but is still more than 50% of households. We own our place and the mortgage is less than renting would be. The secret? We were lucky enough to be able to buy a modest house. What we need is more houses like ours that people can actually afford, and a revived State Advances for people on middle and lower incomes.

      • BM 6.4.1
        12 August 2013 at 9:30 am

        Key word there -modest

        You’re responsible enough to realize you don’t have the coin to buy a mansion, so settle for a house you can afford.

        You’re not like that young fuckwit first home buyer who was on the news last night swanning around some brand new palatial house having a cry that house prices are too expensive for first home buyers.

        “Buy something you can afford dumb arse”

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 6.4.1.1
          12 August 2013 at 9:54 am

          No, you’re back with the same failed argument you had at 5. Housing bubble, remember?

          We need better wingnuts.

        • Te Reo Putake 6.4.1.2
          12 August 2013 at 9:54 am

          C’mon, BM, don’t be dissing the aspirational, you’ll make John Key cry.

        • Lanthanide 6.4.1.3
          12 August 2013 at 12:15 pm

          This whole “young people want to buy massive mansions, they need to get real and settle for less” thing really annoys me.

          Sure, there are *some* who have unrealistic expectations, but a lot of people are simply wanting a ‘reasonable’ house, eg not something you have to literally slave over after you’ve book to make it livable, and these people still are shut out of the market. Note that buying something that needs substantial work is not really practicable if you’re already working full time, have children and don’t have the skills to do the work – if you’d even be allowed to do it under the law these days.

          Characterizing such people as being unrealistic is IMO unfair.

          • infused 6.4.1.3.1
            12 August 2013 at 2:38 pm

            Some, more like most. Read the facebook comments. ‘there are no houses in auckland’. Bullshit, there are tons. People just don’t want to live there.

            Well tough shit.

            • Colonial Viper 6.4.1.3.1.1
              12 August 2013 at 3:01 pm

              Hey aren’t you the big tough man lol

              Meanwhile, it’s time for a government who is willing to take structural societal and economic problems seriously. Not sure where we’re going to find one, but it’s needed.

    • bad12 6.5
      12 August 2013 at 11:19 am

      SSlands, in your own words oh economic genius, give us the numbers of families, individuals in New Zealand who’s household income is 50,000 dollars or less…

    • Jackal 6.6
      12 August 2013 at 12:58 pm

      You’re obviously an idiot srylands.

      For those with permanent incomes less than $100,000 it is renting, unless their baby boomer parents hand over some of their equity before or after death.

      People earning under $100,000 per year should just be stuck renting until their parents clock out and leave them an inheritance, if there is one. Seriously?

      That means the majority of generation X Y and Z will be fifty, sixty or seventy years of age before they can hope to purchase their own homes, well past the age of requiring security in the form of a house to raise their own families in. No wonder Kiwis are choosing not to have children anymore.

      Such a system is clearly detrimental to society. But I guess that conforms with most of National’s defunct policy ideas eh srylands.

      • srylands 6.6.1
        12 August 2013 at 1:05 pm

        “You’re obviously an idiot srylands.”

        Stop shooting the messenger. You do the calculations.

        If you don’t like what you see you need to (a) bring down house prices by at least 30% and (b) introduce policies to increase incomes (and no you can’t do (b) by regulation).

        but RIGHT NOW what I am saying is beyond dispute – in the main centres any household earning less than $100,000 cannot afford a mortgage of 80% of the value of a median house, without incurring considerable hardship.

        • vto 6.6.1.1
          12 August 2013 at 1:18 pm

          “If you don’t like what you see you need to (a) bring down house prices by at least 30% and (b) introduce policies to increase incomes (and no you can’t do (b) by regulation).”

          Incomes are set by regulation now srylands, why do you ignore that? Employment regulation, tax regulation, welfare regulation, corporate welfare regulation, on it goes… You yourself said that per capita GDP is a tad under USD30,000. That should be ample for everyone in NZ to adequately live on, but it aint because the regulations currently governing wealth and income distribution in NZ are all fucked up so that a few get too much and too many get insufficient.

          “but RIGHT NOW what I am saying is beyond dispute – in the main centres any household earning less than $100,000 cannot afford a mortgage of 80% of the value of a median house, without incurring considerable hardship.””

          Equals system failure. The system you continue to support. You are confused man, confused.

          • srylands 6.6.1.1.1
            12 August 2013 at 1:31 pm

            No you are confused.

            I recommend this:

            “Working Towards Higher Living Standards for New Zealanders”

            http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/research-policy/tp/higherlivingstandards

            It does not say more regulation is the answer. Heh. So it isn’t just me.

            • vto 6.6.1.1.1.1
              12 August 2013 at 1:45 pm

              Is the same treasury that has been advising governments for the last 30 years and more? The one you work for?

              And good to see that you recognise that regulation sets income and wealth distribution at the moment. It is not a matter of more regulation to provide a different pattern of distribution …. it is a matter of re-regulation. See the difference? And please don’t try and tell us this distribution can be attended to without regulation… that has never been the case.

          • srylands 6.6.1.1.2
            12 August 2013 at 5:23 pm

            “Incomes are set by regulation now srylands, why do you ignore that?”

            Really? My income is only set by how hard I am willing to work. No regulation in sight.

            • McFlock 6.6.1.1.2.1
              12 August 2013 at 8:41 pm

              You really don’t believe your own shit, do you?

              The correct neoliberal argument is that your income is determined by how much demand there is for the services you provide and how much competition you have in providing those services. The effort you put into it is immaterial by that theory. But, being a randian superhero, secretly you believe that you are the arbiter of your own fate.

              Holding these two fundamentally contradictory ideas in your head isn’t really all that healthy.

              • srylands …
                12 August 2013 at 9:16 pm

                You really don’t believe your own shit, do you?”

                Well you believe your shit, so yes.

                • McFlock …
                  12 August 2013 at 9:31 pm

                  however, my shit doesn’t require the doublethink to believe that my income is “only set by how hard I am willing to work”, and that my income is only set by supply and demand within the labour market.

                • vto …
                  12 August 2013 at 9:36 pm

                  tax regulation determines that people who make money by capital gain receive a certain amount of the nations wealth.

                  tax regulation determines how much of your gross income you get to keep relative to others in the nation.

                  minimum wage regulation determines that nobody can earn below a certain income and so receive a relative and predetermined amount of the nations wealth..

                  maximum wage regulations determine that no certain types of people can garner more than a certain amount of the nations wealth… oh wait, not that one.

                  employment law regulation determines that a proportion of a persons income is paid into a retirement scheme called kiwisaver thereby determining their future wealth and income.

                  cartel and monopoly regulation determines that there is a limit to how much relative income and wealth can accrete to certain players / sectors.

                  tax regulation determines that those who make money by wage and salary pay a share of the tax and those who make money by capital asset and gain don’t pay a share of the tax, thereby determining their relative shares of the available wealth and income.

                  public sector regulation determines certain sums payable to certain departments from which they must operate thereby determining their incomes.

                  …. you see srylands, the wealth and income of New Zealand is currently determined by these and myriad other regulation, legislation, policy and other settings……

                  …. adjusting those settings to change those wealth and income distribution is nothing new………

                  • vto …
                    12 August 2013 at 9:55 pm

                    edit oops:

                    “…. you see srylands, the distribution of wealth and income in New Zealand is currently determined by these and myriad other regulation, legislation, policy and other settings……”

        • Lanthanide 6.6.1.2
          12 August 2013 at 3:29 pm

          I disagree srylands, they can afford a mortgage without incurring considerable hardship; *if* they can rustle up the deposit first, through some magical means.

        • Draco T Bastard 6.6.1.3
          12 August 2013 at 3:29 pm

          If you don’t like what you see you need to (a) bring down house prices by at least 30% and (b) introduce policies to increase incomes (and no you can’t do (b) by regulation).

          Translation: You need to do something but you can’t use the tools necessary to do so.

  7. just saying 7
    12 August 2013 at 8:36 am

    It shows they are worried about the comfy children of the comfy (especially in Auckland and Christchurch), venally voting Labour for their offer of a $35,000-40,000 subsidy on a new home. It seems National felt they had to chuck something their way. The equivalent of six months of dole money vs 3 or 4 years.

    I doubt they see the irony, and frankly the whole thing makes me sick.

  8. Sable 8
    12 August 2013 at 8:58 am

    This is a typical National policy but comes as no surprise. They don’t care about the large majority of the population, only those with deep pockets. Having said this yet to see anything from Labour that helps the working classes too.

  9. pollywog 9
    12 August 2013 at 9:36 am

    Cheap affordable housing…

    Pruitt- Igoe anyone?

  10. Stephen 10
    12 August 2013 at 9:45 am

    One feature of home ownership that is not commented on often enough is its role in funding business. Like ALL small business people (we employ more New Zealanders than any other group, so I guess we are sort of important even if ignored by left and right?) I have for 45 years funded my business and my colleagues wages on guarantees linked to the mortgage over my family’s home. When the prices of these houses drop to the level that means that all of us can own and live in our own, safe homes, how will the banks react? By calling up all loans and overdrafts that currently keep New Zealand in what little work there is still available.
    The housing problem is a great deal more complex than the easy point scoring your articles and comments suggest. If we go back to first principles, that we want people to have a stake in society, and to have safe and warm houses, isn’t a better way of achieving this to (a) make our tenancy laws secure for tenants so that they have a commitment to “their” home as they do in European countries and (b) make landlords provide a minimum standard of home if they want to rent it out?

    • geoff 10.1
      12 August 2013 at 10:21 am

      So you’re suggesting that we should keep a housing bubble going just so that businesses that borrowed irresponsibly off the back of the fictional value of their houses can keep living in fantasy land?

    • vto 10.2
      12 August 2013 at 12:43 pm

      Stephen, you do highlight a problem in your post there but not the one you think. The problem with funding from banks against homes for businesses is not the value of a persons home but the manner in which banks conduct their business.

      Banks will take anything and everything. If rules, or settings, in NZ were changed that meant banks could not do the things they currently do, do you imagine they would turn tail and leave the country? Not in our wildest dreams fulla….

      Let the banks fund against cashflow instead of asset, as it should be. But the banks will cry…. “1wah wah wah… this is the way it has to be… wah wah wah….” But don’t believe them – they deceive for their own ends. Get this….

      In days past banks used to take not a mortgage as security, they used to take ownership of the property as security. The banks insisted “wah wah wah… this is the way it has to be… wah wah wah”. But their nasty ways were seen through and the state removed the ability of banks to take ownership as security and limited it to mortgage…. and guess what has happened…. the world didn’t collapse and neither did the banks.

      Don’t listen to banks. They lie and they are the most cold-blooded of all.

      • srylands 10.2.1
        12 August 2013 at 12:48 pm

        “Let the banks fund against cashflow instead of asset”

        You are confusing funding and security.

        The banks would not leave the country. They would certainly reduce credit for loans not secured by assets.

        • vto 10.2.1.1
          12 August 2013 at 12:53 pm

          No, I am not confusing anything. The security is the cashflow / business instead. They simply have to adjust their own view on what constitutes a security. It used to be that ownership was the security and laws were brought in to limit that security to mortgage instead – don’t see banks issuing less credit as a result of that change. In fact they issue more.

          • srylands 10.2.1.1.1
            12 August 2013 at 1:00 pm

            OK whatever – get it adopted as Green party policy. When they win office next year we can add it to the great experiment.

            • vto 10.2.1.1.1.1
              12 August 2013 at 1:13 pm

              Looking outside the current paradigm is difficult for you isn’t it. Even when historic facts are put in front of you.

              And I would suggest that the great experiment is the one which is playing out its end game right now. The realities you point out on this thread elsewhere that even people with large incomes are unable to genuinely afford housing in our main centres are proof that the current capitalist system is failing.

              And all you propose is more of the same srylands. How is that going to help?

              • srylands …
                12 August 2013 at 1:17 pm

                The last thing I want is more of the same failed policies. We need radical change. Where we differ is the nature of the change required.

                • vto …
                  12 August 2013 at 1:21 pm

                  From what I recall, what you suggest is more of the free market approach, the privatisation approach, the globalisation of capital approach, the small government approach, all of which are more of the same just with greater intensity.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  12 August 2013 at 2:44 pm

                  If your “radical change” doesn’t take into direct account real resource limits and energy constraints, it’s simply a fairytale and therefore the wrong change.

                  If it does, then we can talk.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  12 August 2013 at 4:12 pm

                  You’re not advocating for change though, you’re advocating for more of the same policies that crashed the global economy.

        • muzza 10.2.1.2
          12 August 2013 at 12:55 pm

          Fraud-lands – Demographic meta-data llort boyeeeeee!

        • Colonial Viper 10.2.1.3
          12 August 2013 at 12:56 pm

          Ummmm, except banks will use securities over mortgaged properties as collateral in the hypothecation process, allowing them to access cheaper interbank funding.

          So really, vto can be said to be correct in that these banks do sometimes fund themselves (i.e. access short term liquidity) against assets, and you can be said to be the one who is confused.

        • Draco T Bastard 10.2.1.4
          12 August 2013 at 4:05 pm

          That’s ok, just have the government make the loan instead from the money that they create and charged out at 0%.

    • Colonial Viper 10.3
      12 August 2013 at 3:09 pm

      Like ALL small business people (we employ more New Zealanders than any other group, so I guess we are sort of important even if ignored by left and right?) I have for 45 years funded my business and my colleagues wages on guarantees linked to the mortgage over my family’s home.

      This is a really risky thing to do for anything longer than the shortest amount of time. Tying together your two largest assets – your business and your home – is not advice which is ever given under normal circumstances.

      The fact you say that ALL small business owners do this suggests that you have a very small circle of colleagues and that you make very big assumptions about how they finance their activities.

      Its no way to build an economy or conduct a housing market.

  11. millsy 11
    12 August 2013 at 10:58 am

    We probably should build more state houses and target government house buying assistance at state housing tenants who want to buy their own home through rent to buy schemes and the like.

  12. Greywarbler 12
    12 August 2013 at 11:03 am

    I listened to Radionz 9toNoon and turned off a speaker who just was repeating the status quo and the accepted wisdom. I had heard it all before almost line for line. How do you get to be a media commenter – offer yourself? Send in your own glowing testimonial? Stand outside the media studios showing your chest?

    Where are the people who actually think about finding what is being done elsewhere in the world, what modular designs, what mass produced designs and specs? – simple but strong, comfortable and safe dwellings are available?

    Report of study published in NZ –
    John Gibson an eminent NZ Valuer published 1987
    Affordable Housing – No Modular House Systems
    p.186 on PDF (thumbnails 28-45)
    Some NZ experiences…
    Conclusion
    This paper has outlined some of the experiences of the HCNZ in affordable housing, and identified some of the constraints to reducing house and land costs. It has also shown that with sympathetic Government actions in rebated interest rates, flexible loan policies and other actions modest cost housing is attainable and affordable.

    This much seems clear from my research: there is relatively little room for substantial savings in building costs if we are to retain the standards of construction and land subdivision that prevail at present. My research indicates that lowering of costs can only be achieved by changing of standards – but this is only if our present standards are used as a basis for comparison, or by standardisation of design and high volume production of uniformly consistent housing.

    Changing standards for both housing and subdivisional design need not necessarily mean a lowering of standards, nor should closer living patterns necessarily result in loss of privacy or an
    increase in nuisance. Medium density developments by both the Housing Corporation and the private sector have proved that properly designed complexes can provide a very acceptable living environment whilst intensifying the use of land. With the closer living patterns implied there would need to be greater attention given to the privacy of individual home owners – perhaps communal planting and short screen fences could achieve this.

    Roading standards may also need review. Some subdivisions seem to have roading standards of width and construction that would seem to be excessively high. Perhaps more use could be made of single lane, one way roading in small subdivisions, with associated cost savings.

    My paper has identified several factors affecting the affordability of housing some of which will require further consideration and development by Governments and housing agencies, if housing is to remain within the reach of at least the modest income earner.

    From USA
    http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-07-19/business/8702220790_1_design-build-manufactured-housing
    Where once the company`s product consisted almost entirely of 8-foot wall panels, today`s manufactured components include roof and floor truss systems, 30-foot sections with windows and flashings in place and such modern options as vaulted ceilings.
    From Vic Uni on Australia
    http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-NZIA1975_11HaB-t1-body-d34.html
    Significant techniques have been developed in Australia, for example, in the field of high-rise buildings. The construction of buildings from the roof down, which is claimed to cut construction time by at least one third and reduce building costs by about ten per cent, has played an important role in several cities.
    Pre-cast concrete, with its savings on erection time, has been called the most exciting of structural materials, …
    The useful life of pre-engineered formwork can be ten years or more, [don’t like the sound of this but could be improved to triple the lifetime] and the number of re-uses offers tremendous savings when measured against the costs of site-made, tailored form work. This factor has lead to broad use of pre-engineered form-work.

    Prefabricated components have come to hold an important place in many types of construction. One Australian company producing modular panelised house offers nine different basic plans which can be constructed from the 22 standard panels in the system….
    The only stage of construction where a skilled tradesman is really required is for the layout of the sub-floor channel. Both the channel and the floor must be square and level, with the required degree of accuracy being comparable with that for a conventional home.

    Other headings on google that could provide fruitful ideas:
    [PDF] A history, development and exploration of panelized construction.
    and
    [PDF] Evaluation of a single-board microcontroller suitable for rapid …
    and
    Keeper Of The Flame, Managing Technology Article | Inc.com
    and
    Managing Natural Disasters and the Environment – Greenstone
    http://www.greenstone.org/greenstone3/nzdl?a=d&d…c=aedl&ed=1‎
    Sep 19, 1985 – Mr. Aguilera was director general of the Popular Housing Reconstruction Unit ( RHP), the organization responsible for the reconstruction of 90,000 low-income …
    and interestingly
    [PDF] Glebe Report – Volume 4 Number 7 – July 10 1976
    On Ian Athfield’s award winning design for slum housing in Manila

  13. tricledrown 13
    12 August 2013 at 11:06 am

    Stephen I know a lot of people who have proped up their businesses by borrowing against: their houses its a dumb
    Idea most have lost everything
    Due to the GFC.

  14. bad12 14
    12 August 2013 at 11:52 am

    The facts are that the majority of houses built in Auckland presently and in the recent past are those of 200 square meters or more,

    Perfectly adequate 3 bedroom houses can be built at 100-120 square meters which will take out a third of the current costs of new build housing irrespective of land prices,

    Much of the current million dollar monopoly chips being bought and sold in the Auckland market are just that 100-120 square meter houses,

    Nationals latest effort at adding even more fuel to the fire of housing affordability in Auckland will achieve very little for the buyer but provide a larger pool of prospective buyers to those who are selling thus increasing the house price inflation,

    When we consider this latest ‘effort’ alongside of the removal and non replacement of 100,s of State houses within the Auckland City boundary the only logical conclusion that can be reached is that the National Government are only too happy with the current rate of inflation in that market…

  15. tricledrown 15
    12 August 2013 at 12:13 pm

    The big banks and speculators are having a fielday National aren’t going to step on the toes of their biggest donors.

  16. tracey 16
    12 August 2013 at 12:27 pm

    Did the pm say what interest his employer charged him for his first loan?

  17. xtasy 17
    12 August 2013 at 1:05 pm

    My question re all this talk about affordable housing, the crisis in Auckland and Christchurch, and demand not being met with supply is: Where does the demand actually come from???

    We have only slow growth of the population, while migration of course occurs and has recently increased. We have a growing older population, and many will naturally over coming years pass away and inherit properties to their off-spring, we have only very slow economic growth, at best “moderate”, so where is the cash coming from for the demand in housing?

    In today’s Herald there are a few interesting articles on housing, but none deliver much clear information and answers. It was clear from listening to two “experts” of sorts on Nine to Noon on Radio NZ National this morning, that what National have proposed as new policies at their weekend conference is at best a “band aid”.

    Some say that off-shore “investors” are only marginal, others claim otherwise. There is a lack of reliable information available on housing ownership, on sales, on other relevant bits that any government would need to present sound and effective policies.

    What seems clear is: There are more willing buyers than sellers, hence the price increases.

    While many home buyers may be first home buyers, or such re-arranging their live-in property (selling one for buying a more suited or desired one), these must be limited though, as I have not witnessed a substantial growth in incomes and savings, apart perhaps for the few that benefited from the tax cuts by the government a few years back.

    So investors seem to be playing an important role, that is such who buy to rent out, to lease out or simply intend to resell for a nice tax free gain in a hyped up market.

    Has anybody considered, that besides of the present investors, already sitting on the market here, who are born and bred New Zealanders and perhaps some well cashed migrants that are permanent residents and citizens, there may be more to what is happening?

    What if there is also some “investing” done by residents and citizens, who are counted as New Zealanders, but may be acting as fronting investors, for relatives or business mates off-shore, who buy up numbers of properties for the future benefit of all parties involved? New Zealand is one of few countries that has liberal rules for off-shore buyers, and if such may also involve locals to do more buying, this may actually be quite a big factor in the whole equation that goes unnoticed, as the buyers are residents and citizens, and are thus counted as New Zealanders.

    Even Labour’s plans to put limits on such “investments” by off-shore buyers could be circumvented by such practices.

    New Zealand needs to get a national register for all private and investment home owners, disclosing information that is urgently needed to find out the facts. The Councils have some information, so do some other government departments, but as it seems, there is a true lack of information about what really is going on.

    There is of course some over-crowding, where some live in overcrowded homes, in garages or whatever, but that alone cannot explain the housing crisis.

    For low income earners and beneficiaries some large scale investment will be needed to offer affordable rental homes, as neither Labour nor National have sufficient answers.

    • Skinny 17.1
      12 August 2013 at 1:25 pm

      You have put out a number of interesting points cobber. National should, and by some quarters are being taken to task on doing little more than tinkering. A register of foreign property investor would be a great start. Surely some loop hole expert can enlighten us how some foreigners are getting away with hiding their ownership?

    • johnm 17.2
      12 August 2013 at 4:18 pm

      xtasy
      mho the housing bubble is primarily fueled as a ponzi scheme by speculators for capital gain and is maintained by the hapless plebs who have to rent to pay the landlords get rich mortgage scheme.All the main Parties are in on the Ponzi too and foreign banks Aussie make a killing on the principal plus interest.

  18. tracey 18
    12 August 2013 at 1:08 pm

    Property as investment is where the demand from inside and outside new zealand.

  19. BrucetheMoose 19
    12 August 2013 at 1:10 pm

    I wonder if the question was asked at the National Party Conference, “those without an investment property, put your hands up,” how many people would have sat there with their arms crossed. Most of the room I would say. Sums up National’s and Key’s interest in affordable housing – not much.

  20. travellerev 20
    12 August 2013 at 1:14 pm

    It happened in the US, it happened in Ireland (John “I would like New Zealand to be like Ireland”key knows all about how that happened) it is happening in the UK and of course it is happening in New Zealand too. It’s just another bankster scam to rob the middle class blind, usher in the neofeudal era and fuck everybody up the ass while they live it up on the remaining world’s resources.

    Over here is will be a good little twoofer. Fucking the Kiwisaver fund and all those pennies Kiwi’s managed to save over the last couple of years and the middle class who will be left holding the can while John and his bankster mates laugh all the way to their respective banks as it all goes pearshaped.

    But talking about his behind closed doors? Neh, that would be conspiring and our governments would never do that!

    • blue leopard 20.1
      12 August 2013 at 2:09 pm

      @ Travellerev
      Yes, I agree.

      It doesn’t seem like much of a solution to encourage people to go into debt at this time (or ever).

      Isn’t this type of approach exactly what propelled the mortgage loan crisis in America? (I believe that is what you are saying)

      People get given access to loans and seem to forget that their wages should supply them with their living costs; not bank debt.

      Once they have a house in their name (owned in reality by the bank) it appears people seem to be fooled into feeling pretty well off and then keep voting for stupid policies that keep the situation degenerating.

      Only something like 10% of the world population ‘own’ land, so I guess anyone who has a mortgage is somewhat well off.

      There are more important things going on than owning houses. Large-scale fraud, degenerating working conditions, joblessness, spying, RMA & more, but guess this will fool most like all other already-proven-failure political approaches seem to.

  21. tricledrown 21
    12 August 2013 at 2:54 pm

    Srylands you have shot your self in the foot so many times today what’s happened .
    The party after the party conference!

  22. Drakula 22
    12 August 2013 at 9:56 pm

    Key is just buying votes. Where is going to get the money from? Remember last election he promised tax deduction to the same middle class bracket? By achieving this he had to increase GST by 5%!!
    And Nats call this guy a genius??? He’s only robbing Peter to Pay Paul. Poor Peter to Rich Paul.

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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

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  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

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