He did apologise for it! It was in the pub in Gwondelton and somebody else said that it sounded like an apology. It must have been 2006 or so and I remember I was going to write about in the School Notices but I never did. I have it clear in my head because I can remember it so vividly. Phil Ure must have heard it too, no doubt. 101 Fairy Meadow. I’m not making this up. Are you going to call me a liar? Apologise forthwith!
It's her maternal great-uncle who really causes me to question every recipe that woman utters. Short-changed a customer in his fruitmongery one October, you know. Shocking.
If only more people lived in the past as is right and proper we would not have any problems these days. Bring back the empire!
What an absolutely spiffing idea! And now that they are rid of those pesky Europeans – Britannia can rule the waves. And Britons Never! Never! Never! Shall be slaves!
Although the sung abhorrance of being slaves should in no way indicate that any Briton knew during the height of the transatlantic slave trade (when the song was written) that slavery was a bad thing. It was sadly the style of the time and we can only judge them by their own standards. /sarc
It will be interesting to see if Trump can get any lawyers to represent him, after his treatment of Guilini, and if any reputable firm would take him on with the probable ensuing reputational damage,
The article will be part of a concerted campaign to get National back into power. Remember them-the party who caused the housing and poverty crisis in the first place?
Nice to see Stuff place his association with National under the piece. Granny never bothers explaining Tawdrey Young's associations with national, no surprises there.
Being too generous to property investors is just hiking up housing prices. First home buyers are finding it difficult to get on the property ladder. People are requiring mental health services because of homelessness and hospital care because of unhealthy homes. The government need to build homes instead of having to find the money to fix the problems which homelessness and poor housing cause. A lot of money needs to be printed or redirected into affordable housing.
Ardern has ideas, her planning and the implementation of the idea needs to be put into action when the idea is a good solution to the problem.
The rumour was, as a young fella in the army, that stop cock was put in the food served at the mess. Ya know, to stop unwanted distractions…Potassium Bromide, my unreliable memory tells me.
I'm looking forward to pretty concrete plans coming out of the Labour caucus in Nelson today. The new public housing areas are going to be a good start. But let's see more.
Do you think, perhaps, that if Labour were to hold their Caucus somewhere around Baird's Road in South Auckland or maybe Poet's Corner in Hamilton they'd have a better idea of how urgent the housing issues are? Instead of Nelson…head up North…getting up early in the morning to catch the homeless as they vacate the park benches and bus shelters before the 'real' people begin their day.
They could have the best of both worlds…poncy hotel in downtown Tauranga with a side trip of reality as the indigent are rooted from their waterfront digs as the sun comes up.
They are clear about where the needs are, and announced the development areas today.
They are: Napier-Hastings, Hamilton, Wanganui, Whangarei, and a few more. These are specific developments delivering several thousand dwellings in total
Yeah. Right. Had a read of that at sparrow's this morning having been driven of Natrad by them broadcasting (for reasons that escape me) the bleeding US Big Boss Installation.
Here are The Plans. Look glossily awesome. I am excited.
If there are many thousands more homeless now where were they a few years ago? Were they excluded from the statistics under some disqualifying pretext, which would be my guess. But where were they living, there seems to be a disconnect ( hate that word ) as surely 5000houses or so have not burnt down? Even if low housing mortgage rates, which we have been dreaming of having for years are responsible for more ownership surely new owners must have left somewhere?
A total of 196,506 homes were left unoccupied across the country at the 2018 census, according to Stats NZ. The figure includes homes with no current occupants, unoccupied properties being renovated, baches, and holiday homes.
In the Spanish region of Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, municipalities have been permitted to take over vacant properties since 2016. For this, the apartments have to be empty for more than two years. The cities can then start to rent them as public units at affordable prices for a period of ten years at most.Jul 22, 2020
Barcelona will take over empty apartments as affordable …
"So there is no shortage of tools the Government could use to start bulldozing down the mortgage debt mountain and bringing the housing market it supports back to affordable levels.
It’s a question of whether the Government has the political will to do so and the guts to see it through"
Are you denying the fact that fixed rate is the choice of around 80% of mortgages in NZ, with a 2 year fixed term the most common?…he hasnt cherry picked anything.nor is there any scaremongering merely simple arithmetic.
As to whether interest rates increase in the next few years there are several economists suggesting exactly that, so his possit is not out of left field.
"The positives of high prices in houses is more houses are being built"…..pardon?, are you serious…even if they were (which they have not been) the problem is the price and the subsequent level of debt (and servicing) require in gthe long run to purchase them….as earlier posts have shown (200.000 empty houses) there is no shortage of housing but a shortage of "affordable housing".
Are you advising the government?…it may explain a few things.
Are you advising the government?…it may explain a few things.
Dunno about that but I do know that Tricledrown never replies to replies to their comments, never reads Moderation notes, and basically does not engage in debate here in any meaningful way. In other words, they are a spray-and-walk-away troll. They don’t even realise it when they are banned and happily keep submitting comments being blissfully unaware and oblivious to the fact that their comments are not appearing in the front-end 🙁
Not arguing about ‘trickledrown’ who does seem a law unto him/herself, but sometimes I don't reply either. It's not deliberate but we all have other things to do and I don't always get back to TS until the next day or so by which time its usually too late. I'm sure that would apply to many people who comment here.
A person buys an investment property in the last 12 months and the rent goes up to pay the bank.
Is this a good investment?
Who is buying an investment property now?
I doubt it would be first time property investors.
The government need to introduce a new special needs grant SNG as the accommodation supplement AS and temporary additional support TAS payment for rent is not enough.
The more the government increase the AS and TAS the greedier the landlord becomes and the poorer the housing conditions become because people can only afford slum housing.
A mass government housing build is required 20,000 minimum as people are facing high stress in low cost private rental.
Some one buying an investment property now is not making any money on the rental return and it would not cover mortgage payments let alone rates insurance or the big one maintenance.
The latest figures show an increase in first home buyers.
Interest rates have never been cheaper. If they are going interest only at a fixed rate they could make money. However, most used to be negative geared, though the losses are now ring fenced.
If he has to increase the rent to pay the mortgage then, on the face of it, it looks like an unsound investment; unless the rent was well below the going rate originally. The tenant should not be expected to pay the landlord's mortgage.
The tenant should not be expected to pay the landlord's mortgage.
Put so well what is happening to investment properties. Rent control is required because the banks are loaning to those who need to fleece the tenants.
Who should force landlords the government or the bank or both?
I can see why people need subsidies to pay the rent. I cannot see why landlords need to raise the rent to pay the bank for an investment property they cannot afford.
Landlords get a good return when they sell. This is why people are buying an investment property.
If subsidies were not being paid then many tenants would not be able to afford the rent being asked. However, in that case, landlords may have difficulty finding tenants with sufficient incomes, and rents may fall.
Ive been working near the Pullman, from what ive seen the quarantine facilities are not secure at all. When the area for fresh air is on a busy intersection where those in isolation can chat with freinds through the security fence… its a disaster waiting to happen.
Sure, but with a more contagious variant here wouldnt you want to make sure there is no face to face contact between those in managed isolation and those outside living in the 'new normal'
This Govt. could impose an immediate Rent Freeze with no warning, until there are enough public houses and apartments. Rents should be set at an actual 25% of income max. for State Tenants anyway, and benefits massively raised.
Activists and homeless need to start entering and occupying empty houses from one end of the country to the other. Bach? oh sorry, no one was home…speculators have to be encouraged to “diversify” somehow if the Govt. will not go there.
I once dated someone who had a bach around Red Rocks in Wellington. It was great to fish and the sunsets were amazing. The place had a bath tub with a direct view of the ocean and an oven, those were the best days.
There is quite a nice house in Wellington that is almost always empty. It should be in pretty good condition as they have just spent about $3 million on an upgrade if the rumour mill is to be believed.
Usually has one person living there for about 3 nights a week, for about 9 months/year. Address is 260 Tinakori Road. Move in and occupy it. I'm sure you will be welcome
Sounds like there is room for people. The occupant might get lonely. I always clean up after myself and do a tidy up where ever I stay. I even wash the sheets before I leave.
Are the rumours correct that the Cabinet paper going up from Minister Mahuta is proposing just 3 water entities to run the entire country? This looks like a nice deep political alliance between Mauhta and Parker on both regulatory and institutional fields.
The university tube's logarithm made me aware of this.
There is a wee sales spiel for a few minutes, but the vibe is great.
In 20 minutes, it ticks lots of boxes.
Regenerative agish, something lots of individuals can do, hands on, soil building, empowerment in the face of CC, expaining why wildfires are a good thing.
"And she said the Government would leave "no stone unturned" in its plans to fix the housing market – a market that has seen 20 per cent year-on-year price inflation."
So a CGT is now being examined to be implemented ?? Otherwise The Government is NOT leaving stones unturned. Perhaps our PM should not play with words 🤥. and give a false impression.
According to this definition: Our govt is not doing "everything or making every possible effort it can to achieve a good result". Looking and doing are not the same, but I do see your point 🤔 !!
Any proposed CGT I have seen proposed in New Zealand will exclude the family home from the tax. That will have the effect of increasing rather than decreasing house prices.
Look at what has happened in Australia where they have a CGT and a means tested national superannuation scheme. All that happens is that most people, as they reach 65, will move to a larger house, or massively do up their existing home and have a great world trip so that they can get under the means test limit where they lose their entitlement to super and they don't open up a CGT obligation if they have to move to a rest home like property.
House price increases in Australia are rising by about the same percentage as here. So much for a CGT holding house prices down. Purely as an example I would offer the following story.
"Property expert forecasts 'double-digit' growth for Aussie house prices in 2021"
Which housing crisis? The shortage of state houses one (which they can address and have made a start on) or the middle class price / ownership one which I don't think they are willing to do what it takes (or really anyone wants them to).
Unfortunately Labour has conflated these before (e.g with the 'affordable' 600k homes) but which crisis do you expect them to address?
Fail to see any 'conflation' of the two with the Kiwibuild fiasco.
If you wish to break it into sectors you can add private rentals to the mix as well.
The entire market is in crisis (with the possible exception of the luxury market) and interconnected. After 4 years the re-announcement of a modest state housing programme that falls far short of state housing levels of even the 1990s may be considered 'addressing' in your book, it isnt even close in mine.
The deliberate fuelling of the residential property market bubble they have clearly shown they are unwilling to address but i fail to see how you conclude no one wants them too…..some clearly do not but substantial numbers obviously do or it would not be considered the dominant issue, not to mention the fact that the goals of this Governments stated social policy are impossible without doing so.
So 'which crisis' do i expect them to address?…all three
Quite a big ask then. I never thought that kiwibuild would address house prices and I don't think Labour believed it would either.
I have seen them end the policy of using Housing New Zealand as a nice earner (by selling off the stock, sometimes emptying them using meth testing scams) and that Kiwibuild has basically started growing that stock again. Obviously accomodating people, who will continually need provided housing, is quite a different problem to significantly reducing house prices. But as I thought at the time they talked up Kiwibuild as addressing the later while it could only really address the former. In politics when you make promises you can't deliver on then moving the goal posts (e.g the definition of affordable) is the next strategy you often use.
I don't think the public really wants house prices to suddenly shrink. Ignoring the lack of mechanism imagine if prices fell by 30% what happens? Many new owners are suddenly under water. At this point the banks put more pressure on the reduce debt and the savings behaviour tips the economy towards recession. If the government doesn't respond with spending much more strongly than 2010 then fresh batches of unemployed ultimately pay the price for the housing price adjustment. Ardern has now said multiple times this is not something she wants to see happen. As far as I have seen people who say they want a large fall in prices don't understand what this implies, or acknowledge this problem with that scenario but I assume they don't want this outcome (and they didn't understand likely consequences) not that they thought it was equitable.
Kiwibuild was the part of the overall plan intended to shift private developers towards cheaper builds. Relied too much on them not behaving in their own commercial interests. 'Naive' is being polite.
Building state houses was always a separate part of the same overall plan, incredibly badly communicated by that guy who lost his job over it.
The biggest economic problem with cutting house prices is that too many of NZ's small businesses are also secured against them by our lazy banks.
Am well aware of the potential fall out from a sudden price correction of any significance however the current situation is both unsustainable and will correct at some point in any case…..a serious attempt to wind back the price to income ratios does not necessitate a collapse though that risk exists….the current Gov. position is contrary to such…i.e. 'moderated price growth'
The economy can be stimulated (and employment preserved) through other mechanisms should the Government so choose and underwater mortgages (for owner occupiers) can be removed from the banks balance sheets as has been done before….its not as if we dont have alternative areas that need the investment.
The current situation simply highlights the dearth of any other strategy despite all the time they have had to develop such and also is a one way trip as no central bank has any idea how to unwind what was supposed to be a temporary support measure without causing what they are charged with avoiding and why the RBNZ has constantly called for the fiscal arm to play its role….our current fiscal arm appears bereft of such capability.
Meanwhile increasing numbers of households are losing the wherewithal to contribute to the economy that will cost us in the medium/long term….something both Robertson and Ardern claimed they would avoid.
I agree a price correction while dealing with the fall out would be acceptable.
Unfortunately Labour has shown only interest in avoiding the price correction, while the comment above suggests some people don't seem to think there will be a negative fall out from a price correction (and don't address mitigation).
I am a realist. I don't expect them to address any of the problems relating to housing. They haven't done anything significant in the first 3 years and I really don't expect to see any real improvement in such numbers as the number of of families on the waiting list has risen from 5844 in September 2017 to 22,409 in November 2020.
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Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Jeremiah Manele has been elected Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, polling 31 votes to 18 over rival candidate and former opposition leader Mathew Wale with one abstention. The final result of the election by secret ballot was announced by the Governor-General, Sir David Vunagi, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Priestley Habru, PhD candidate, public diplomacy, University of Adelaide Former foreign minister Jeremiah Manele has been elected the next prime minister of Solomon Islands, defeating the opposition leader, Matthew Wale, in a vote in parliament. The result is a mixed bag for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shaun Eaves, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Jamey Stutz, CC BY-SA How often do mountains collapse, volcanoes erupt or ice sheets melt? For Earth scientists, these are important questions as we try ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Flood, Professor of Sociology, Queensland University of Technology Shutterstock Most young adult men in Australia reject traditional ideas of masculinity that endorse aggression, stoicism and homophobia. Nonetheless, the ongoing influence of those ideas continues to harm men and the people ...
The NZQA proposal released to staff today would involve a net loss of 35 roles. There are 66 roles being disestablished with 13 of those currently vacant, and 31 new roles proposed, said Fleur Fitzsimons Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga ...
Alex Casey talks to Loren Taylor, the writer, director and star of new film The Moon is Upside Down, about assembling her dream ensemble cast, toilet paper pads and turning literal dreams into reality. There’s a moment in The Moon is Upside Down where frazzled anaesthetist Briar (Loren Taylor) gets ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassy Dittman, Senior Lecturer/Head of Course (Undergraduate Psychology), Research Fellow, Manna Institute, CQUniversity Australia With winter sports swinging into action, adults around the country have volunteered or been volunteered by others (humorously known as being “volun-told”) to coach junior sports teams. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karleen Gribble, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University richardernestyap/Shutterstock Parents are often advised to burp their babies after feeding them. Some people think burping after feeding is important to reduce or prevent discomfort crying, or to ...
Workers at a major ASB contact centre in Auckland have voted to take strike action and withdraw their labour following disappointing pay negotiations with the employer and an "offer" to workers that would leave them worse off than the previous year. ...
As the government tries to get the country back on track with a school phone ban, Tara Ward has an idea for where they should turn their attention to next.New Zealand students returned to school on Monday morning, but their cellphones did not. The government’s new phone ban began ...
The Labour Party is demanding Peters be stood down, saying "he's embarrassed the country" with a "totally unacceptable" attack on a prominent AUKUS critic. ...
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance, whose members were victims of a China-backed cyber attack, is discussing forming a standing committee to deal with foreign influence. ...
The PSA is concerned that the voluntary redundancies being offered to staff by Stats NZ will impact on the agency’s ability to deliver on its core functions. ...
Results ranged from surprisingly yum to soul-destroying. I love cooking. The kitchen is a hearth of culinary creation, of sensory delights, of gastronomic poetry. I also can’t afford anything nice. Why does a pack of instant noodles and some milk cost ten bucks? I love you, Aotearoa, but I miss ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Police in Solomon Islands are on high alert ahead of the election of the prime minister today. The two candidates for the top job are former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele at the head of the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation, which is ...
He’s fine but it feels like I’m losing a friend and it’s making me bitter. How do I say ‘enough is enough’? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzHey Hera,I’ve recently moved in with a girlfriend, her partner Steve, and his friend. We all live in a lovely little house. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Chartres, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney shutterstockAhmet Misirligul/Shutterstock You go to the gym, eat healthy and walk as much as possible. You wash your hands and get vaccinated. You control your health. This is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Hendriks, Research Fellow and Lecturer, Curtin University Children and young people may be seeing news headlines about men murdering women or footage of people rallying to call for action. Perhaps they or their friends have even gone to the protests. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Balanzategui, Senior Lecturer in Media, RMIT University ABC “Bluey mania” shows no sign of abating. Bluey’s season finale, The Sign, was the most viewed ABC program of all time on iView. A “hidden” follow-up episode, aptly named The Surprise, created ...
Labour market figures came in softer than the Reserve Bank had forecast, but they won’t be enough to move the needle on interest rates, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Unemployment ...
The campaign will engage the community and encourage submissions on the bill to the New Zealand government by the closing submission deadline of Friday 31st of May 2024 4pm. ...
The paper raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand's political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency plays in that. ...
The Urban Habitat Collective was an attempt to built an innovative new form of apartment building in Wellington. Here’s why it failed, and why the idea could still work, writes co-founder Bronwen Newton. When we started the Urban Habitat Collective in November 2018, we thought we were starting a revolution, ...
Two decades ago this week, a controversial law that attempted to define ownership of the foreshore and seabed prompted a formidable display of outrage and kōtahitanga as 15,000 marched to parliament. Jamie Tahana looks back.‘Hīkoi, hīkoi,” they chanted by the thousands as the biggest Māori march in a generation ...
A Labour Party Member’s Bill aims to plug a culpability gap between manslaughter and health and safety breaches The post New push for corporate killing laws appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Terence O’Brien had the rare and no doubt undesired distinction of rising to one of the most exalted positions in New Zealand diplomacy, then being unceremoniously recalled to Wellington without explanation just when his career was at its zenith. What is perhaps more surprising is that he appears to have ...
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Why has New Zealand slipped from third to 12th on Quality of Death Indexes over the past decade or so? Hospice New Zealand Chief Executive Wayne Naylor has a list of reasons. “We don’t have a current national strategy – the Government hasn’t renewed our 2001 strategy, so we don’t ...
While women’s sport is exploding in Aotearoa and around the world, you still don’t hear a lot of talk about athletes and their periods, RED-S, breastfeeding and visible panty-lines. SASS (Suze and Sez Sports)Talk isn’t afraid to have that kōrero.LockerRoom founder Suzanne McFadden and Olympian broadcaster Sarah ...
On an unusually hot night in January 2019, a little boy’s lifeless body was found face up in a small town’s sewage oxidation pond. To the police, it was an open and shut case: three-year-old Lachlan Jones had run away from his home in the Southland town of Gore, climbed ...
Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter has apologised in Parliament after National accused her of intimidating and attacking one of its ministers in the House. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Prime Minister and state and territory leaders met on Wednesday as the national cabinet to discuss a crisis gripping Australia – the horrific number of women murdered this year. The killings have shocked ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Radhika Raghav, Teaching Fellow, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Otago Netflix Indian director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for his big-budget Bollywood production, featuring grand sets, star casts, meticulously choreographed dance sequences and lavish costumes, jewellery and furnishings. ...
Sir Robert devoted his life to disability rights after living in institutions in his younger years, says Kaihautū Tika Hauātanga | Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University Violence against women is not a women’s problem to solve, it is a whole of society problem to solve; and men in particular have to take responsibility. Those were the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Allen, Senior Lecturer in Chemical and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Newcastle Snapshot freddy/ShutterstockPlans to revive an old coal-fired power station using bioenergy are being considered in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Similar plans for the station ...
Responding to the long-awaited release of judges’ special allowances, including free air travel and hotels for spouses, generous sabbaticals, and access to limousines, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Alex Murphy said: “In what world does your employer ...
Analysis - The United States has unveiled plans to boost the weapons trade with Australia and the UK, on the same day that Winston Peters is expected to sketch NZ's position on AUKUS. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Carson, Professor of Political Communication, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University Since Australia’s First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum in October 2023, diverse commentaries have sought to explain why it failed. But what does an analysis of media ...
Lawyers representing two iwi as well as the Māori Women’s Welfare League on Wednesday asked the Court of Appeal to overturn last week’s High Court decision on the Waitangi Tribunal’s decision to summons Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Tribunal is currently investigating the Government’s decision to repeal section 7AA of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will introduce legislation to ban deepfake pornography and provide more funding for the eSafety Commission to pilot age-assurance technologies. The contribution of internet sites to gender-based violence was one major issue ...
Average ordinary time hourly earnings, as measured by the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), increased 5.2 percent in the year to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Annual wage cost inflation, as measured by the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitrios Salampasis, FinTech Capability Lead | Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies and FinTech, Swinburne University of Technology Clem Onojeghuo/Unsplash In the digital era, the job market is increasingly becoming a minefield – demanding and difficult to navigate. According to the Australian Bureau ...
As of the March 2024 quarter, we can now look back on 20 years of data related to youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), as collected by the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS), according to figures released by Stats NZ today. "The ...
Thousands of workers attended public events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today to celebrate International Workers’ Day (May Day), but union representatives are urging caution and vigilance over the Government’s blatantly "anti-worker" ...
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in the March 2024 quarter, compared with 4.0 percent in the previous quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
The PSA is warning the Government that the sensitive information of New Zealanders held by various agencies will fall into the wrong hands if the latest round of proposed cuts goes ahead. ...
Ding dong, Darth Drumpf is gone.
https://twitter.com/Karnythia/status/1351867348672794626
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nigella-lawson-donald-trump-recipe_n_60082291c5b6ffcab9693878
Funny—and ironic, coming from the daughter of one of Thatcher's notorious henchmen of the blighted 1980s.
Jeez, you're so stuck in the past you're probably still rockin' a mullet.
As far as her father is concerned, I'm more than prepared to let bygones be bygones.
As soon as he apologizes for the devastation in which he was a prime part.
He did apologise for it! It was in the pub in Gwondelton and somebody else said that it sounded like an apology. It must have been 2006 or so and I remember I was going to write about in the School Notices but I never did. I have it clear in my head because I can remember it so vividly. Phil Ure must have heard it too, no doubt. 101 Fairy Meadow. I’m not making this up. Are you going to call me a liar? Apologise forthwith!
\sarc
It's her maternal great-uncle who really causes me to question every recipe that woman utters. Short-changed a customer in his fruitmongery one October, you know. Shocking.
If only more people lived in the past as is right and proper we would not have any problems these days. Bring back the empire!
What an absolutely spiffing idea! And now that they are rid of those pesky Europeans – Britannia can rule the waves. And Britons Never! Never! Never! Shall be slaves!
Even in darkest Northcote!
Mordor with streetlights.
Although the sung abhorrance of being slaves should in no way indicate that any Briton knew during the height of the transatlantic slave trade (when the song was written) that slavery was a bad thing. It was sadly the style of the time and we can only judge them by their own standards. /sarc
Hear, hear!
https://magazine-photo.rmngp.fr/en/autour-des-collections/imperial-spectacle
“that woman”
Just one quibble: Empire
You hardly need the \sarc tag, my friend. You're better than that. You got me, and you got me good.
And now the lawsuits begin.
It will be interesting to see if Trump can get any lawyers to represent him, after his treatment of Guilini, and if any reputable firm would take him on with the probable ensuing reputational damage,
In full agreement with John Bishop. A nasty shock to start the day with!!!
Not sure if anybody should take any notice of John Bishop given his involvement in the Taxpayer's Union, that well known far-right mob.
https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/tags/john_bishop
The article will be part of a concerted campaign to get National back into power. Remember them-the party who caused the housing and poverty crisis in the first place?
Nice to see Stuff place his association with National under the piece. Granny never bothers explaining Tawdrey Young's associations with national, no surprises there.
Being too generous to property investors is just hiking up housing prices. First home buyers are finding it difficult to get on the property ladder. People are requiring mental health services because of homelessness and hospital care because of unhealthy homes. The government need to build homes instead of having to find the money to fix the problems which homelessness and poor housing cause. A lot of money needs to be printed or redirected into affordable housing.
Ardern has ideas, her planning and the implementation of the idea needs to be put into action when the idea is a good solution to the problem.
Even a stopped cock, etc..
The rumour was, as a young fella in the army, that stop cock was put in the food served at the mess. Ya know, to stop unwanted distractions…Potassium Bromide, my unreliable memory tells me.
Also popular in prisons back in the day. Seems to come naturally to these blowhards.
I see what you did there.
I'm looking forward to pretty concrete plans coming out of the Labour caucus in Nelson today. The new public housing areas are going to be a good start. But let's see more.
Do you think, perhaps, that if Labour were to hold their Caucus somewhere around Baird's Road in South Auckland or maybe Poet's Corner in Hamilton they'd have a better idea of how urgent the housing issues are? Instead of Nelson…head up North…getting up early in the morning to catch the homeless as they vacate the park benches and bus shelters before the 'real' people begin their day.
They could have the best of both worlds…poncy hotel in downtown Tauranga with a side trip of reality as the indigent are rooted from their waterfront digs as the sun comes up.
No.
They are clear about where the needs are, and announced the development areas today.
They are: Napier-Hastings, Hamilton, Wanganui, Whangarei, and a few more. These are specific developments delivering several thousand dwellings in total
I agree with John Bishop
The Labour govt needs to unapologetically roll up its sleeves and get to work
But the alternative ??
Can't see myself ever voting National , and The Greens(I'm a member) need to step up a bit more loudly
How much longer can we hope for the change that never comes?
Its not even incremental improvement , we're getting worse outcomes for housing, poverty and climate disaster as time goes on
The alternative is: any other country in the world except Australia.
Even Denmark is screwed for 2021.
If these two twits can't feel the blood in my eyes at the horror of our housing situation in Gisborne I know them for the Blairites they are.
Speak, carry on their comfortable lives, can't do … a shit.
There is a whole rank of social democrats in their 50s up who know what to do but politics has left them out. The switcheroo can come though.
Finally, some murmurings on housing. I'll believe it when I see it.
Yeah. Right. Had a read of that at sparrow's this morning having been driven of Natrad by them broadcasting (for reasons that escape me) the bleeding US Big Boss Installation.
Here are The Plans. Look glossily awesome. I am excited.
https://www.hud.govt.nz/community-and-public-housing/increasing-public-housing/public-housing-plan/
You mean the re-announcement of last years plan?
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/ardern-lays-out-path-to-18000-more-state-homes
There is nothing new there, they have simply moved the end date to 2024 and the consequent expected build numbers.
Local initiatives to solve local problems are putting the Labour govt to shame
This guy is brilliant and wonder of wonders has managed to get TDC on side
The first house is being built now
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/homed-series/123658588/golden-bays-affordable-housing-project-receives-multiple-land-offers
If there are many thousands more homeless now where were they a few years ago? Were they excluded from the statistics under some disqualifying pretext, which would be my guess. But where were they living, there seems to be a disconnect ( hate that word ) as surely 5000houses or so have not burnt down? Even if low housing mortgage rates, which we have been dreaming of having for years are responsible for more ownership surely new owners must have left somewhere?
Well, how many are owned by foreigners and only occupied when their owners are here?
A total of 196,506 homes were left unoccupied across the country at the 2018 census, according to Stats NZ. The figure includes homes with no current occupants, unoccupied properties being renovated, baches, and holiday homes.
200k empty 'ghost' houses: Why and what would … – Stuff.co.nz
http://www.stuff.co.nz › life-style › homed › 200k-empty-ghost…
One solution, from the web.
In the Spanish region of Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, municipalities have been permitted to take over vacant properties since 2016. For this, the apartments have to be empty for more than two years. The cities can then start to rent them as public units at affordable prices for a period of ten years at most.Jul 22, 2020
Barcelona will take over empty apartments as affordable …
Thats one of the solutions this government dosnt have the political stomach for…
A very succinct analysis of the implications of NZs mortgage debt.
https://www.interest.co.nz/property/108685/once-threat-covid-recedes-we-will-need-tackle-enormous-debt-mountain-thats-propping
"So there is no shortage of tools the Government could use to start bulldozing down the mortgage debt mountain and bringing the housing market it supports back to affordable levels.
It’s a question of whether the Government has the political will to do so and the guts to see it through"
Pat taking the worst case scenario Innes used the floating interst rates where fixed interest rates were 2% lower.
Scaremongering the actual impact on the economy is minuscule a few $100 million.
The chances of interest rates going up by anything significant in the next 5 years are very remote indeed.
The positives of high prices in houses is that more houses are being built old houses upgraded.
With 45'000 new permits the housing crises will be solved if that level can be maintained.
Are you denying the fact that fixed rate is the choice of around 80% of mortgages in NZ, with a 2 year fixed term the most common?…he hasnt cherry picked anything.nor is there any scaremongering merely simple arithmetic.
As to whether interest rates increase in the next few years there are several economists suggesting exactly that, so his possit is not out of left field.
"The positives of high prices in houses is more houses are being built"…..pardon?, are you serious…even if they were (which they have not been) the problem is the price and the subsequent level of debt (and servicing) require in gthe long run to purchase them….as earlier posts have shown (200.000 empty houses) there is no shortage of housing but a shortage of "affordable housing".
Are you advising the government?…it may explain a few things.
Dunno about that but I do know that Tricledrown never replies to replies to their comments, never reads Moderation notes, and basically does not engage in debate here in any meaningful way. In other words, they are a spray-and-walk-away troll. They don’t even realise it when they are banned and happily keep submitting comments being blissfully unaware and oblivious to the fact that their comments are not appearing in the front-end 🙁
Thank you…I confess I hadnt noticed the form
It drives me nuts at times …
Not arguing about ‘trickledrown’ who does seem a law unto him/herself, but sometimes I don't reply either. It's not deliberate but we all have other things to do and I don't always get back to TS until the next day or so by which time its usually too late. I'm sure that would apply to many people who comment here.
Yup
A person buys an investment property in the last 12 months and the rent goes up to pay the bank.
Is this a good investment?
Who is buying an investment property now?
I doubt it would be first time property investors.
The government need to introduce a new special needs grant SNG as the accommodation supplement AS and temporary additional support TAS payment for rent is not enough.
The more the government increase the AS and TAS the greedier the landlord becomes and the poorer the housing conditions become because people can only afford slum housing.
A mass government housing build is required 20,000 minimum as people are facing high stress in low cost private rental.
Some one buying an investment property now is not making any money on the rental return and it would not cover mortgage payments let alone rates insurance or the big one maintenance.
The latest figures show an increase in first home buyers.
Interest rates have never been cheaper. If they are going interest only at a fixed rate they could make money. However, most used to be negative geared, though the losses are now ring fenced.
If he has to increase the rent to pay the mortgage then, on the face of it, it looks like an unsound investment; unless the rent was well below the going rate originally. The tenant should not be expected to pay the landlord's mortgage.
We badly need rent control.
The tenant should not be expected to pay the landlord's mortgage.
Put so well what is happening to investment properties. Rent control is required because the banks are loaning to those who need to fleece the tenants.
Subsidizing rent was a stupid idea . Cut all subsidies now force land lords to wear it or get out .
Subsidies just support landlords mortgages.
Who should force landlords the government or the bank or both?
I can see why people need subsidies to pay the rent. I cannot see why landlords need to raise the rent to pay the bank for an investment property they cannot afford.
Landlords get a good return when they sell. This is why people are buying an investment property.
If subsidies were not being paid then many tenants would not be able to afford the rent being asked. However, in that case, landlords may have difficulty finding tenants with sufficient incomes, and rents may fall.
NCEA results will be released today.
Ive been working near the Pullman, from what ive seen the quarantine facilities are not secure at all. When the area for fresh air is on a busy intersection where those in isolation can chat with freinds through the security fence… its a disaster waiting to happen.
Crinkle wood there is always room for improvement no country can claim to have all their bases covered like we have seen in Australia.
With more variants developing even variants that could be immune to vaccination 'also vaccine availability 'vaccines length of protection.
It looks like we could be in for the long haul and just accept this is the new normal.
Sure, but with a more contagious variant here wouldnt you want to make sure there is no face to face contact between those in managed isolation and those outside living in the 'new normal'
Does seem pretty basic stuff.
Quarantine as in having Covid like at Jet Park?
There would also be a risk if an object was passed to the outside.
Do you know if they have fence visiting hours as using a cell is not enough for some?
This Govt. could impose an immediate Rent Freeze with no warning, until there are enough public houses and apartments. Rents should be set at an actual 25% of income max. for State Tenants anyway, and benefits massively raised.
Activists and homeless need to start entering and occupying empty houses from one end of the country to the other. Bach? oh sorry, no one was home…speculators have to be encouraged to “diversify” somehow if the Govt. will not go there.
+1 and I know a lot of people who would support this 100%..including a few home owners as well, contrary to popular belief.
+1
I once dated someone who had a bach around Red Rocks in Wellington. It was great to fish and the sunsets were amazing. The place had a bath tub with a direct view of the ocean and an oven, those were the best days.
There is quite a nice house in Wellington that is almost always empty. It should be in pretty good condition as they have just spent about $3 million on an upgrade if the rumour mill is to be believed.
Usually has one person living there for about 3 nights a week, for about 9 months/year. Address is 260 Tinakori Road. Move in and occupy it. I'm sure you will be welcome
83 Archers Rd, Glenfield, unoccupied for 10+ years https://goo.gl/maps/xiaYRFk9dNwgtNdP9
Windsor Tavern, Parnell, unoccupied for 5+ years https://goo.gl/maps/7L1PDsMsAhmWC3RH9
It's a land-banking crisis.
Sounds like there is room for people. The occupant might get lonely. I always clean up after myself and do a tidy up where ever I stay. I even wash the sheets before I leave.
Are the rumours correct that the Cabinet paper going up from Minister Mahuta is proposing just 3 water entities to run the entire country? This looks like a nice deep political alliance between Mauhta and Parker on both regulatory and institutional fields.
The university tube's logarithm made me aware of this.
There is a wee sales spiel for a few minutes, but the vibe is great.
In 20 minutes, it ticks lots of boxes.
Regenerative agish, something lots of individuals can do, hands on, soil building, empowerment in the face of CC, expaining why wildfires are a good thing.
"And she said the Government would leave "no stone unturned" in its plans to fix the housing market – a market that has seen 20 per cent year-on-year price inflation."
So a CGT is now being examined to be implemented ?? Otherwise The Government is NOT leaving stones unturned. Perhaps our PM should not play with words 🤥. and give a false impression.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-puts-fixing-housing-crisis-at-the-top-of-her-political-agenda/RDYHSCQPIRY7Z5R4ZWWATOO6AU
They've already turned that one.
https://www.theidioms.com/leave-no-stone-unturned/
Meaning
Source: theidioms.com
According to this definition: Our govt is not doing "everything or making every possible effort it can to achieve a good result". Looking and doing are not the same, but I do see your point 🤔 !!
Stone you were looking for:
https://taxworkinggroup.govt.nz/resources/future-tax-final-report.html
Any proposed CGT I have seen proposed in New Zealand will exclude the family home from the tax. That will have the effect of increasing rather than decreasing house prices.
Look at what has happened in Australia where they have a CGT and a means tested national superannuation scheme. All that happens is that most people, as they reach 65, will move to a larger house, or massively do up their existing home and have a great world trip so that they can get under the means test limit where they lose their entitlement to super and they don't open up a CGT obligation if they have to move to a rest home like property.
House price increases in Australia are rising by about the same percentage as here. So much for a CGT holding house prices down. Purely as an example I would offer the following story.
"Property expert forecasts 'double-digit' growth for Aussie house prices in 2021"
https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-property-prices-experts-predict-double-digit-growth-in-2021/dadddfde-0b6b-4e1d-aad6-6b77105e932b
This is getting bloody ridiculous
"Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has mapped out a timeline for when the public can expect new announcements from the government on housing."
An announcement about an announcement…that'll make a difference, FFS
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/434929/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-details-timeline-for-housing-annoucements
Which housing crisis? The shortage of state houses one (which they can address and have made a start on) or the middle class price / ownership one which I don't think they are willing to do what it takes (or really anyone wants them to).
Unfortunately Labour has conflated these before (e.g with the 'affordable' 600k homes) but which crisis do you expect them to address?
Fail to see any 'conflation' of the two with the Kiwibuild fiasco.
If you wish to break it into sectors you can add private rentals to the mix as well.
The entire market is in crisis (with the possible exception of the luxury market) and interconnected. After 4 years the re-announcement of a modest state housing programme that falls far short of state housing levels of even the 1990s may be considered 'addressing' in your book, it isnt even close in mine.
The deliberate fuelling of the residential property market bubble they have clearly shown they are unwilling to address but i fail to see how you conclude no one wants them too…..some clearly do not but substantial numbers obviously do or it would not be considered the dominant issue, not to mention the fact that the goals of this Governments stated social policy are impossible without doing so.
So 'which crisis' do i expect them to address?…all three
But they didn't. They need to.
Quite a big ask then. I never thought that kiwibuild would address house prices and I don't think Labour believed it would either.
I have seen them end the policy of using Housing New Zealand as a nice earner (by selling off the stock, sometimes emptying them using meth testing scams) and that Kiwibuild has basically started growing that stock again. Obviously accomodating people, who will continually need provided housing, is quite a different problem to significantly reducing house prices. But as I thought at the time they talked up Kiwibuild as addressing the later while it could only really address the former. In politics when you make promises you can't deliver on then moving the goal posts (e.g the definition of affordable) is the next strategy you often use.
I don't think the public really wants house prices to suddenly shrink. Ignoring the lack of mechanism imagine if prices fell by 30% what happens? Many new owners are suddenly under water. At this point the banks put more pressure on the reduce debt and the savings behaviour tips the economy towards recession. If the government doesn't respond with spending much more strongly than 2010 then fresh batches of unemployed ultimately pay the price for the housing price adjustment. Ardern has now said multiple times this is not something she wants to see happen. As far as I have seen people who say they want a large fall in prices don't understand what this implies, or acknowledge this problem with that scenario but I assume they don't want this outcome (and they didn't understand likely consequences) not that they thought it was equitable.
Kiwibuild was the part of the overall plan intended to shift private developers towards cheaper builds. Relied too much on them not behaving in their own commercial interests. 'Naive' is being polite.
Building state houses was always a separate part of the same overall plan, incredibly badly communicated by that guy who lost his job over it.
The biggest economic problem with cutting house prices is that too many of NZ's small businesses are also secured against them by our lazy banks.
Am well aware of the potential fall out from a sudden price correction of any significance however the current situation is both unsustainable and will correct at some point in any case…..a serious attempt to wind back the price to income ratios does not necessitate a collapse though that risk exists….the current Gov. position is contrary to such…i.e. 'moderated price growth'
The economy can be stimulated (and employment preserved) through other mechanisms should the Government so choose and underwater mortgages (for owner occupiers) can be removed from the banks balance sheets as has been done before….its not as if we dont have alternative areas that need the investment.
The current situation simply highlights the dearth of any other strategy despite all the time they have had to develop such and also is a one way trip as no central bank has any idea how to unwind what was supposed to be a temporary support measure without causing what they are charged with avoiding and why the RBNZ has constantly called for the fiscal arm to play its role….our current fiscal arm appears bereft of such capability.
Meanwhile increasing numbers of households are losing the wherewithal to contribute to the economy that will cost us in the medium/long term….something both Robertson and Ardern claimed they would avoid.
I agree a price correction while dealing with the fall out would be acceptable.
Unfortunately Labour has shown only interest in avoiding the price correction, while the comment above suggests some people don't seem to think there will be a negative fall out from a price correction (and don't address mitigation).
"but which crisis do you expect them to address".
I am a realist. I don't expect them to address any of the problems relating to housing. They haven't done anything significant in the first 3 years and I really don't expect to see any real improvement in such numbers as the number of of families on the waiting list has risen from 5844 in September 2017 to 22,409 in November 2020.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-zealands-public-housing-crisis-waiting-list-grows-nearly-1000-in-two-months/UFYUW4QAUXIYZARA2ASC2L56VY/