So, You Want To Buy Your First Home?

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 7th, 2021 - 75 comments
Categories: babies, capital gains, cost of living, Economy, employment, families, housing, jobs, kiwisaver, Media, the praiseworthy and the pitiful - Tags: , , , ,

First state house in NZ, built 1937.

So, you want to buy your first home? Firstly, congratulations! You have joined or will join the large but slowly shrinking team of rational Kiwis who think ahead and look at the future. Indeed, why toil away your life paying dead money into somebody else’s mortgage?

It is said that our economy is a housing market with bits bolted on. Sadly, this has more than a ring of truth to it. Apparently, there are hundreds of billions of dollars slushing around in our housing market, all mostly (!) tax-free. No wonder all this capital will never find its way to other ways of investment, e.g. to lift productivity and our overall standard of living. This legal Ponzi scheme only works if and as long the money stays tied in the housing market. The media, banks, insurance companies, real estate agents, politicians, your friends, family, and work mates, your children and even clairvoyants will see to it that nobody sings out of tune and deviates from the path of rational orthodoxy – I cannot think of the name for it.

As first-home buyer you will have undoubtedly done your homework and sums and worked out that paying the mortgage is only slightly more than paying the rent and in some places it is even less. You have worked hard, both you and your partner/spouse, to save for the deposit, which always seemed so close yet so far with the ever-increasing house prices and ridiculous bidding wars at auctions. The ancient but wise Greeks knew of the punishment of Tantalus but he had been a bad boy and it is not fair that first-home buyers have to endure a similar treatment.

Currently, you will have to save up about $100,000 and on average for 238 weeks to open the door to have a peek inside let alone a foot in the door. But you did it! Well done. Quickly buy a house before it is out of reach again.

How many sacrifices did you make? How many coffees, avocados smashed onto toast, and romantic dinners did you forego – yes, date nights are important even when no longer dating – and how many take-away meals on the couch watching Netflix did you have because you were to buggered cooking a decent healthy meal or to socialise with friends?


You know it has to be done. You know how it is has to be done. There are plenty of really really good and helpful articles in the media with useful tips on how to save for a deposit and pay off your mortgage faster (usually by the same authors AKA opinion leaders but usually not in the same article). If you think it is too hard then there are the articles to put you to shame and give you an instant guilt complex. These are about snotty twenty-something average Kiwis who have bought their first home. If these Wunderkinds can do it, so can you, you wimp. If that does not do the trick, think of the theme song of Bob the Builder (I told you that your children would influence your decisions) and once it is in your head you are effectively brainwashed.

To give you a helping hand, Government allows you to dip into your retirement savings to buy your first home, knowing full well that your first home can make a huge difference to your financial comfort in later life. This is how the system has been designed (no, not actually KiwiSaver). More than 40,000 have taken this option last year, which just shows how keen people like you are to get on that first rung and how keen politicians are not to upset the apple cart. The competition from asset-rich existing homeowners and investors is more brutal than Mortal Kombat.

If you find saving (too) hard, you have to come up with a more cunning financial plan. This may involve buying Lotto tickets, betting at the TAB, or starting your own church to fill your pockets – black leather biker jacket, hair gel, and shades are optional to avoid too much glare from above. One word of advice (disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor): do not use/buy a car if you can reasonably avoid it – it will save you thousands and it is better for the Planet.

I can only assume that FOMO played only a major role in your decision to jump on the property ladder. This is entirely natural and understandable and thus quasi-rational. After all, you were already well and truly captivated by the rat race. The media have been fuelling FOMO, of course. At the same time, the media love publishing horror stories of psychopathic landlords and meth-smoking or meth-cooking sociopathic renters. The latter almost led to a whole new industry of meth testing. Of course, you do not smoke meth, only others do and drug testing is big here in NZ.


Despite the many romcoms on widescreen TV, the call of nature had to be put on hold for a few years, on average 238 weeks, to be more precise. No worries, IVF can make up for it later. This could be another story entitled So, you want to have your first IVF baby? However, the tortuous path leading to IVF is no fun and IVF is no picnic in the park. Besides being emotionally draining it can also be a drain on your bank account.

Once you have your dream home and children you may find that half an income, usually from the male AKA bread-earner as opposed to the bread-maker, can make it a lot harder to make ends meet. Mind you, you can always work more hours, go for promotion, and work yourself to your first burnout and possibly an early grave. Not to mention that financial strain can take its toll on the relationship, including those precious ones with your children. But it is worth it and don’t take just my word for it, follow the example of all the many others. Aotearoa-New Zealand needs more babies, lots more, so go forth and multiply, after you have bought your first home, of course – first things first, as Maslow said.

All that money that you did not spend and saved up was not doing much, i.e. it was not productive, was it? Did you have it in a savings account? Based on new residential mortgage lending statistics, well over $1 billion was sitting in banks as deposits in 2020 and at least $250 million was of first-home buyers. Imagine if some or all of that money had been spent in the economy, e.g. on coffees, or going to the movies, or on new clothes, or on dinners for two or with friends, or on a hobby or sport or on learning/creating something for the sake of it and just for the joy it sparks and the reward of achievement and accomplishment in its own right. It would have been a welcome boost for local retailers and hospitality. Instead, millions of dollars were safely stacked away under the matrass, so to speak, and taken out of the economy. And you were just working your ass off that would make a Calvinist feel inferior.

At the end of the day, it is your choice and decision about your life. It is pretty exciting (or nerve wrecking) to buy your first home together or by yourself. You know why you (want to) do it and whether the sacrifices are worth it. Once you are on the ladder, it gets a little easier, financially speaking, because you do not need to work so hard to scrape together another deposit. In fact, your first home will do this for you while you are asleep or lying awake in your bed at night. In fact, your home is likely to earn more than you do in your job and it does this 24/7, 365 days a year. Money does not grow on trees, it grows on houses. It is pure magic!

75 comments on “So, You Want To Buy Your First Home? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. mickysavage 1
    7 March 2021 at 8:25 am

    Good post. I feel afraid for young couples buying their own home right now. Interest rates are low but a couple of points increase will make things really tight unless you have lots of head room.

    The Government has a demand side policy announcement due soon. It will be interesting to see what they decide on.

  2. Ad 2
    7 March 2021 at 8:34 am

    Bank of Mum and Dad celebrations should be held 5 years after 21sts.

    • Sanctuary 3.1
      7 March 2021 at 10:12 am

      I don't think the venomous AMDS (Absolute Majority Derangement Syndrome) much of the more activist left has succumbed to in it's rhetoric since the election is helping anyone very much.

    • Incognito 3.2
      7 March 2021 at 12:53 pm

      Thanks, I hadn’t read that piece by Anna Rawhiti-Connell and I love it because it is so bloody real (raw) and true (tragic).

      Reading it, I thought of the Kübler-Ross five stages of grief. First-home buyers cycle through the various stages but never quite reach the final stage of acceptance and closure. The many powerful external forces at work ensure that your internal voice and narrative inevitably gets sucked back into the rabbit hole. It is not too dissimilar for women/couples not being able to conceive and have children. Advances in medical technology keep shifting the posts and therefore the hopes. Yet, it can prolong the suffering and act like a festering wound that never quite heals. The only real solution is to truly let go, 100%. Life is full of truly magical moments but looking for or at the ‘magic money tree’ is looking for or at the wrong place or thing and you’re likely to miss other things. And no, these are not often experienced when glued to your 4K mobile phone screen.

    • McFlock 3.3
      7 March 2021 at 3:08 pm

      that speaks to me, that's for sure.

      A few years ago, I was doing the math to buy a wee bungalow at mate's rates. Could almost makes ends meet on it, really close. But not close enough.

      Now, that bungalow got sold recently for over double what I was trying to scrape together.

      The security of owning my own place just isn't going to happen. It's a joke.

      • Pat 3.3.1
        7 March 2021 at 6:41 pm

        "The security of owning my own place just isn't going to happen."

        It may still happen (and hopefully not too late)….this level of indebtedness in housing is unsupportable by NZ incomes (as everyone is relating) so prices will realign…it is just a question of when.

        • McFlock 3.3.1.1
          7 March 2021 at 8:06 pm

          Probably just as I have to go into a retirement home lol.

          If folks wonder why gen-x can be cynical, they haven't been looking at the last 30-40 years.

          • Pat 3.3.1.1.1
            7 March 2021 at 8:10 pm

            How long before you enter a retirement home?

            • McFlock 3.3.1.1.1.1
              7 March 2021 at 8:22 pm

              Couple of decades.

              But this situation has been brewing for a similar amount of time, and it'll take more work to fix than it did to break.

              • Pat …
                7 March 2021 at 8:27 pm

                Think a couple of decades may be somewhat pessimistic..and yes it has been brewing for decades but interest rates havnt been at zero bound until recently and that message should be creating some hope

                • McFlock …
                  7 March 2021 at 8:40 pm

                  Mate, it really is just down to lotto now, regardless of interest rates.

                  I'm better off than a lot of people, but I'll never be part of the minority who own the home they live in (and yes, they are the minority now, when counted by individuals rather than householders where one member of the household owns the dwelling).

                  Came damned close, though.

                  • Pat …
                    7 March 2021 at 8:45 pm

                    When it all goes down in a screaming heap there is the probability the gov will have to step in (as in the past) to pick up the pieces and provide opportunity for the average joe to support a new market level….not doing so isnt really an option….its unlikely to do anything for investors however.

                    • McFlock …
                      7 March 2021 at 8:51 pm

                      Thing is, that only screws investors, not homeowners.

                      If someone goes underwater and can still service the payments on their mortgage, they still have the home they paid for.

                      So as long as you do the math without viewing it as an investment, and are conservative with the expected parameters, you'll probably be ok.

                      But then if prices crunch 30-40%, I might be back in with a chance lol.

                  • Pat …
                    7 March 2021 at 8:59 pm

                    Before the latest 20% increase house prices in NZ were estimated to be 40-50% overvalued….unsurprisingly that equates to an affordability ratio of 3-4 times household income.

                    Average disposable household income in NZ is currently 86,000 pa. (gross $107,000)

                    • McFlock …
                      7 March 2021 at 9:39 pm

                      lol just saw a bank ad talking about how some person was going to stop buying throw pillows and start saving for a house(using the bank's handy app).

                      Throw pillows and avo smash aren't the problem, but then the powerful always like to pretend trivial personal choices are the difference between hardship and privilege.

                      And knock ~$10k off for the median. Just to really understand how "most" NZers really feel about the housing market and the woes of the landed class lol

        • Craig H 3.3.1.2
          8 March 2021 at 11:24 am

          Bernard Hickey thinks differently – the actual debt on housing is low (20% of value), the LVR restrictions have actually made a crash a lot less likely, and the low interest rates mean payments on the low debt are low.

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/300246286/thought-the-property-market-couldnt-get-any-crazier-youre-wrong

  4. Stuart Munro 4
    7 March 2021 at 8:44 am

    The real tragedy is that governments, and Treasury for all the patronising bullshit they talk, like

    "It's the economy, Stupid."

    Would have seen it coming if they had the ghost of a clue about economics, and had they had a shred of social responsibility they'd have prevented it long before it got this bad.

    Brian Tamaki, it seems, knows more about God than our supposed economic experts know about economics.

    Never forget it.

  5. dv 5
    7 March 2021 at 9:07 am

    AND what's going to happen when the interest rates go to 5%, 10% Geez

  6. Peter 6
    7 March 2021 at 9:45 am

    In 20 years the population grew 30%. The housing deficit is like that tsunami wave, it goes on over quite some time before things even out. Unfortunately while the problem rolls on and efforts are made to mitigate it, other factors change, more earthquakes large and small come to compound the situation.

  7. Sanctuary 7
    7 March 2021 at 10:39 am

    The central political and structural conundrum is how do you deal with the housing crisis without also destroying the primary retirement income vehicle & central aspirational goal for and of the vast majority of the middle class? This is a generational problem in creation and can't be fixed by magic.

    Now one can excoriate the middle class (and I frequently do) but they exist and the fundamentals of politics is they control the media narrative in NZ, are well connected and above all the vote in very high numbers. So if you want to deal in politics as the art of the possible, you have unpick the Gordion knot of my first paragraph.

    There is no point looking back. To take my parents as an example, they didn't have a brass razoo to rub together but Dad was able find and work three jobs with generous overtime rates, they were able to cash in the child benefit for a deposit, got a fixed rate 3%, 30 year mortgage from the state advances corporation for a cookie cutter 1200 square foot three bedroom one bathroom home in a new suburb and never looked back. They got a home for their burgeoning family and the inflation of the 1970s reduced their mortgage to nothing and the fixed 3% interest meant they were protected from inflation. The long boom of the 1950s-60s means they went from scratchy working class to prosperous middle class in just a decade of hard work.

    Almost none of those conditions operate now. New suburbs are so distant and expensive to develop they’ve become problematic as a solution, to say the least. Welfare has retreated from it's role as social security to being a grudging subsistence for the deserving poor and less than that for the undeserving poor. The government is not in the mortgage game anymore and it doesn't build mass housing anymore either. Jobs are scarce and we are now a low wage economy. Inflation is regarded as an anathema by economic technocrats only slightly worse than mass pedophilia.

    Now, SOME of the conditions of my parents generation can be reproduced with sufficient will. But it bears remembering that if you were to pick any of those long gone conditions and explicitly seek to recreate them you'll run into a wall of implacable opposition from vested interests and the beneficiaries of the current system – the liberal left middle class won't be that liberal left for very long if they think their main assets are about to be depreciated and structural economic change is very hard in neoliberalism, it was designed that way and we've also got an electoral and constitutional system post mid 1990s designed to reward technocratic centrism, diversity and incremental consensual change. It is however also explicitly designed to act as a brake on radical and unilateral economic change.

    Personally, I perhaps fancifully see some indication of disaster socialism from this government, with COVID being allowed to drive structural changes they approve of in private but would never succeed in implementing as stated policy. The big one has to be the turning off of the immigration tap, an act impossible prior to COVID because of the weaponising of the accusation of racism by those who benefitted from it. No immigration will ease the housing shortage as we catch up; rising wages due to labour shortages will hopefully lead to an increase in productivity and higher incomes all round. But anyway, this is a thirty year problem in the making and it'll be a thirty year one in the fixing.

    • RedLogix 7.1
      7 March 2021 at 11:20 am

      Excellent – yes

      The system we have is pumping money into the economy via housing price inflation and while it's having very uneven outcomes, we should at least be grateful that it is keeping the economy going along for most.

      A pause to rebalance as you describe in your last para is a very reasonable ask.

    • Sacha 7.2
      7 March 2021 at 11:43 am

      Jobs are scarce and we are now a low wage economy

      The very definition of a broken market right there.

      • Phil 7.2.1
        8 March 2021 at 12:47 pm

        we are now a low wage economy

        By any reasonable metric of income (Purchasing power parity, GDP per capita, median incomes, etc) New Zealand household incomes are in the same ballpark as countries like Italy, Spain, South Korea, Japan, and just a tad behind the likes of France and the UK.

  8. Rosemary McDonald 8
    7 March 2021 at 11:13 am

    ….they were able to cash in the child benefit for a deposit, got a fixed rate 3%, 30 year mortgage from the state advances corporation for a cookie cutter 1200 square foot three bedroom one bathroom home in a new suburb and never looked back.

    The facility to capitalise on the Family Benefit, and the low interests rates on Housing Corp loans did more to get the working classes into the security of home ownership than possibly any other schemes. Maori, Pasifika, Pakeha….all entitled to this leg up.

    All gone, by the time I put down the 25% on 'the worst house in the street' in the late eighties. And those stratospheric interest rates really hurt. Both had to have jobs to secure a mortgage if you failed to qualify for the modified Housing Corp loan. Juggle, juggle, ships that pass in the night parenting.

    BUT…we just escaped the iniquitous Student Loans….and may the fleas from a thousand camels infest the groins and armpits of the politicians of all hues (and their descendants unto the nth generation) who allowed, then entrenched this final nail in the coffin of what could have been an egalitarian society.

    No hope that I can see of any political party campaigning on turn-the-clock-back policies that would fix this shit.

  9. RedLogix 9
    7 March 2021 at 11:49 am

    Good post.

    Money does not grow on trees, it grows on houses. It is pure magic!

    It does seem a bit weird, but it helps to think of it as a somewhat dysfunctional, disorganised UBI. Not a very universal UBI and easily gamed, but that's what it is essentially, a method of pumping liquidity into the hands of people, because our business sector either cannot or has failed to do so.

    • Muttonbird 9.1
      7 March 2021 at 12:14 pm

      Not a very universal UBI.

      frown

      A confused and quite frankly obscene comment from you. Well done!

  10. Incognito 10
    7 March 2021 at 12:09 pm

    Exhibit #1 from today’s Stuff homepage AKA landing page:

    OPINION: Kate Shuttleworth thought she'd never clear her student debt, but now she's on the property ladder.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/300245181/why-i-chose-to-put-down-roots-in-australia-not-new-zealand

    Well done Kate, and I hope you enjoy life in Melbourne.

  11. Incognito 11
    7 March 2021 at 12:09 pm

    Exhibit #2 from today’s Stuff homepage AKA landing page:

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/first-homes/124300922/were-young-and-we-bought-a-house-heres-how-we-did-it

    Variations on a theme and no surprises at all but congratulations on your first home, guys.

  12. Incognito 12
    7 March 2021 at 12:10 pm

    Exhibit #3 from today’s Stuff homepage AKA landing page:

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/300232870/do-young-people-have-it-tougher-than-their-parents-did

    Yup, heard it all before, but good read anyway, thanks Shamubeel and Rosie for your valuable insights as economists.

    The last paragraph is worth quoting though:

    Realistically, for the average young person today, no amount of regular and disciplined saving will give them the same access to homeownership and housing costs. For that, young people need to get politically active. The political narrative is still focussed on and for baby boomers. Until the younger generation’s issues become the dominant political issues, nothing will change.

  13. Incognito 13
    7 March 2021 at 12:11 pm

    Bonus Exhibit #A from Stuff:

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/300246286/thought-the-property-market-couldnt-get-any-crazier-youre-wrong

    By the incessant Bernard Hickey.

    I can’t resist citing from it:

    But the spreadsheets don’t lie, and even the Reserve Bank and Treasury acknowledge that nothing really changes with supply restrictions and the inability to tax housing wealth. In the last three months they have both forecast further house price inflation of another 20-25 percent over the next three to five years.

    That’s despite it being ‘obvious’ to politicians and auction room viewers that it’s impossible for house prices to rise any higher. They, too, are beginning to believe in the impossible when interest rates stay lower for ever, and voters refuse to allow their politicians to seriously address the huge tax and ‘too big to fail’ advantages of the housing market.

    Just as well we have Covid to distract Government and put the hard but necessary stuff on the backburner.

    • Pat 13.1
      7 March 2021 at 6:56 pm

      Poor old Bernard making the same mistakes again….yes all those asset rich investors and even cash rich buyers can ramp the prices up but ultimately those prices are supported by what the renters can pay (unless you wish to leave them empty and pray the ponzi continues ) and we simply dont earn enough to pay the rents even with the billion plus gov subsidy every year and interest rates are pretty much as low as they can go …the banks have pretty much a 2% margin (their profit) and even if the OCR goes negative they will claw back with charges….and every dollar going to service unreal mortgages is a dollar not supporting local business'

      So Bernard and Treasury can calculate the theoretical maximum but out in the real world that maximum has already been surpassed.

      • Sacha 13.1.1
        7 March 2021 at 7:54 pm

        every dollar going to service unreal mortgages is a dollar not supporting local business[es]

        Which hurts us all.

        • Pat 13.1.1.1
          7 March 2021 at 8:05 pm

          it does…and ultimately it hurts the banks too, as the defaults increase from business loans and mortgage holders.

      • Craig H 13.1.2
        8 March 2021 at 11:39 am

        With current interest rates, a yield of 3% can be cashflow-positive on interest-only even before capital gains. With current low inflation, there is no reason to increase interest rates. All the preconditions for the market to continue to boom are there.

        Now, 3% yield might be a bit high in Auckland or Wellington in that 3% on a million dollar house is close to $600/week (so normal then), but there are still cities where 4-5% yield is possible while still having vaguely affordable rents. Buy a 3BR house for $400K in Christchurch (they still exist here) and rent it out for $450/week – easy.

        • Pat 13.1.2.1
          8 March 2021 at 12:34 pm

          yep there are stll some 400K houses in Christchurch….as is /where is (that is unrepaired EQ damage)

          Your yield numbers are gross….and your insurance, maintenance and rates costs are increasing…you assume 100% occupancy….and you dont factor in loss of opportunity of the deposit.

          The only thing making it attractive for recent purchasers is the expected capital growth…take that away and its a loser.

          • Craig H 13.1.2.1.1
            8 March 2021 at 3:33 pm

            As someone who lives in Christchurch, there are assuredly parts of the city with $400K 3BR houses on their own sections that are not as is/where is or still EQ-damaged. They aren't particularly popular areas with anyone other than investors or first home buyers, but they still exist.

            • Pat 13.1.2.1.1.1
              8 March 2021 at 5:24 pm

              As someone whos looked at a number of those properties recently theres a couple of things I'll add…the listing price may be (slightly) lower than 400K but the sale price is over…and those that are that undesirable will be the first to crash and the hardest to move when the time comes.

  14. Incognito 14
    7 March 2021 at 12:12 pm

    Bonus Exhibit #B from Stuff:

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/124248173/what-i-wish-id-known-wellknown-nzers-reflect-on-their-financial-lives

    Don’t listen to an anonymous blogger with no name. Instead, listen to people with name recognition because they know more and better than the average Kiwi, that goes without saying, especially when they have ‘made it’ and are successful in their respective fields.

    The solution for the housing crisis is obvious: mandatory stay in MIQ (Mind Indoctrination re-Qualification) with forced hypnotherapy that induces a severe and terribly itchy skin rash whenever you do think about buying or selling a residential property. In addition, total abstinence of electronic devices to block access to media sites, social media, and news in general. Four weeks should do it with a booster session of another week 21 days later. It is the exact opposite of the mass mind manipulation through media that we are currently enjoying.

  15. Incognito 15
    7 March 2021 at 12:13 pm

    When an academic degree and education is no longer a ticket to ticking the boxes of life.

    When I graduated in 2011, finding a job was hard, and wages were low.

    A decade later, just as our earning potential meets respectable levels, Covid-19 hits and another recession looms.

    Not only have people lost work, but companies are now looking to hire “cheap desperate kids who will put up with anything”.

    All of this is happening against a backdrop of unbridled growth in house prices.

    My partner and I aren’t the only ones now asking whether we will ever pay off our student loan debt, if we’ll ever be able to own our own home, and if we can afford to have children.

    This experience is typical of our friends and colleagues.

    Life is put on hold, it seems, which is so sad when you think about it.

    And in 2020, New Zealand’s fertility rate sunk to an all-time low.

    There are a range of reasons for dropping fertility, but as professor Paul Spoonley writes in The Spinoff: “Having children is replaced by surviving economically.”

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/a-case-for-cancelling-student-debt

  16. Castro 16
    7 March 2021 at 12:58 pm

    No Zealand Wars II; a divided not-really-country should 'fix' it. Either way, that's what "we" are on track for. Pity "our" leaders can't muster anything better than a Brazil/South Africa of the South Pacific; for shame.

  17. georgecom 17
    7 March 2021 at 2:20 pm

    This post and a plethora of reports in the media over recent months reinforces one simple point for me, this country should have a capital gains tax. This isn't because of the rampant house prices and the need to cool the market or even to drop house prices, although that is an important secondary issue. It's more fundamental than that, a dollar earned is a dollar earned and should be subject to tax. The devil might be in the detail of how the tax is levied however. The exact rate of tax another matter, Labour has talked of 15% in the past. The money generated is useful but is, again, a secondary matter to the basic principal of needing to tax income. ie The fundamental issue is taxing capital gains, the impact of the housing market might be a useful consequence and the extra revenue useful, but not the reason to implement the tax.

    If a CGT yields and extra $1-2 bullion per year what to do with it?

    increase the bottom tax threshold by a few % points, several hundred million per year

    increase base benefits (excluding hardship benefits, accommodation supplements etc) by 10%, several hunred million per year (I roughly estimated core benefits at round $5.5 billion)

    use the extra revenue to cover post covid govt budget deficits

    all worthy uses of the revenue

  18. DukeEll 18
    7 March 2021 at 3:55 pm

    Plenty of employment and cheap housing in the boonies. This fixation on the outer ring outside sh16 and inside the Bombay’s / upper west as first home buying territory is ridiculous. Allow mass intensification alongside major rail corridors and proper regional development in places like dargaville, Te puke, paeroa, Huntley, taranaki et al to stop the population focusing on the cities.

    Demand drives price, supply smooths it out. With enough demand in the regions the builders go To build. Still cheaper than auckland or wellington. Though why anyone would buy in a city where you can’t take a shit without meeting it on your next sea swim I have no idea

    • Phil 18.1
      8 March 2021 at 9:40 am

      Though why anyone would buy in a city where you can’t take a shit without meeting it on your next sea swim I have no idea

      Because that's where the jobs are.

  19. grant not robertson 19
    7 March 2021 at 5:20 pm

    Perhaps you could devalue the housing market. If you can devalue currency then why not housing – just knock a couple of noughts off the spreadsheet – the vast majority who are merely selling then buying wouldn’t lose anything. The investors in the market, landlords etc, could be given the opportunity to sell up or get out, which just leaves the banks, who have only been given the additional liquidity for their lending by the Reserve Bank so they will only have ‘lost’ some of the income from future interest payments.

    • Pat 19.1
      7 March 2021 at 6:36 pm

      "…which just leaves the banks, who have only been given the additional liquidity for their lending by the Reserve Bank so they will only have ‘lost’ some of the income from future interest payments."

      And there you have it….if housing in NZ was affordable (i.e 3-4 times median household income rather than 10) then the banks profit would more than half….and that is unacceptable (to the banks)

      There are other issues but you have identified the primary motivation…bank profitability.

  20. Grafton Gully 20
    7 March 2021 at 7:22 pm

    Friends in the 70s built their own homes at the weekend and lived on site in a shed. Why not today ?

    • Pat 20.1
      7 March 2021 at 7:29 pm

      Is doable in that its not prevented…but youll need 150 k plus for a section, and no access to mortgage money until completed….and youll be rorted for building materials

    • Castro 21.1
      8 March 2021 at 5:44 am

      Unfortunately, no. Have a look at the migration stats for Ireland compared to No Zealand. The ponzi continues ad infinitum when "we" just keep importing more hordes and heaping more fuel on the demand bonfire, while also using mass migration to keep a lid on wages… the Irish only really used one half of the pincer; the No Zealand underclass gets the full pincer movement, with imported slumlords from above and imported competitor serfs from below.

      • Pat 21.1.1
        8 March 2021 at 10:12 am

        Migration only prolongs it…those migrants dont increase NZ wages…if anything they decrease them, and it is local wages that ultimately support the ponzi.

        • Castro 21.1.1.1
          8 March 2021 at 10:25 am

          Obviously they decrease local wages… that's the point… just adds to the pool of renting serfs for the landed gentry. Bringing in both transnational capital and transnational serfs… what's the overseas-born population of Ireland relative to no Zealand?

          • Pat 21.1.1.1.1
            8 March 2021 at 10:34 am

            Renting at what rate?….why do we have thousands living in motels and billions spent by the gov on rent subsidies?…not because theres not enough housing (the ratios are better now than they were in the nineties)…because the local populace cannot afford the 'market' rents, and those rents are driven by house values.

            Unless the government is prepared to keep increasing billions in housing subsidies (which will destroy their operational budget and therefore credit rating/cost of money) then local wages cannot support those valuations….landlords will have a choice, rent at affordable rates or leave vacant.

            Some landlords will be in a position to leave their investment empty, but the majority are not and then the rout begins.

            • Castro 21.1.1.1.1.1
              8 March 2021 at 11:44 am

              How does the rout begin if the government continues importing tens of thousands of serfs to rent those properties, whether that be six to a room or three to a garden shed? Still better (for now) than the hellhole from which they escaped…

              • Pat …
                8 March 2021 at 11:57 am

                The fact that by allowing that to continue means more and more NZ citizens are unable to enter the market…it dosnt matter which direction the government attempts to prop up the bubble it cannot be sustained….there are multiple triggers and attempting to prevent one only makes the others more likely.

                • Phil …
                  8 March 2021 at 4:11 pm

                  the bubble it cannot be sustained… there are multiple triggers and attempting to prevent one only makes the others more likely

                  The NZ housing market is not a bubble in any meaningful sense. House prices are responding exactly as they should be, given all the underlying factors right now that are pushing up demand (favourable tax incentives, kiwi's returning from o'seas, markets awash with cheap money etc.) and restricting supply.

                  Pulling the plug on one or two of those factors might reduce the rate of increase, but there's nothing forecastable on the horizon that points to drastic house price falls.

                  • Pat …
                    8 March 2021 at 5:15 pm

                    Lol…yep thats what they said in Ireland….right before the crash.

                    • Phil …
                      8 March 2021 at 5:58 pm

                      The conditions prevalent in Ireland in the lead up to the 2009 crash bear little resemblance to NZ today. And, there were plenty of knowledgeable market observers calling the market a bubble in Ireland during the preceeding few years. (FYI – keyboard warriors here or on interest.co.nz do not count as 'knowledgeable')

                      We haven't had a construction boom bringing new properties on to the market. We don't have massive swathes of sub-prime high-LVR mortgages sitting on weakly-capitalised bank balance sheets. We don't have excessively loose monetary policy dictated from an ECB overly worried about German manufacturing.

                      There are, to be sure to be sure, significant risks to the housing market here. But they're not even on the same football field of crash-risk as what was happening in Ireland (and the US) pre-GFC.

                  • Pat …
                    8 March 2021 at 6:29 pm

                    The prevailing conditions were very similar…a booming construction industry. ..check….positive migration…check…..poor regulatory oversight of the banks…check….tax breaks to housing…check….over priced housing stock…check….media spruiking of property…double check….political class supporting property values…check….loose monetary policy…double check.

                    "In its Annual Report, which was published just three months before the government was forced to unconditionally guarantee the deposits of the Irish-owned banks, the Central Bank said: "The banks have negligible exposure to the sub-prime sector and they remain relatively healthy by the standard measures of capital, profitability and asset quality. This has been confirmed by the stress testing exercises we have carried out with the banks".[25][26]"

                    Collateralised sub prime mortgages played no role in the Irish collapse

                • Castro …
                  8 March 2021 at 4:42 pm

                  With the exception of an external shock, or the government dramatically reducing migration (and which political party or business group is clamouring for the latter? None that I can think of…), the only rout I see is social collapse, as the real estate Ponzi is considered simply too big to fail by "our" leaders… I assume you are also aware that non-citizens have voting rights in No Zealand?

                  • Pat …
                    8 March 2021 at 5:14 pm

                    Interest rate increase, increase in unemployment, policy changes (both internally or externally) are a few that you fail to recognise….then there are black swans.

                    and social unrest will come before social collapse.

                    • Phil …
                      8 March 2021 at 5:40 pm

                      Interest rate increase,

                      You can borrow 1-year and 2-year fixed from most banks for around 2.5%. The best 5-year fixed are is currently 2.99% and no-one's offering fixed-rates anywhere along the curve starting with a 4.

                      Even if rates do rise, they're not going to jump up to, cay, 6's and 7's overnight, or for the next 5 years. In the wildly improbable scenario they do go up fast, it will only be on the back of an absolutely booming economy and rapidly rising inflation, in which case there's no one who's going to be concerned about property markets crashing.

                    • Pat …
                      8 March 2021 at 7:14 pm

                      @Phil…when interest rates increase it is the constraint placed on new entrants to the market, not those with existing fixed term mortgages….if the new entrants servicing costs increase the sum they can borrow reduces….what happens to existing property values?

                      The RBNZ are very cognisant of the impact of rising interest rates on property values hence their desire to manage interest rates lower….a battle they are having some difficulty with of late

                    • Castro …
                      9 March 2021 at 8:09 am

                      I opened with reference to your black swan: "the exception of an external shock,". What "policy changes" do you refer to? I think you are hoping for a rout but you fail to give any specifics about how it happens other than interest rate rises (more properties in the hands of fewer slumlords and a greater supply of renters and homeless) and unemployment rises (more homeless and accommodation supplement for the slumlords). "Positive migration" in No Zealand is more than double what it ever was in Ireland… a different beast entirely… are you failing to recognise the large-scale social decay all over "our" non-country? The social decay that leads to social unrest…

                    • Pat …
                      9 March 2021 at 8:38 am

                      A 'black swan event' is by definition unknown…even covid is arguably not a black swan because we were aware of the risk of pandemic, same with earthquakes etc….so, external events dosnt cover it.

                      Policy changes?…could be something the Gov announces in its (eventually) upcoming 'bold' housing reforms…could be anything, there are endless possibilities.

                      You think I am hoping for a rout….I am and i am not…the overvalued housing market needs to deflate but I am aware of the problems it will create when it does, however as stated numerous times it is going to deflate at some point so its probably best it happens at a time of our choosing so we can at least have a plan to deal with the fallout.
                      Ideally we wouldnt have allowed it to inflate in the first place.

                      And yes high migration is (was?) a problem for us in many respects and it dosnt help houses prices but migration per se is not the driver.

                    • Phil …
                      9 March 2021 at 4:51 pm

                      @Pat – when interest rates increase it is the constraint placed on new entrants to the market, not those with existing fixed term mortgages

                      Interest rates aren't like a rubber band. Just because they've been relatively low for a long period of time it doesn't meant that they *must* go up some time soon. When they do rise, it will only be in conjunction with (or after) we see evidence of inflationary pressure rising in the economy – from things like rising employment, incomes, investment etc.

                      Also, most mortgage borrowing (more than 95% of the total $'s) is floating or fixed for less than two years, so the constraint of rising interest rates matters to existing borrowers just as much as new and prospective-new borrowers.

                    • Pat …
                      9 March 2021 at 6:39 pm

                      @Phil

                      Sadly you are again wrong…over 80% of NZ mortgages are fixed and the predominant term is 2 years….and as explained earlier that is not the issue….it is the new entrants to the market that determine value.

                      What is the value of an asset?…what someone will/can pay for it when its for sale.

                      Interest rates are indeed flexible…both ways, but there is something called the zero bound…and we are pretty much there.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
    Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 hours ago

  • The worth of it all
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 hours ago

  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    7 hours ago

  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    8 hours ago

  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    8 hours ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    8 hours ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    8 hours ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    8 hours ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    8 hours ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    8 hours ago

  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    8 hours ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    14 hours ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    16 hours ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    17 hours ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    20 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    21 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    21 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-20T00:17:49+00:00