The Froth Comes off The Beer

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, January 5th, 2018 - 77 comments
Categories: australian politics, Economy, housing, labour - Tags:

Auckland appears to be following the trend set by Melbourne and Sydney of a softening in expected prices for selling houses.

Sydney’s property market is cooling for the first time in two years.

 

Melbourne is shaving the froth off the beer.

 

Auckland is going from nuts to fractionally less nuts.

 

The impending five year bright line test, and the ban on foreigners buying existing homes, also signals a price cooling.

 

This is likely to be good for house buyers – especially locals. That is the policy intent.

 

My experience over a few decades is that the hardest hit will be apartment owners in lower-quality blocks whose repayments from rent cover the interest but not the principal.

On previous trends, a fair few apartment owners who could afford it only by renting out and paying the minimum, will find themselves paying mortgages of an amount higher than the market value: they go “under water”.

A few of those won’t be able to sustain that, and sell at a minor loss.

At that point a few in the media will lose their shit.

My advice would be: be cool.

This is necessary, and this is planned.

As noted by the IRD in its paper on the “bright line test”, it does not  “impair private property rights, restrict market competition, reduce incentives on businesses to innovate and invest, or override fundamental common law principles”.

But we should expect media discussion that it does.

So not chaos, a good change for first home buyers, but some tough media stories coming up.

77 comments on “The Froth Comes off The Beer ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Antoine 1
    5 January 2018 at 8:22 am

    All sounds good.

    I don’t have much sympathy for anyone who bought at the peak of the market that cannot ride through a small to moderate drop in price.

    A.

  2. Sanctuary 2
    5 January 2018 at 9:38 am

    Tales of housing Armageddon sells newspapers.

  3. Sabine 3
    5 January 2018 at 10:02 am

    there is a real issue in AKL, namely that people who would like to sell their property to either up or down grade depending on their needs, but don’t want to leave AKL, can’t as even after they sell they won’t have enough money to buy something else the next day.

    then there is the real issue in AKL that for people who want to down grade cause the kiddies left etc there are no properties to buy. You can get G J Garderners monstrosities with the silver fern etched into any glass/mirror, but you can’t find a decent two bedroom, one kitchen, one bath, one toilet with a bit of green around and a car park.

    so what you have is now people holding on to their properties – good for those that have them paid off – cause they will never make enough money to buy elsewhere, and those that can’t sell to get out of the mortgage. And bingo, your market is fucked.

    Well done National. I can see the scavengers circling above waiting for the first to drop so that they get to pick the bones clean.

    I also think we are going to see a flood of rentals starting to show up in the sales lists, as I can see a few ‘landlords’ realising that they actually don’t have the money – might never had to begin with – to upgrade their slum rentals to comply with the new insulation regulations. As i have been househunting the last few month i have seen my fair share of ‘rentals’ and oh my gosh, no insulation and no heating source seems to be the Kiwi way. Never mind the illegal add ons, the rotting floorboards, the unclear boundries, the leaking roofs, non closing windows, cracking walls.

    • Kevin 3.1
      5 January 2018 at 11:31 am

      And the people who live in these slums say nothing for rear of losing the roof over their heads.

      I know personally of one situation in Hastings of a family living in a rental where the spouting is rotten and leaves large puddles on the ground that take days to soak away, the light bulbs blow on a continual basis. The bathroom was ‘renovated’ as the floor was rotten but the owner the waited six months before covering it. While the renovation was being done, which took a week, the family showered at my place and were offered no compensation from the landlord. The house is not insulated but has a heat pump, which then costs a fortune to run as a result. The tenant had to buy their own stove to replace the existing one where only one element worked, the oven was missing the insulation rubber around the door and the door closed quicker than any mouse trap I have seen. The rental is ‘managed’ by a woman who works for a reputable rental company but she is an arrogant, obnoxious c**t who does not give a toss, just as long as the rent is paid, which it is, on time every week. Any time work is required it takes weeks for it to be done and there is always the implied threat that all these repairs are just getting too much for the landlord.

      This is not uncommon and every time read a story about ‘hard done by’ landlords, I just laugh.

      • Sabine 3.1.1
        5 January 2018 at 11:47 am

        the family living in one of these properties for sale is ‘keen’ to keep on living there.
        the house would collapse with the tiniest quake, no heating, rotten floorboards in the bathroom laundry, a leak under the kitchen sink. etc.
        The builders report was fun to read, but hey, it has had a new coat of colour.

        Another property the real estate agent pointed out the ‘bridge’ between living room and hallway. The floor boards were gone, so they ‘fixed’ it by putting board over the gap and hiding it under carpet.
        The young mother and child is very ‘keen’ to keep on renting that place.

        i have a few more of those, and yes, all the tenants are keen to stay, cause there ain’t nothing else to rent.

        btw, non of these tenants rubbished the place. just saying.

      • beatie 3.1.2
        5 January 2018 at 1:50 pm

        My daughter’s rental is freezing in the winter, uninsulated, damp and draughty. the fire doesn’t work properly either. Last winter her son was admitted to hospital with a chest infection which was exacerbated by the above conditions. The rental is managed by a property company. She is reluctant to complain because, in our small town she would be unofficially blacklisted from any decent future rentals.

        Disgusting!

        Her father grew up in a large European city and although the family were very well off, they never owned a house. They didn’t feel the need because of long-term tenancies and decent housing.

  4. greg 4
    5 January 2018 at 10:17 am

    Antoine a lot people have bought to get a roof over there heads there going to be victims there not the speculator class.
    when you read about whats been going on in the housing market its criminal the case Augustine lau is the tip of the ice burg.https://www.interest.co.nz/property/90720/notorious-property-managerdeveloper-augustine-lau-speaks-out-about-why-hes-dog-box
    a lot home owners who bought are going to go under because of the housing bubble.
    In a lot of cases the loans should never have been made its been 9 years of greed.
    another national party disaster and there is no easy fix that doesn’t hurt.
    if the last government was doing there job we would never have got to this point.
    the greedy bastards did nothing.
    https://www.capitalandconflict.com/economics/the-remaining-housing-bubbles-pop/
    new Zealand features in the article

    • Draco T Bastard 4.1
      5 January 2018 at 11:22 am

      if the last government was doing there job we would never have got to this point.
      the greedy bastards did nothing.

      True about the first point but they actually encouraged the housing bubble. It was the only thing that let NZ show any sort of growth in the economy and thus allowing them to get their ‘surpluses’. Those surpluses are now going to vanish as the housing bubble pops.

      • BM 4.1.1
        5 January 2018 at 11:46 am

        Labours big spending plans are in trouble if those surpluses disappear.

        Guess Labours got three options if it wishes to continue with its plans.
        Borrow fuckloads, try and keep the housing bubble from popping or increase tax

        One and three will be very unpopular options.

        • Sabine 4.1.1.1
          5 January 2018 at 11:47 am

          What would National do?

          • BM 4.1.1.1.1
            5 January 2018 at 11:53 am

            Probably not try and crash the property market and aim for a gradual deflation of prices

            Labour has been like a bull in a China shop which will no doubt cause a hard crash.

            • Ad 4.1.1.1.1.1
              5 January 2018 at 12:14 pm

              National did a good job softening the market in its last term.

              And with the government changing all we are seeing is the same gradual property market softening.

              The landlords and the Property Council people are bleating – it’s intended that they do.

              It’s amazing the way landlords complain – when almost all young people are locked out of the market because of landlords, but they don’t get the airtime.
              It’s time for the landlords to squeal a bit, and then make some hard decisions about whether they want to be in this game.

              Sure, some of those “mom and dad” properties will get swept up by large rental companies, but a lot more will then be priced just right for the first home family.

              That’s an intended result BM.

              The other task is to shift the investment intentions of a strong sector of New Zealand away from multiple house ownership towards productive assets and businesses. Again, an intended result.

              So that is what the are doing. And it is good for the 90% not the 10%.

              • Zorb6 …
                5 January 2018 at 12:44 pm

                Ad makes his 2018 comedy debut-‘National did a good job softening the market in its last term.’!!!

              • greg …
                5 January 2018 at 5:11 pm

                lets not forget landlords have had billions of dollars of tax payer money
                from the rental supplement there greed drove them to leverage up to stupid levels its no good squealing now they cant say they weren’t warned.
                its amazing there the very people who demand everyone else take personal responsibility. but they don’t like it for themselves well tough. BM you lot had 9 years and did nothing well the party is over, time to PAY up literally the bank manager isn’t going to be friendly anymore the piper is calling. and as a saver we deserve a higher interest rate we have subsidized speculators since the gfc.

            • Sabine 4.1.1.1.1.2
              5 January 2018 at 12:19 pm

              so why has National not done this in the nine years they were in power?

              I mean National lost the election in September. You are not saying that it all came crashing down in the last three month, or are you?
              And if it all came crushing down in the last three month would that then be because National is not there to ‘hide’ the mess it created?

              And again, what would Nationals plan be – other then increasing GST for all and cutting taxes for some, while at the same time defunding healthcare, education, infrastructure and so on in order to pay for the tax cuts?

              Please What.Would.National.Do.
              cause nothing you have said would make me consider National as a viable answer to Labour/NZFirst/Greens.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.1.1.3
              5 January 2018 at 1:05 pm

              What National did was to promote the housing bubble, insist there wasn’t a housing crisis (after John Key said that there was a housing crisis) and generally push the economy into pre-crash condition.

              Labour/Greens/NZ1st are now trying to undo that damage without causing further damage.

              But make no mistake – the problem is what National did.

        • Jimmy Ramaka 4.1.1.2
          5 January 2018 at 2:25 pm

          We can’t borrow anymore fool BM the Balance Sheet is maxed out by your little buddies Bill & John ?

          • Nic the NZer 4.1.1.2.1
            5 January 2018 at 4:15 pm

            “We can’t borrow anymore fool BM the Balance Sheet is maxed out by your little buddies Bill & John ?”

            This is exactly what BM’s ilk would like you to believe but is completely untrue.

            The NZ government can at all times buy absolutely anything for sale in NZ dollars, that is the governments actual budget constraint. This follows from the payments system (where all government taxation and spending happen and also transactions between banks) being operated by the RBNZ and the RBNZ being a subsidiary institution (according to its charter) of the NZ government.

            The same is true of most countries and so we observe most countries have not got any issues with spending or running government deficits. Unfortunately an exception to most countries is the EuroZone countries several of which have got into spending trouble because they can’t simply instruct their shared central bank (the ECB) to fulfill their spending needs. In these cases their spending decisions are only as good as their relationship with the ECB allows (in many countries the ECB has been overseeing what these countries are ‘allowed’ to spend, as you will well understand from the news). This is important because there is an important difference between most countries and the scare stories coming out of the EuroZone which do not apply in most other places.

            This anti-democratic ‘scam’ is essentially the same rort the republican party is running once again by claiming they have given away too many tax breaks and therefore can’t afford social spending programs and must impose austerity of the US poor. In fact the recent US tax cuts will massively increase the US budget deficit (a fact US republicans are fully cogniscent of) but they could absolutely care less because its irrelevant to them unless its useful to scare the wider public with.

        • DoublePlusGood 4.1.1.3
          6 January 2018 at 2:45 pm

          You missed: print money.

  5. AB 5
    5 January 2018 at 1:06 pm

    The enormous untaxed (and unearned) capital gain on residential property that has gone to investors/speculators since the GFC through to 2017, has been a major driver of inequality.
    Gradual deflation of housing prices now, while a good thing, will not reverse that inequality, especially where investors/speculators have already cashed up and got away with murder. They are now waiting to swoop back in at the bottom of the next cycle.

    • Ad 5.1
      5 January 2018 at 1:09 pm

      Agreed market price management is only a part of the solution – but it is a necessary part.

      Those who are about to swoop to reinvest for rental purposes would do well to hold until they have seen the precise shape of the housing legislation coming down the pipeline in the first quarter.

  6. Whispering Kate 6
    5 January 2018 at 2:19 pm

    Our housing stock in this country is highly inflated in value for the quality of the building materials. Unless your home is a bespoke home and built for millionaires the bulk of the housing stock is just crap. The fixtures and fittings are budget, you could drive a toy car through the walls they are so flimsy. Our kitchens are so so budget its not funny. Why is everything so expensive when the cheapest materials are used.

    I have family who have lived in many countries and the homes they have bought would make you weep. Kitchens to die for, solid timber cabinets, granite benches, high end fittings, proper crown mouldings, solid timber flooring – none of this laminate rubbish, stairwells which could be a piece of art on their own of solid hard wood timber. Thick walls and lots of insulation, some of the homes they have bought have been old but still built like a brick s…. house.

    Their latest house is in the US and they paid $425,000 US for it – its sickening what the cost of homes are here. Our home, when they visit, is just a cheap and chatty dump and its only 20 years old and considered a “lovely family home” – it is valued at 1.3 million and its not worth half that – its utter rubbish in comparison..

    Somebody is rorting and rorting well here in NZ with the building of our homes.

    It may be nice to have homes worth so much but its wrong, utter wrong and the market has failed young buyers of first homes. If the market corrects then so be it – it shouldn’t have elevated like it has done in the first place.

    Taking into account our small population (and I am sure commentators will come back with this) is still not an excuse for using such cheap and nasty building materials and fixtures and fittings.

    • BM 6.1
      5 January 2018 at 2:34 pm

      I agree NZ housing is grossly overvalued.

      Just to rub salt in the wounds, I expect to see rental prices increase significantly over the next few years as we’ll have an acute rental shortage as well as many landlords desperately trying to improve their return on their investment

      With no chance of a capital gain, added compliance costs and hassles, the rate of return has to rise significantly to make their investment remotely viable.

      If you’re renting and financially struggling at the moment, then I feel sorry for you as life is about to get notably tougher.

      • Sabine 6.1.1
        5 January 2018 at 2:38 pm

        so where was you pity when it happened under National over the last several years?

        oh you pity is selective?

        I would have no issues with a principled conservative, but this party line bullshit is just that bullshit.

    • Sabine 6.2
      5 January 2018 at 2:41 pm

      my ex mother in law – a fairly successful women with a property in Remuera came to visit my family in Germany during a congress she attended in Belgium.

      she was very very jealous of the kitchen my mother had in the tent attached to teh caravan.

      She would have broken out in tears had she seen the kitchen my Mum had in her rental. lol.

      But yeah, kitchens and bathrooms in NZ are just a joke.

    • SpaceMonkey 6.3
      6 January 2018 at 10:28 am

      “Someone is rorting and rorting well here…”

      I was talking about exactly this with a mate of mine who has been in the building industry for decades. He said ond word… Fletchers. And its a racket that goes all the way to Government.

    • mikesh 6.4
      6 January 2018 at 11:26 am

      It’s not the house that is worth $1.3 million, but the land. The same house in, say, Taumarunui would be worth stuff all. We badly need a land tax, with no exemptions except possibly for unused Maori land, and offset by reductions in income tax. This would be far more effective than a capital gains tax, especially one that exempts private homes.

  7. Jimmy Ramaka 7
    5 January 2018 at 2:32 pm

    Having worked in the Real Estate Industry here in Auckland I have seen a lot of Rat’s Nests going for big money $800-$900k. You are really only buying the land value which has been over inflated by over zealous Asian real estate agents and Asian buyers parking money in NZ in safe havens like Residential Housing ?

  8. roy cartland 8
    5 January 2018 at 3:02 pm

    Selling at a loss is perfectly fair. You buy what you can afford, not leverage against future capital gain. Whether my mortgage is higher or lower than the ‘market’ value is irrelevant – because I’m still living in the damn thing.

  9. Gabby 9
    5 January 2018 at 5:18 pm

    Get out of Auckland you muppets.

    • greg 9.1
      5 January 2018 at 5:54 pm

      They cant there all panicking at the same time they will sell at a loss they cant clear there debts and the bank will come after them for the difference and to make matters worse on default the bank can take there kiwi saver as well. national changed the rules hahahahh! its only just began
      https://youtu.be/__VQX2Xn7tI

  10. cleangreen 10
    5 January 2018 at 7:35 pm

    Yes we need a correction alright as this the property bubble was just a Ponzi scheme and john key knew it would end so he got out and left his lackie to face the music.

    Key will now be engineering another “run on the NZ Dollar” as he did in 1987 when he teamed up with Alex Krieger to force the NZ dollar down and then made a packet of money.

    He will be wanting to repeat this again now since the partnership he had then with Krieger was so ‘profitable and he knows how to make another ‘killing’ on the NZ dollar it is likely he will do it again and not remember afterwards.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/250525/Who-is-John-Key

  11. SPC 11
    5 January 2018 at 8:16 pm

    Dumb questions

    No 1.

    1. when landlords sell who will provide the rentals?

    The person buying the property will no longer be renting. 1 less landlord 1 less person renting, nothing has changed.

    • BM 11.1
      5 January 2018 at 8:26 pm

      From above

      The number of houses isn’t going to disappear, the issue is that nothing stays static.

      Populations will increase, more rentals will be needed, so who’s going to build and supply those rentals?

      Even at the moment, we’ve got a shortage of rental housing does the government intend to make up that shortfall? you make property so unattractive to the investor then that’s the only option left.

      Do you believe the government has the ability to fill the void left by all the private landlords leaving the market?

      • SPC 11.1.1
        5 January 2018 at 8:34 pm

        Can you read? Landlords leaving the market changes nothing – just increases the level of home ownership.

        As to levels of supply and demand.

        1. Migration to Oz is resuming as their economy improves – less demand
        2. Immigration is being reduced – less demand
        3. Foreign investment is channelled into new builds – increased supply
        4. Government funded building is increasing – increased supply (this will be of both state housing for rent and also housing on-sold to homeowners).
        5. The government is bring back onto the market homes that Nationals shonky P testing regime took out of the market.
        6. The governments plan for higher rental standards does not apply to newly built rental property (that would meet those standards as new builds).

        • BM 11.1.1.1
          5 January 2018 at 8:41 pm

          Fuckwit, private investment drives the rental market.

          If people see no reason to invest in the rental market, people won’t invest.

          If people don’t invest, the government will have to step in and make up the shortfall.

          From what I’ve seen this government has well and truly signalled they don’t want people investing in property and being landlords.

          So, they better have a watertight plan otherwise this government is going to bring down a world of hurt on the people they are trying to help.

          • SPC 11.1.1.1.1
            5 January 2018 at 9:16 pm

            Very few landlords build new property, the great majority just buy up existing flats or houses. If they sell that on to someone not a landlord (because they do not want to provide good standard properties), it is to someone renting, who will now own – and they will improve them. The only change would be higher levels of housing ownership.

            The government has done nothing to discourage new builds for rent, all new builds meet the new rental standard – and have encouraged more new investment in this sector by limiting foreign investors to new builds.

            And as I have noted, all changes in demand and supply on the horizon look positive.

            • eco maori 11.1.1.1.1.1
              6 January 2018 at 11:31 am

              + 100 SPC people don t listen to the neo liberal trolls on this site. One has to remember that these trolls have shonkys $$$$$$$$ in there back pockets distorting there dum ass views on reality so ignore them . shonky and his trolls are wishing that the Auckland house price could crash there motive is to damage the Mana of OUR new coalition Government and shonky does not care whom get hurt in the process .I say that the regional housing market will still inflate a bit this is logical as people target cheaper housing. Its good to be home in Rotorua with my computer. Ana to kai

          • SpaceMonkey 11.1.1.1.2
            6 January 2018 at 10:30 am

            Private investment drives the whole housing market in the form of banks.

    • mikesh 11.2
      6 January 2018 at 11:46 am

      There will always be a market for rentals; not everybody wants to own their dwelling place.

  12. SPC 12
    5 January 2018 at 8:19 pm

    Smart questions

    No 1.

    1. When landlords making a loss on their rental can no longer reduce their tax liability on other income, what will they do?

    They will sell their rental. One less landlord, 1 less person renting.

    • Hornet 12.1
      5 January 2018 at 9:30 pm

      …only if the purchaser is a person previously renting. If the purchaser is a new home buyer not previously renting, then the result of your scenario could be one less rental.

      • SPC 12.1.1
        5 January 2018 at 11:41 pm

        And if they were owning elsewhere, who now lives where they did?

        Most upgrades to family home ownership comes from those living in smaller units (some couples own these first). Something someone renting might be able to afford to buy.

        • Hornet 12.1.1.1
          6 January 2018 at 4:48 pm

          “And if they were owning elsewhere, who now lives where they did?”

          Sorry, when i said ‘new home buyer’ I meant ‘first home buyer’. For example – I am MC at a friends daughter wedding in June. Both bride and groom live with parents. They want to purchase a property before the wedding to move in to. If they buy one of my rental properties to occupy, that is one less rental.

          Every home owner has to start with their first home. If that first home was previously tenanted, that is one less rental.

  13. SPC 13
    5 January 2018 at 8:28 pm

    Smart questions

    No 2.

    What happens to those who bought property at near the peak and the value falls below what they paid for it?

    At first nothing, provided they can still make their repayments, the only change is their level of equity falls below the original amount at purchase (for first home buyers 20% and or higher for landlords).

    It gets most interesting for the bank if the equity gets (is getting) wiped out and the borrower can only meet interest payments.

    • Hornet 13.1
      5 January 2018 at 9:38 pm

      The trigger points are:

      1. House owner can’t meet mortgage payments. Outcomes – Bank either refinances, or forces mortgagee sale.
      2. Market value falls below bank lending (or within a margin of it). Outcomes – Bank calls up additional equity from house owner, or forces mortgagee sale.

      The current government has inherited an already cooling market, so in my view they should tread warily. I’m not too interested in property speculators, but I am sympathetic to families and owners of small businesses wo have given security over the homes.

      • SPC 13.1.1
        5 January 2018 at 11:55 pm

        2. Banks do not force a sale where mortgage payments are being made, even if the value of the property falls below the outstanding mortgage.

        The only real risk is of a rise of interest rates impacting on the ability to meet mortgage payments.

        Government policy related to property is not going have any impact in that area. Whether rental standards or ending the ability of to offset losses against other income (or next term CGT).

        • Hornet 13.1.1.1
          6 January 2018 at 4:55 pm

          “2. Banks do not force a sale where mortgage payments are being made, even if the value of the property falls below the outstanding mortgage.”
          That’s generally true. My two points above really need to go hand in hand.

          “The only real risk is of a rise of interest rates impacting on the ability to meet mortgage payments.”
          There are other risks, including a reduction in income.

          “Government policy related to property is not going have any impact in that area.”
          Not necessarily. For example, lets say (purely hypothetically of course) that the government initiates a large scale house building program. Then lets add the dynamic that those houses have to meet an ‘affordability’ criteria that results in the government selling said houses below cost. That increases government debt, which potentially increases interest rates. A lot of hypotheticals, but economics tends to be quite a holistic beast, where a tweak here can have unintended consequences over there.

          “Whether rental standards or ending the ability of to offset losses against other income (or next term CGT).”
          Rental standards are a cost of landlords providing the service they get paid for. They are no excuse for getting out of the business, although they may be a factor in rents increasing. The removal of tax deductibility is a similar beast. Either being a landlord is a business or it isn’t.

  14. Tricledrown 14
    5 January 2018 at 11:09 pm

    Nationals minion’s trying very hard to spread cynical fake news.
    Demand and supply.
    Landlords sell to whom .
    The NZ property market will take years to meet supply.
    Speculaters will jump ship before market crashes then home buyers will be able to buy at reasonable prices.
    Auckland prices will plateau but not drop because big Cities bring migration.
    It may slow private construction which will allow govt to build its 100,000 affordable homes.

  15. timeforacupoftea 15
    6 January 2018 at 10:35 am

    The Key is to sell at the top like John Key.

    I will buy into the Auckland market to fulfil my dream but only on a 50% drop, meantime Queenstown (holiday home and Dunedin residence will have to do.

    Then again nearly every time I was in Auckland 2017 it rained.
    Is that normal for Auckland’s climate change, will it get worse, what are the predictions.

  16. savenz 16
    6 January 2018 at 11:02 am

    There is a huge shortage of rental properties and apparently those being sold are not going for rentals therefore even more shortages and homelessness.

    If increasing supply is the idea, I don’t think Labour is on the right track.

    Labour has not gone far enough in stopping foreign ownership by only targeting existing residential housing, not all housing and assets. They are not doing enough on the demand side either.

    In spite of capital gains taxes and stamp duty, countries like the UK have a major housing shortage. A tax 15% tax on foreign owners in Vancouver was more effective in bring down prices. Labour has not gone far enough in stopping foreign ownership by only targeting existing residential housing, not all housing and assets.

    They should be looking at the demand side, closing immigration loopholes and actually making residency and citizenship not only much harder to obtain but also taking 20 years to achieve free social security, so that only committed new migrants qualify.

    Globalism has totally changed immigration from the type of migrant coming to NZ 30 years ago who actually lived in NZ, worked exclusively here, learnt the language and were happy to migrate here.

    Nowadays we are getting citizens like Peter Thiel who stay for 11 days and get citizenship and their application states they won’t be expected to live here. WTF?

    Or people coming for slave wages until getting citizenship and family over and then leaving NZ to work overseas for decent money while the non working dependants stay behind. Who can blame migrants if the loophole is there and we offer wages 30% below Australia and cheap labour seems to be our focus not quality, but we do have “free’ schools, hospitals and social welfare to offer?

    Who can blame migrants who come here when they are actively advised to invest in property as part of the rich investment category (which clearly property should be removed from).

    You shouldn’t have to be a genius to work out that if we have 200,000+ new people with citizenship, residency or work permits each year, then you will get a housing shortage. It was designed to happen by National.

    And with climate change and national disasters, housing is getting more and more destroyed and it’s the uninsured that suffer most. Those making housing materials are raking it in, often multinational corporations.

    A catch 22 made to be a catch 22 by National that’s only economic achievement was to sell off NZ and give away citizenship as quickly and quietly as possible to keep their failings masked, the economy only focused on development, and to change the demographics in their favour.

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  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

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  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

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  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

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