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Watkin on the Nats’ housing blame game

Written By: - Date published: 9:35 am, May 30th, 2016 - 57 comments
Categories: accountability, housing, national, spin - Tags: , , ,

Excellent piece on Saturday from Tim Watkin at Pundit:

Housing game-changer: Spreading the blame

Housing remains the government’s biggest weakness and so National is redoubling its efforts. No, not to build houses, but to contain the political damage

I can’t give you a precise day or hour, but some time in the past fortnight, National has admitted defeat over Auckland’s housing crisis. You can see it in the calculated attacks on Auckland Council and the lack of action in the Budget; the government’s moved into ‘managing failure’ territory.
…
What’s become clear is that Auckland’s problem is no longer a land supply problem, it’s a house supply problem. The Special Housing Areas have opened up over 50,000 sections according to the government, but only 1000 houses have been built. Even Auckland Council estimates six and a half years worth of land is ready to build on. What’s missing is a will (or requirement) to build, tradie capacity and, arguably, a government commitment to a mass building programme.

Instead, what we’ve got from National seems to be an admission any fix on Auckland house prices is years away and what matters to them now is spreading the blame.

What’s clear is that National, as is their well worn tactic, will do its best to ensure the blame gets shared around. Bugger the relationship between Auckland and Wellington, they will blame the Auckland Council at every opportunity so that any voter anger directed at the government becomes ‘a plague on all their houses’.
…
Ultimately, National may have to accept the inevitability of a government building scheme, swallow that dead rat and promise that themselves.
…
But for now, National’s focus is on buying time and that means spreading the blame.

As usual the Nats are all about personal responsibility, as long as the person is someone else. Go read the full piece at Pundit for plenty more.

57 comments on “Watkin on the Nats’ housing blame game ”

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  1. shorts 1
    30 May 2016 at 10:00 am

    “Ultimately, National may have to accept the inevitability of a government building scheme, swallow that dead rat and promise that themselves.”

    This – I can’t see why they aren’t being proactive and announcing something along the lines of the state building some houses, even if they have no actual intention of building them… sure its a “defeat” but to not do so is strategically dumb and they continue to be on the wrong side of the media right now

    I still await Labour to really capitalise and re-announce the parties commitment to kiwi build and some more policies & promises that will be targeted at those (tens of) thousands really struggling – fuck the middle classes, stop pandering only to them

    • Colonial Viper 1.1
      30 May 2016 at 12:06 pm

      National are saving it for election year, just you wait. They’ll take the guts of Labour’s Kiwi Build programme and double it.

      • Sacha 1.1.1
        30 May 2016 at 12:49 pm

        Surely halving it would be more their style? And probably as a PPP with Fletchers.

      • leftie 1.1.2
        30 May 2016 at 4:22 pm

        8 years and all National have shown is that they are liars
        Colonial Viper, everyone knows that. Northland, by shunning National’s obvious lies and bribes, set the example to follow.

  2. Janice 2
    30 May 2016 at 10:21 am

    The Auckland housing under supply will never be fixed so long as for every house built there is probably about three more purchased by investors and speculators and left empty.

    • aerobubble 2.1
      30 May 2016 at 11:48 am

      So, Key introduces a new class of millionarie dotcom residents stoking demand, he installs the new super city bureaucracy keeping change from happening, i.e limits on debt, control over new quangos, etc etc, he wont spend to provide for those new investors dotcoms, and he also puts the boot into those who spend their income imediately by raising gst. Its laughable that any but Key could be held accountable.

      Investors should be required to build not buy like they do in Oz. Key should then now need to pump money into new builds as investor would be, in fact, its the poorest who Key is now forcing to pay for housing infrastructure, by have to move to poorer housing, or garages,or sleeping in cars, or on couz floor. Its simple physics, increase the no of people into NZ and being over nice to them because they are rich, a fatal flaw in Key – well thats when he can get someone else to pay, the poorest.

      Keys inept govt, give to the rich, the market will pickup the slack, is just more crazy neoliberalism.

    • Keith 2.2
      30 May 2016 at 11:48 am

      Damned right there Janice!

    • Psych nurse 2.3
      30 May 2016 at 12:27 pm

      So, we need squatters rights,just move into an empty foreign owned home and sit tight.

  3. Enviro Gal 3
    30 May 2016 at 10:44 am

    How good would it be for New Zealand to have a government seek to have some apartments well designed then built in Auckland City, as It is clear to thinking people that there is a house /apartment supply problem.
    How is Auckland Council to cope with 68 thousand new arrivals in NewZealand
    in the last year, with the majority coming to Auckland: the immigration problem
    is a government responsibility.
    It is also clear that a more compact city with highrise building creates a better city economically, the cost of continuing sprawl for infrastructure and transport
    simply does not make sense.

    • shorts 3.1
      30 May 2016 at 11:42 am

      well designed and well built!!!! For families and aimed to become affordable rentals or affordable to purchase – enough of the teeny tiny boxes or lavish slightly bigger boxes

      Most of the world manages to build apartment buildings that don’t leak and are comfortable to live in – not cheap builds developers to on-sell to speculators (mom and dad investors) thinking they’ll cash in on renting the places out

      • aerobubble 3.1.1
        30 May 2016 at 11:55 am

        Auckland is an isthmus on a volcanic field. Sure s.auckland is prime horocultural land. That means hilly land south of the growing areas would be the ideal place to build, with fast public transit to industrail s. auckland or north hamilton, etc. Hey why not turn huntly into the new business hub. Its called planning and nobody in auckland does that, the buteaucrats live in wellington, there isn’t the land, nobody put in proper rails, people think twice as a volcano might start up, the elites all like the high prices which they cant force higher so no incentives.
        Auckland is jus one big pile of housing pooh.

    • Colonial Viper 3.2
      30 May 2016 at 12:09 pm

      Everyone seems fine squashing 1/3 of NZ’s population into the 0.3% of NZ’s land area that Auckland represents, and then squeezing in another 60K newbies a year moving into the city.

      Why there is any problem with accommodation in Auckland, I’ll never understand.

      Meanwhile the provinces have been depleting for years as small town NZ has emptied out.

      But whatever, Auckland Auckland Auckland, ra ra ra.

      • Sacha 3.2.1
        30 May 2016 at 12:51 pm

        It’s a worldwide trend that people are moving to larger cities. Nothing personal, Dunedin.

        • Colonial Viper 3.2.1.1
          30 May 2016 at 9:54 pm

          It’s also a world wide trend to smash trade unions and move jobs to Bangladesh. So we just go with it?

      • Sabine 3.2.2
        30 May 2016 at 2:26 pm

        its only Auckland, rah rah rha?

        really?

        You know what, if that is / was your attitude to people and the life they live and are trying to live, i am thanking the voters for not having voted for you.
        I’d rather deal with a wanna be Tory like the double dipper then a faux lefty that can barely contain his contempt for about 1/3 of the population.

        • greywarshark 3.2.2.1
          30 May 2016 at 3:23 pm

          Sabine
          I don’t think you understand sarcasm. If your comment at 3.2.2 is about CVs at 3.2 then I suggest you have misunderstood the point completely and need to restrain yourself from attacking lefties on this site in such an impulsive way. It increases the confusion about policies and just feeds into the fractious approach that too often occurs here.

          CV I would bet is very concerned about Auckland and the people affected by the lack of available affordable housing there. He is not a a faux lefty that can barely contain his contempt for about 1/3 of the population..

          He is taking the mickey out of the RW when he mimics their ignorant views in:
          Why there is any problem with accommodation in Auckland, I’ll never understand.
          Meanwhile the provinces have been depleting for years as small town NZ has emptied out.
          But whatever, Auckland Auckland Auckland, ra ra ra.

          First he refers to the government practice of pushing Auckland’s interests over other areas especially regions. (This has resulted in Auckland’s local governments being decimated, combined into a huge entity more like a faceless corporate.)

          Then on top of that there are thousands of new people being fed into the area:
          squeezing in another 60K newbies a year moving into the city.,
          which result in exponential growth in prices with demand exceeding supply and ratcheting up the market which we are supposed to live by.
          “Teach your children well, their parents’ hell will slowly go by,
          And feed them on your dreams,
          The ones they pick will be the ones you’ll know by” ….etc.

          We are supposed to have an avowed economic aim, an alert Treasury full of lerts, banks, with one in Reserve, which have had serious tertiary training along with planners, and other officials. Still we have this housing debacle that is being actively encouraged we hear, destroying our urban village in order to save the housing market, trading in which is one of our main activities, just a bit up on taking in each other’s washing. It seems the idea is to provide a sort of housing stock exchange thought up by economic mercenaries.

          Most of us know all that and despise the politicians and screwed-up people who like this happening and chirp on about Auckland, what they are going to do to make it an enjoyable city, a great destination in the world blah blah. Everything they say about Auckland has a hidden background of abandonment of the majority of citizens, in favour of the ashpirational who are willing to place poorer citizens on a pyre of their hopes, dreams and lives.

          All that can be expressed in a few words of sarcasm. So can you and others keep from attacking other lefties trying to keep these issues alive, in our faces and those of the politicians? We need to pull together in the left, not nitpick at each other’s comments. Try wondering what point they are trying to make before you dump on them.

          • Sabine 3.2.2.1.1
            30 May 2016 at 4:10 pm

            we are currently trying to re-home two young women, two young guys and a bloke in his middle age, two dogs and three cats.

            I have run out of storage space to give to people that have lost their homes, and are afraid of loosing now all of their belongings.
            I have lost the house we rented for the young ones as it is sold. in the last two years of thirty people have lived in this house for a week to several month. Just enough time to get back up and going.
            I am taking in the cat of someone tomorrow who does not want to euthanize his cat and who is afraid that if she goes to the SPCA she will not live to tell the tale, he is moving into his van.
            I have run out of patience with sarcasm from people that don’t care.

            Auckland for all its faults and warts is home to 1/3 of the country. WE pay taxes, we have family elsewhere in NZ, we are New Zealand.

            And for what its worse this shit is happening all over the country.
            So frankly, and with all due respect, maybe its time to cut the sarcasm.

            • greywarshark 3.2.2.1.1.1
              30 May 2016 at 4:43 pm

              My main point was with all due respect, to have some respect for other left commenters here Sabine. I believe that you are doing much, you have indicated that you are very extended in other posts.

              Just dont direct your scorn at others working for change please. People who have been airing problems, describing what is happening, trying to arouse public concern and political action for years arent helped when others newer to the scene, start biting them on the ankles. For best results for change direct your disappointment with the system to the appropriate people.

              • Jenny Kirk …
                30 May 2016 at 7:43 pm

                query to greywarshark : is CV working for change ?

                It doesn’t show in his comments, and personally I think you’re out of line to chastise Sabine for querying him as well.

                • greywarshark …
                  30 May 2016 at 8:18 pm

                  Jenny Kirk
                  I didn’t think that comment was a helpful one.on the matter. and I am surprised at yours. I presume you have read mine completely and I explained my reasoning there. If you don’t agree that the left should stop nit-picking at each other then …

                  As for CV. He is working for change, a bit like a mosquito which bites and you slap it. But that is his object. To wake up the comfortable on the left, away in a little dream.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    30 May 2016 at 10:02 pm

                    Hi GWS, It seems to me that people have lost all sense of physical reality, which is what I am pointing to here. 1/3 of the country’s population in 0.3% of the land area, with thousands more coming in every month.

                    There is no building programme possible which will keep up with that growth, let alone remediate the current shortage of tens of thousands of houses.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  30 May 2016 at 10:06 pm

                  query to greywarshark : is CV working for change ?

                  Well, the Thorndon Bubble crowd get paid six figures to not work for change whereas I am a giving volunteer not working for change.

                  • greywarshark …
                    31 May 2016 at 11:19 am

                    Colonial Viper
                    What do you mean you are ‘not working for change’. I do not understand. Please elucidate further. Explain yourself, because your message is not getting through to me or the cognoscenti.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      31 May 2016 at 11:34 am

                      It means that the Labour Thorndon Bubble crowd want to keep the current system, but they want to be the managers.

                      It means that I am applying pressure as I can where I can, but the massive inertia of the system in motion may not budge a single millimetre in time.

                    • greywarshark …
                      31 May 2016 at 12:03 pm

                      Okay what I thought Colonial Viper. But your way of expressing yourself and your goals can confuse those who don’t know your track record.

                      Especially for those who don’t actually read through a comment, as you have stated yourself FTTT, TLDR. But we all want to put forward ideas freely considering it a right, without subjecting them to objective self scrutiny.

                      It ends up that we live in a cargo culture where someone else is going to do the hard work nutting out the way forward, hard-headedly looking at the barriers and recalcitrant opposition, rolling up their sleeves and making it happen. But no, the right way is to have the right thoughts of groupthink, by sitting in a circle and finding consensus. It’s working together in the glow of group righteousness that’s important and if the project doesn’t work then it is nobody’s fault, or a scapegoat is looked for.

                      Another approach is to be Red Hen followers, a few turn up when the ground is being prepared, start watching from the sidelines and discussing methods while the seed is being sown, the majority are busy elsewhere at the times to weed and water, but find time to help and make a joyful ritual at the harvest, which they expect for free because it is a community project isn’t it.

                      Good tool for handling ideas and projects for groups converting ideas to something solid.
                      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysis

  4. Keith 4
    30 May 2016 at 11:47 am

    It’s beyond National to do mass house building. After all this is the Party who are furiously trying to off load state houses to whoever will take them. This bunch of self centred, me, me, me rich pricks are incapable of formulating an effective house building response for the masses, its just not in their DNA.

    As lprent said elsewhere, there is so many building resources tied up rectifying leaky homes, the result of Nationals brain dead building deregulation in the 90’s that they are even more unlikely to achieve anything of any significance. Blame away National, you are fucked!

  5. ianmac 5
    30 May 2016 at 11:49 am

    Guyon interviewed Key on the Government V Auckland Council this morning. I could not figure out just what the state of the play is from the Key duck and dive. This is in spite of the Key rhetoric recently which threatened hell for Council if they misbehaved.
    Is it just my inability to comprehend?
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201802550

  6. Westiechick 6
    30 May 2016 at 12:04 pm

    It worries me a lot that state schools are facing a teacher shortage because teachers can’t afford to live in Auckland anymore – another symptom of a broken system which was until quite recently being celebrated by Keys as a triumph for homeowning aucklanders. Not quite so clever when the schools near the homes you own lack teachers.

    • Colonial Viper 6.1
      30 May 2016 at 12:13 pm

      The Ministry used to regularly supply housing to school teachers. Part of the employment contract.

      • dv 6.1.1
        30 May 2016 at 2:17 pm

        Country service only CV I thought?

        • Colonial Viper 6.1.1.1
          30 May 2016 at 2:20 pm

          Yes that was generally the case – but any area where it was difficult to attract the required teaching staff would be included.

      • Westiechick 6.1.2
        30 May 2016 at 9:34 pm

        I think that was rural. The point is that the people a city needs ie teachers, police, firepeople etc can no longer afford to be in the city. What hapens next?

        • Colonial Viper 6.1.2.1
          30 May 2016 at 9:41 pm

          They travel in from an hour outside the city to work, Takanini, etc.

          • Kiwiri 6.1.2.1.1
            30 May 2016 at 10:02 pm

            Eventually, some will move to Australia and get better pay and lifestyle. I say this because quite of few of my friends and relatives have left in recent years.

            • Colonial Viper 6.1.2.1.1.1
              30 May 2016 at 10:08 pm

              2/3 of our key public sector has long left and for the larger part only the inexperienced, easily influenced, recent imports and right wing remain.

          • greywarshark 6.1.2.1.2
            31 May 2016 at 11:26 am

            Getting to work in Auckland! Can confirm that many have to travel from Takanini etc. Only it is beginning to take more than an hour to get to work, over roads that without gridlocked traffic would be travelled in half the time. It’s very inefficient fuel and time use. When the road lovin’ Nats wheel out their excuses for not having rail, they don’t mention this waste of precious fuel and the additon to greenhouse warming from a mass of fuming cars and drivers.

            Traffic is becoming near stationary sometimes, but especially when there is an accident, which is to be expected with such mass traffic flows, at intersections. In this country’s driving guidelines there is little emphasis on being a courteous driver and on how to make way for others to allow others to enter the main flow, to just think about others on the road, signal early when turning etc.
            edited

        • dv 6.1.2.2
          30 May 2016 at 10:07 pm

          Sort of a bit like the shortage of tradies.

    • Lloyd 6.2
      31 May 2016 at 9:03 pm

      Don’t worry, some entrepreneur will start a charter school!
      With the subsidy they get they will be able to house their teachers in new model Audis.

  7. aerobubble 7
    30 May 2016 at 12:08 pm

    Hamilton to Auckland bus takes 2hrs, getting on and off, negotiating to get to bus stops. In any other major city globally there would be a rail line and a fast train, where people could commute in under an hour. The problem with Auckland its never considered itslef seriously.

  9. esoteric pineapples 9
    30 May 2016 at 1:12 pm

    buying – add two lls and you have “bullying”

  10. Once Was Tim 10
    30 May 2016 at 1:51 pm

    “what’s clear is [to paraphrase] the blame gets shared around” – Aided and abetted of course by a compliant and comfortable media.
    Housing of course is the crisis de jour, and it just frustrates me that the opposition still doesn’t seem to grasp the many other issues that cudda shudda wudda provide them an opportunity to make progress:
    – Electricity reticulation – prime fucking example! One of the most well endoured? endowered? countries for sustainable and cheap generation with unbelievable high electricity costs.
    There’s two ideologically derived words that describe that frikken fiasco: one is Max, the other is Bradford. I’d venture to suggest that we’d still have a functioning system had it remained in state and public hands with tiknollgee that existed 30 years ago (ripple controlling, state ownership whereby there was an adequate, non-partisan reinvestment in infrastructure without a profit driven imperative, whereby a ‘consumer’ (ugly word) could expect compensation AT THE SAME RATE for returning their excesses to the public grid ….. (a simple ‘fishint n fektiv’ answer to the ability to control and balance load)
    – Health …… so many fucking examples its hard to know where to begin – whether is skin or bowel cancer (screening); or that fucking little imp Simon Upton whose legacy of Hepatisus C infections seems to have gone un-noticed;
    or
    Ed Ya Kayshun (going forward)

    Never mind!. The natives are getting restless.

    Bloody shame though that Labour (at least), can’t see the writing on the wall or see the signs. Maybe it’s because they shudda cudda wudda gone to Spec Savers because the various members of their focus groups are at odds with each other.
    It’s really only a shame though because if they don’t get their shit together very soon, they’ll merely become an historical entry on Te Ara, and nothing will have been learnt from history (i.e. there will have been ‘no learnings going forward’).

    Christ! – which reminds me ….. the state of the Public Service – now there’s another tunetee! Whether its an incompetent MPI, a bugger’s muddle of a MoBIE, a CYFS, a WINZ, a Housing Corp…… let alone a TPK or an SSC!
    (ALL with highly – and obviously OVERpaid CEO’s running their little fiefdoms whilst putting their shit on the coal-face more junior public servants who work – usually IN SPITE of the, rather than because of their supposed immaculate corporate leadership qualities).

    • Once Was Tim 10.1
      30 May 2016 at 2:13 pm

      Then there’s Christchurch ….. one of the Insurance (and Gummint Munster responsible) industry’s sleeziest, dishonest, utterly incompetent, bullshit risk-managed/managerial class scams ever inflicted on Chch citizens and a NZ Public!
      Fuck me!, and they actually put then back in power at the time!

      WHAT a total fuckup and a treasure for monopolistic building (trens Tesmun) suppliers; consultants of varying competency; ex NSW coppers looking for an earn in their retirement as assessors – the list goes on.

      It’s ekshully a bit funny but for the fek its also a bit seard and that there have been, AND still are so many casualties.

      If ever there was a tunetee for an opposition …. there’s another

      Can I ask a question though – if anyone knows:

      Did Nafe Goi get his warrant purely on the basis of learning his lines (getting learnings going forward), and his reward as Munster in charge MPI on the basis of pottering around on a farm – or was there ekshully some other, more formal measure of his competence.
      Jesus!!! Even Paul Henry recognises his total incompetence. I reckon it must have been all that not inhaling and finding himself a tailor that told him pin stripes on blue would see him through – because sure as shit there’s an explanation that’d be a little harder to believe. Oh – maybe it was a theme at someone’s 21st he struck up an idea or two from

  11. Treetop 11
    30 May 2016 at 3:48 pm

    This is the way I see the housing crisis in Auckland and the ruining of HNZ.

    1. Too much housing supply and this will trigger the bursting of the housing bubble. (Middle income know to buy a Auckland home now could be risky). An increase in interest rates or in inflation will make the Aussie banks nervous. As well put pressure on those paying a mortgage.

    1.1 I believe there is already a farming land/loan bubble which is about to burst.

    2. 46% of Auckland home buyers are investors.

    3. The average section price in Auckland is $460,000. Building materials, tradie wages, GST and building consent costs all add up.

    4. Immigrants settling in Auckland should be required to build and not purchase an existing home, unless in the country for 10 years.

    5. Training more apprenticeship tradies, short term tradies from overseas to fast track building/alterations on every vacant HNZ home in Auckland and else where. There is a housing shortage for tradies in Auckland.

    6. State housing stock has not increased since 1991. Current stock is per capita as in 1949.

    7. More state houses would force private landlords to compete for tenants and no private landlord wants an empty rental.

    8. The government could provide tax relief and the council a rebate to anyone building a new home.

    9. Infrastructure costs need to be shared between the government and the council, in the end the council gets rates from a new build.

    10. Social housing needs to be dumped, this is a big distraction. I would have a specialist section at HNZ to look after anyone with high or special needs.

    When I hear what the disruption to a childs education and health is, due to living in a car, garage, a crowded home or due to having to leave a dwelling because the rent can no longer be afforded I am left wondering why Auckland housing is not the priority of every politician in NZ.

    The government need to find $150,000,000 today and trim this off other spends in last weeks MISSED IT on housing for those who are doing it tuff in the 2016 budget. I would halve what the spooks got for a start.

    Already Tollies innovative changes in Child, Youth and Family will be undermined and sabotaged due to the housing crisis.

    • BM 11.1
      30 May 2016 at 7:22 pm

      Who’s going to train these apprentices?

      • Descendant Of Sssmith 11.1.1
        30 May 2016 at 9:04 pm

        Very good question.

        Mike Moore was told in no uncertain terms that each year the public service didn’t train apprentices (most apprenticeships were in the public service) that 30-35 years down the road there would be a massive gap.

        After 5 years of not training apprentices the staff and support systems used to train them would also be gone.

        He didn’t want to hear that and proceeded, along with the rest of the traitorous Labour Party, to dismantle the blue collar jobs in the public service.

        We’re now reaping what was sowed.

        Was asked, was told, chose to ignore.

        Labour Party continues to ask, continues to be told, continues to ignore.

        • Colonial Viper 11.1.1.1
          30 May 2016 at 9:52 pm

          You smear the reputation of the great Labour Party and you prove that you’re a John Key right winger at heart

          PS thanks for the historical context

        • BM 11.1.1.2
          31 May 2016 at 7:47 am

          I agree, the private sector doesn’t have the interest, the time or the resources to train apprentices.

          That was one thing the government did do well and that’s train trades people.

          • Pat 11.1.1.2.1
            31 May 2016 at 7:57 am

            any business or industry that “doesn’t have the interest,the time or the resources to train” is non viable.

            • Descendant Of Sssmith 11.1.1.2.1.1
              31 May 2016 at 5:33 pm

              Nah don’t agree at all.

              Law firms don’t train lawyers for instance.

              I have no problem at all having the state train up people on building and maintaining state assets such as housing and schools and rail and roads and having some of those people later move into the private sector.

              Seems perfectly sensible to me.

              I do have a problem destroying those jobs in the public sector, having the private sector do the work on a contract basis and then sell off the assets as it’s too costly to pay the private sector to do the job.

              Many, many people got their start in the public sector.

              • Pat …
                31 May 2016 at 10:30 pm

                “I have no problem at all having the state train up people on building and maintaining state assets such as housing and schools and rail and roads and having some of those people later move into the private sector.”

                and

                “Law firms don’t train lawyers for instance.”

                Lawyers don’t just suddenly appear fully competent and nor do tradesmen.
                they are trained (in your examples,by the state)…the question then becomes who pays or provides….if businesses wish the state to provide the training then they should foot the bill…..curiously as we reduced taxes for business we also reduced the level of state provided training….and look how well the private sector have handled that.

                the choice is simple…public assisted training and higher tax(or direct industry funding) or minimal tax and industry training.

                there are many ways industries can try to avoid the costs of training but none that retain a viable industry…..as a number have found to their(and our) cost.

                Youse gets what youse pay for

  12. Craig H 12
    30 May 2016 at 10:07 pm

    Borrow money at 2.5%, build stacks of apartments, rent them at 25% of income. Sell them for 3 x annual income, with right of repurchase for 10 years.

    Do the same for houses for families.

    Build a high speed rail between Hamilton and Auckland and build more houses in and around Hamilton, same deal.

    Do the same in regional NZ, and move government services around to create decent jobs to underpin the programme.

    • Colonial Viper 12.1
      30 May 2016 at 10:16 pm

      Government can issue the NZD to do this work, and do it at 0%. It does not need to borrow these NZD.

      • Treetop 12.1.1
        2 June 2016 at 11:18 am

        There are a couple of carpenters/builders in my family, they trained in the early 1970s. What worked then needs to happen now. They are still tradies.

        If there is a tradie out there who trained in the early 1970s please tell me how apprentices were trained then?

        All I know is that the pay was low and some attendance was required at a polytechnic and a builder/carpenter mentored a person. As well people trained on high rise building sites.

        There seems to be a lot of contracting out work now and a quick profit is the goal. Tax incentives could be offered to counteract the high cost in training tradies.

        I do not know what private and public sector training actually is and who pays the wages?

      • Treetop 12.1.2
        2 June 2016 at 11:27 am

        As long as NZD stay away from building bridges, recall the bee keeper who died on the dodgy bridge. Coming to think of it this sparked some changes in who is responsible for worker saftey on private property.

    • You_Fool 12.2
      31 May 2016 at 8:28 am

      High sped rail to Tauranga and Whangerei as well – expand prt services at both those places and use trains to move cargo from those ports to a inland port at Wiri before re-distributing through Auckland (difference in travel distance from port to final destination offset by trucks not being stuck in central Auckland traffic) and then we also have more land to build on – either more retail, open space or apartments (or a combination of all those) – or just a big Passenger Ship terminal + retail mall – possibly with apartments above that

    • Lloyd 12.3
      31 May 2016 at 9:16 pm

      And nationalise companies and move the HQ’s from Auckland to Wellington.

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  • Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta to attend NATO meeting
    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nanaia Mahuta, departs for Europe today, where she will attend a session of the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brussels and make a short bilateral visit to Sweden.  “NATO is a long-standing and likeminded partner for Aotearoa New Zealand. It is valuable to join a session of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Secure all-of-government facility to be built at Whenuapai
    A secure facility that will house protected information for a broad range of government agencies is being constructed at RNZAF Base Auckland (Whenuapai), Public Service, Defence and GCSB Minister Andrew Little says. The facility will consolidate and expand the government’s current secure storage capacity and capability for at least another ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Flu vaccine to protect Kiwis this winter
    From today, 1.8 million flu vaccines are available to help protect New Zealanders from winter illness, Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall has announced. “Vaccination against flu is safe and will be a first line of defence against severe illness this winter,” Dr Verrall said. “We can all play a part ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Congratulations to Professor Rangi Mātāmua – New Zealander of the Year
    Associate Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Willow-Jean Prime has congratulated Professor Rangi Mātāmua (Ngāi Tūhoe) who was last night named the prestigious Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa New Zealander of the Year. Professor Mātāmua, who is the government's Chief Adviser Mātauranga Matariki, was the winner of the New Zealander ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Further sanctions on Russian and Belarusian political and military figures
    The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has announced further sanctions on political and military figures from Russia and Belarus as part of the ongoing response to the war in Ukraine. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Alekseevna Lvova-Belova ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Ambitious new housing development for Whangārei
    A new public housing development planned for Whangārei will provide 95 warm and dry, modern homes for people in need, Housing Minister Megan Woods says. The Kauika Road development will replace a motel complex in the Avenues with 89 three-level walk up apartments, alongside six homes. “Whangārei has a rapidly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • CPTPP bolstered by decision on UK accession
    New Zealand welcomes the substantial conclusion of negotiations on the United Kingdom’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “Continuing to grow our export returns is a priority for the Government and part of our plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown initial Taranaki Maunga collective redress deed (rua reo)
    Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown initial Taranaki Maunga collective redress deed Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown have today initialled the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Deed, named Te Ruruku Pūtakerongo, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little says. “I am pleased to be here for this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Dates announced for 2023 Pacific language weeks
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds has announced the 2023 Pacific Language week series, highlighting the need to revitalise and sustain languages for future generations. “Pacific languages are a cornerstone of our health, wellbeing and identity as Pacific peoples. When our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated, our communities thrive,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Over a quarter of New Zealanders to get cost of living relief from tomorrow
    880,000 pensioners to get a boost to Super, including 5000 veterans 52,000 students to see a bump in allowance or loan living costs Approximately 223,000 workers to receive a wage rise as a result of the minimum wage increasing to $22.70 8,000 community nurses to receive pay increase of up ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Thousands of community nurses getting April pay boost
    Over 8000 community nurses will start receiving well-deserved pay rises of up to 15 percent over the next month as a Government initiative worth $200 million a year kicks in, says Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall. “The Government is committed to ensuring nurses are paid fairly and will receive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech to Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and TOI Foundation breakfast
    Tākiri mai ana te ata Ki runga o ngākau mārohirohi Kōrihi ana te manu kaupapa Ka ao, ka ao, ka awatea Tihei mauri ora Let the dawn break On the hearts and minds of those who stand resolute As the bird of action sings, it welcomes the dawn of a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government takes next step to lift artists’ incomes
    The Government is introducing a scheme which will lift incomes for artists, support them beyond the current spike in cost of living and ensure they are properly recognised for their contribution to New Zealand’s economy and culture.    “In line with New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement with the UK, last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • NZ stands with Vanuatu on climate at UN
    New Zealand is welcoming a decision by the United Nations General Assembly to ask the International Court of Justice to consider countries’ international legal obligations on climate change. The United Nations has voted unanimously to adopt a resolution led by Vanuatu to ask the ICJ for an advisory opinion on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • More Police deployed to the frontline
    More Police officers are being deployed to the frontline with the graduation of 59 new constables from the Royal New Zealand Police College today. “The graduation for recruit wing 364 was my first since becoming Police Minister last week,” Ginny Andersen said. “It was a real honour. I want to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Aotearoa New Zealand committed to an enduring partnership with Vanuatu
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta met with Vanuatu Foreign Minister Jotham Napat in Port Vila, today, signing a new Statement of Partnership — Aotearoa New Zealand’s first with Vanuatu. “The Mauri Statement of Partnership is a joint expression of the values, priorities and principles that will guide the Aotearoa New Zealand–Vanuatu relationship into ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government delivers levy change to support Fire and Emergency
    The Government has passed new legislation amending the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) levy regime, ensuring the best balance between a fair and cost effective funding model. The Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Levy) Amendment Bill makes changes to the existing law to: charge the levy on contracts of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Next steps for New Zealand’s organic regulations
    The Government has passed the Organic Products and Production Bill through its third reading today in Parliament helping New Zealand’s organic sector to grow and lift export revenue. “The Organic Products and Production Bill will introduce robust and practical regulation to give businesses the certainty they need to continue to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Govt helps to protect New Zealanders digital identities
    The Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill, which will make it easier for New Zealanders to safely prove who they are digitally has passed its third and final reading today. “We know New Zealanders want control over their identity information and how it’s used by the companies and services they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Cyclone Taskforce focused on locally-led recovery
    The full Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery Taskforce has met formally for the first time as work continues to help the regions recover and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle. The Taskforce, which includes representatives from business, local government, iwi and unions, covers all regions affected by the January and February floods and cyclone. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Law changed to protect subcontractors
    Changes have been made to legislation to give subcontractors the confidence they will be paid the retention money they are owed should the head contractor’s business fail, Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods announced today. “These changes passed in the Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Act safeguard subcontractors who ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New congestion busting harbour crossing options unveiled
    Transport Minister Michael Wood has unveiled five scenarios for one of the most significant city-shaping projects for Tāmaki Makaurau in coming decades, the additional Waitematā Harbour crossing. “Aucklanders and businesses have made it clear that the biggest barriers to the success of Auckland is persistent congestion and after years of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New law enhances safety and security in the aviation sector
    The Government has passed new legislation that ensures New Zealand’s civil aviation rules are fit for purpose in the 21st century, Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan says. The Civil Aviation Bill repeals and replaces the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and the Airport Authorities Act 1966 with a single modern law ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Coroners Amendment Bill passes third reading
    A Bill aimed at helping to reduce delays in the coronial jurisdiction passed its third reading today. The Coroners Amendment Bill, amongst other things, will establish new coronial positions, known as Associate Coroners, who will be able to perform most of the functions, powers, and duties of Coroners. The new ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Review into Stuart Nash’s communications with donors
    The Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Secretary to conduct a review into communications between Stuart Nash and his donors. The review will take place over the next two months.  The review will look at whether there have been any other breaches of cabinet collective responsibility or confidentiality, or whether ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • 600 more workers to support recovery
    The new Recovery Visa to help bring in additional migrant workers to support cyclone and flooding recovery has attracted over 600 successful applicants within its first month. “The Government is moving quickly to support businesses bring in the workers needed to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland floods,” Michael ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Bills to vet school boards, contractors pass first reading
    Bills to ensure non-teaching employees and contractors at schools, and unlicensed childcare services like mall crèches are vetted by police, and provide safeguards for school board appointments have passed their first reading today. The Education and Training Amendment Bill (No. 3) and the Regulatory Systems (Education) Amendment Bill have now ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Bill recognises unique role and contribution of Wānanga and Kura Kaupapa Māori
    Wānanga will gain increased flexibility and autonomy that recognises the unique role they fill in the tertiary education sector, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The Education and Training Amendment Bill (No.3), that had its first reading today, proposes a new Wānanga enabling framework for the three current ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Foreign Affairs Minister talks to the Vanuatu Government on Pacific issues
    Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to Vanuatu today, announcing that Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further relief and recovery assistance there, following the recent destruction caused by Cyclones Judy and Kevin. While in Vanuatu, Minister Mahuta will meet with Vanuatu Acting Prime Minister Sato Kilman, Foreign Minister Jotham ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Major investment to support the safety of frontline Police and communities
    The Government is backing Police and making communities safer with the roll-out of state-of-the-art tools and training to frontline staff, Police Minister Ginny Andersen said today. “Frontline staff face high-risk situations daily as they increasingly respond to sophisticated organised crime, gang-violence and the availability of illegal firearms,” Ginny Andersen said.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Further laws passed to keep communities safe from gang offending
    The Government has provided Police with more tools to crack down on gang offending with the passing of new legislation today which will further improve public safety, Justice Minister Kiri Allan says. The Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Bill amends existing law to: create new targeted warrant and additional search powers ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Standard kerbside recycling part of new era for waste system
    The Government today announced far-reaching changes to the way we make, use, recycle and dispose of waste, ushering in a new era for New Zealand’s waste system. The changes will ensure that where waste is recycled, for instance by households at the kerbside, it is less likely to be contaminated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New laws will crack down on gang profits and criminal assets
    New legislation passed by the Government today will make it harder for gangs and their leaders to benefit financially from crime that causes considerable harm in our communities, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan says. Since the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 came into effect police have been highly successful in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Stuart Nash dismissed from Cabinet
    This evening I have advised the Governor-General to dismiss Stuart Nash from all his ministerial portfolios. Late this afternoon I was made aware by a news outlet of an email Stuart Nash sent in March 2020 to two contacts regarding a commercial rent relief package that Cabinet had considered. In ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Tax incentive to boost housing passes third reading
    Legislation to enable more build-to-rent developments has passed its third reading in Parliament, so this type of rental will be able to claim interest deductibility in perpetuity where it meets the requirements. Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods, says the changes will help unlock the potential of the build-to-rent sector and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Law levels playing field for low-emissions commuting
    A law passed by Parliament today exempts employers from paying fringe benefit tax on certain low emission commuting options they provide or subsidise for their staff.  “Many employers already subsidise the commuting costs of their staff, for instance by providing car parks,” Environment Minister David Parker said.  “This move supports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • 40 years of Closer Economic Relations with Australia
    Today marks the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER), our gold standard free trade agreement between New Zealand and Australia. “CER was a world-leading agreement in 1983, is still world-renowned today and is emblematic of both our countries’ commitment to free trade. The WTO has called it the world’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Amendments to mass arrivals legislation
    The Government is making procedural changes to the Immigration Act to ensure that 2013 amendments operate as Parliament intended.   The Government is also introducing a new community management approach for asylum seekers. “While it’s unlikely we’ll experience a mass arrival due to our remote positioning, there is no doubt New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Progress on public service pay adjustment
    The Government welcomes progress on public sector pay adjustment (PSPA) agreements, and the release of the updated public service pay guidance by the Public Service Commission today, Minister for the Public Service Andrew Little says. “More than a dozen collective agreements are now settled in the public service, Crown Agents, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Further legislation introduced to support cyclone recovery
    The Government has introduced the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill to further support the recovery and rebuild from the recent severe weather events in the North Island. “We know from our experiences following the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes that it will take some time before we completely understand the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

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