You can’t afford a house because of – plants!

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, February 27th, 2017 - 58 comments
Categories: bill english, class war, Conservation, housing, sustainability, useless - Tags: , , , ,

I’m used to hearing some pretty pathetic excuses out of the National government. But this – this will really take some beating:

Prime Minister Bill English blames environment for high cost of housing

The high cost of housing “hanging over” young families is a result of the efforts to protect the environment in Auckland and other big cities, Prime Minister Bill English says.

Regulations dictating how furniture should be laid out in yet-to-be-built buildings and how plants should be positioned on sections needed to be axed, the Prime Minister said today.

Of course! Furniture and plants are to blame for the high cost of housing! Why didn’t we see it before?

“The cost of housing in New Zealand is fundamentally a product of poorly-directed but well intentioned views about the environment, and the urban environment and the fringes of cities.”

Joking aside – what a load of bullshit.

Land supply is not the problem, and whatever the contribution that environmental regulation makes to the cost of housing, it is dwarfed by the consequences of years of neglect of more fundamental issues. The NZ economy lacks diversity and opportunities for productive investment leading people to over-invest in housing. The tax system is set up to favour property speculation. In particular the lack of a capital gains tax makes un-earned gains much more attractive than working for a living. Consequently we have developed a culture of property speculation, fueled by years of low interest rates and supercharged by cashed-up overseas buyers. We have compounded the whole mess with NIMBY opposition to higher density housing and some good old fashioned price gouging in the cost of building supplies. That’s why have pumped up a property price bubble of epic proportions.

Or it could be some regulations somewhere or other that apply in some cases to furniture and plants.

Eight long years.

58 comments on “You can’t afford a house because of – plants! ”

  1. Panic is setting in. Glutching at straws.

  2. You forgot the big one: having the housing market open to foreign investors. But yeah, National can’t afford to admit any of them might be affecting NZ house prices, because then they’d have to do something about it.

    • Sacha 2.1

      And then voters might notice our zero improvement in GDP per capita and start asking awkward questions about Blinglish’s stewardship of the economy.

    • DoublePlusGood 2.2

      And the even bigger one: there is too much population growth stoking demand.

  3. “Wait, the government can tell me where to put my furniture? Z0mg!!!!! Nanny-state!!! quick get rid of all teh regulations now and let me do what I want!!!!!! Obviously it is all Labour and the greens fault, stupid environment, what has it ever done for me??”

    – Average Joe & Joan Smith, 2 Whiteonly lane, St Helliers

  4. Sanctuary 4

    Actually I think we need to see English’s comment as context for his general view of the environment. English (and his close mate Nick Smith) are clearly completely unreconstructed 19th century colonial rapers and exploiters of the land.

    God (remember, Bill Engish is a full-tilt God squadder) gave to man the world to use as he pleases. The environment is useless unless it can pillaged for the profit of men, and a pristine, free running river has no intrinsic value beyond how much of it you can pump out for irrigation, to make men rich from natures bounty as God intended. Saying “the environment” is stopping housing tells us he thinks nothing – not the last Kiwi in the last patch of bush, or the last Tui in the last tree – should be allowed to stand in the way of “progress”. The environment is useless, unless it has a dollar value to be exploited.

  5. Under Privileged 5

    Let’s break down Double Dippers statement. When doing the specifications for a new build most district plans require that the requisite furniture fits in the rooms designed, similar when it comes to a small garden For a architect/ draftsman this is a 30 minute cut and paste to show the furniture/ garden given they have the dimensions right in the first place, which is their job.

    We have a building boom at the moment and a shortage of all trades and professionals. This is a complex issue that is not caused by a 30 minute drafting exercise.

    • lloyd 5.1

      Could you please show me where in the Auckland Unitary Plan there is any requirement to consider the size of furniture or the placement of trees or shrubs?

      • Graeme 5.1.1

        I wonder if he’s conflating planning requirements with developer’s covenants. These can be very extensive and restrictive, all designed to maintain the “exclusivity of the neighbourhood”. But they go well down the value chain too.

  6. Andre 6

    I remember light bulbs and shower heads being a big enough problem to discredit the previous Labour government. But I don’t recall plants and furniture being a problem back then. Looks like the Nats totally own this one.

    • Brutus Iscariot 6.1

      They were just a lightning rod of voter fatigue, rather than a key issue. Same thing could happen to the current government over any minor kerfuffle.

  7. Whispering Kate 7

    Golly me even Martin Snedden said on the AM show today that his kid had applied to rent a room in a house and there were thirty other applicants there to apply as well. He said he thought he would be in the top 5% for living quality and admitted his kids would need help from family to buy into the AK market and quantified this with saying that the housing situation would be an election biggie. Double Dipper the God botherer is in serious trouble because his Government has not had the guts to make the hard decisions and he knows what they are. Folks earning a hundred thousand a year cannot buy in the AK market but we know who can and they are doing it like there’s no tomorrow. I know because I live in an area where I feel I need my fourth generation NZ passport to get down the road to my house.

  8. Siobhan 8

    Yep. National are crap. We can keep pointing that out.
    So you would think Labour could absolutely demolish them in the polls with some good housing policy.

    In 1936 Labour were proposing “to provide modern houses of a decent standard to be let at reasonable rates to people in the lower income groups”.
    You don’t get that sort of talk these days.
    You get ‘homes for the homeless’ and $500,000 affordable houses for everyone else.

    That’s one massive, and growing group in the middle of that who are not being addressed. Atleast nothing more than moves to make sure they don’t end up permanently disabled from being so darned cold..(by the way…an insulated house, just another excuse for the landlord to up the rent)
    And my hunch is that the people who are entitled to State Homes at present, the truly desperate, are not exactly ‘engaged’ voters.

    NZ political parties are seemingly determined to chase a smaller and smaller pool of voters.
    More fool them.

  9. jcuknz 9

    Awhile back wrote how lucky I was to live and work when I did …. when a 5K loan was enough to build the family home out of income [ total about 10K or a bit more] with my wife’s help despite earning about $29 a fortnight. and now in retirement I get $750 two weeks to live on.
    Actually it is the whole country which has gone wrong, led by Polies from all parties.
    You can blame Douglas but really the problem was the timidity of a loud mouth who called for the cuppa-tea and stopped the caring part of the package being implemented once the country could afford it. Pandering to the selfish voter in a three year election cycle.

    • garibaldi 9.1

      Yes jcuknz . Just think how well off we would be if it hadn’t been for Muldoon’s Cossacks dancing across our screens, along with his monumental bribe of super from age 60. Labour’s super scheme was far superior.
      I agree with you about Lange too. Great orator but lightweight politician eg tomorrows schools.

      • jcuknz 9.1.1

        As one who was just in time to benefit from Muldoon’s 60’s pension I will not say much against him but perhaps Douglas whose changes probably caused my redundancy at 89 instead of retirement at 65 with a bigger pension. What with a year on the dole at $7 a week/two weeks and loosing 20% of the pension I contributed to I am ambivalent about the long gone past … water under the bridge and not worth thinking about … pity more do not live in today’s world rather than harking backwards.

    • coffeeconnoiseur 9.2

      Actually once you understand and break down the system of Capitalism everything that is happening now is exactly to be expected….
      Homelessness
      increasing indebtedness
      The cost of essential basic needs outstripping wages
      The housing crisis
      Increasing poverty.
      These factors are what system collapse looks like under capitalism (because of Capitalisms need to only have a single willing buyer and a single willing seller to agree on price).
      Unfortunately it will get worse, much worse.

      Our political system is also part of the problem as all parties remain wedded to the debt based monetary system.
      The way to take people out of poverty…
      (The true definition of which is the ability to meet ones essential basic needs)
      is to give them more money…..

      The only ways to do this in the current system are as follows
      Print more.. which reduces value and spending power so isn’t really a good solution.
      Debt (its a debt based monetary system after all this is how it works and is also the real problem)
      Redistribution of wealth (this is always going to get voted against by those it is being taken from).

      There are many solutions but none within the current political frame.

      It really has become a system of slavery. Slavery through debt and the need to work to earn a living in order to buy the things needed to survive.

      With the high levels of automation this isn’t required anymore. We should really be having a transition to an automated society which only requires work for jobs that can’t be automated and where the ablility to live is no longer linked to the need to work to earn money to be able to pay for the ability to live.

      It is truly insane.

      Some solutions:

      a single taxation system worldwide with the objective of ensuring that essential basic needs are met via a universal basic income leaving nowhere for corporations to hide.

      Universal basic income coupled with a debt free monetary system where funds are cancelled once spent.

      Development of On Demand system of product and service hubs designed to let you live the life you actually want to live.

      A system of pay that is coupled with a UBI that pays people for hours worked at the same rate recognising that it is hours taken from ones life by work that is arguably important regardless of the type of job.

      I never voted for this system and neither did you!

      Discuss 🙂

  10. dukeofurl 10

    Auckland Design manual
    http://www.aucklanddesignmanual.co.nz/project-type/buildings-and-sites/housing/apartments/guidance/the-building/apartment-layout/apartment-space

    The interesting bit is
    Rules of Thumb
    Studio apartments, up to two persons 40sqm
    One bedroom apartments, two persons 50sqm
    Two bedroom apartments, four persons 75sqm
    Three bedroom apartments, six persons 100sqm​

    It seems to be basic architectural considerations, bedrooms can fit beds, living rooms can be lived in and and kitchens can open cupboards.

    • jcuknz 10.1

      Once upon a time we had a building code about building houses, if I bit restrictive on builders who wanted to cut corners and thought they knew everything ….
      I knew nothing and followed the rules otherwise I didn’t know anything about building just a year in prep school carpentry where I ended up first equal with a classmate who did as he was told … carefully ….two dovetail joints out of the twenty or so in class which fitted firmly … it seemed obvious to me to lay the tail on the second piece of wood and scribe around it 🙂

  11. greywarshark 11

    This is not the time for vague promises to come….
    Peter Sellers sallies forth:
    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxBtGuu9BVE

  12. greywarshark 12

    After you have suffered the anticlimax of political promises and policy you might need a Drop of the Hard Stuff.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6k1lml4AvE

  13. saveNZ 13

    Natz want the housing crisis and have profited from it. However they may finally have bitten off more than they can chew.

    They are using a US based strategy of blaming land scarcity , which is straight from right wing fascist lobby group ‘The Heritage foundation’ which after populating that viewpoint, then leads to blaming the environment and excessive regulation.

    Soon we are told that it’s housing or the environment. Bill English is now on 2.0 of the US based strategy to destroy environmental regulation in this country and social law by now blaming the environment for the housing crisis.

    The Natz and left wingers whether real or just a front, seem to be trying to get everyone frothing at the mouth about forcing through RMA and zoning changes so that only economic factors are considered, deregulating construction, getting rid of environmental controls and getting rid of any oversight on construction.

    The council diligently (or with realising it) helps the Natz dirty work for them, by being incompetent and pushing the same discourses which is dissimulated everywhere.

    I have no doubt the Spinoff, The productivity commission, and other avenues for pushing the US based deregulation strategy will continue on this theme. The point is, when are the left going to do about it?

    Funny enough, more socialist countries like the EU seem to be able to fit everyone in, but have tight regulation and zoning and less of a housing crisis (unless they opened their housing up to foreign investment) like the UK.

    All this deregulation brings back memories of the Shipley government in the 1990’s when they got all those leaky buildings erected that many of us are still paying for – only this time it is the resource consent side National are going for (and pretty much succeeded) not the building side (that will come aka it’s the furniture’s fault).

    Considering we just had Pike River kill so many people and be built in such a shoddy standard well outside of any normal design criteria – you have to wonder why we are not looking to increase resource consent requirements to be safe and sound and actually have someone bear the consequences if it is not.

    National are increasing a rubber stamp check list of incompetence on consenting not actually preventing poor practises let alone trying to make our country better through them.

  14. RedLogix 14

    No rules = Slums.

    Very cheap and affordable, widely implemented solution worldwide. NZ needs to keep up. /sarc

    • saveNZ 14.1

      Or Oligarch mansions or rich housing estate ghettos.

      We are not just getting slums and mansions now with National’s unitary plan, we are getting further social isolation and inequality.

      That is why it has always been important to have state housing in ALL areas across NZ.

      Likewise the old social housing run by councils.

      And zoning rules that restricted social inequality.

      Last year, a mother at my child’s school said they were going to have to move to a different area because they could not afford a 4th bedroom in the area we live in. It is a very family orientated area with many old state type housing or villas, presently constantly being renovated.

      It used to be people would put up a simple renovation with an extra bathroom or bedroom.

      But now it seems much of Auckland is knocking down the old villas and state houses and putting up oversized housing with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, media room, internally double garaging and pool. Generally these houses exceed zoning rules to be built, shadow neighbours and take years to build.

      They then leave a lasting legacy in the area of being unaffordable for the typical family on local wages who used to live or rent there.

      So someone who just needs an extra bedroom for a child, is not able to live there as the financial leap is not 30m2 but about 180m2 for the garaging, bedrooms, bathrooms, media rooms and pool. This excess practically always exceed zoning rules but are always allowed by council.

      The resulting houses are replacing former affordable houses with unaffordable ones that not even the middle class can afford.

      So even in small way a small change in zoning by allowing bigger housing actually starts denuding the area people on local wages and making it unaffordable.

      National’s unitary plan is a lie, it does not help ‘affordability’ in any way. It is doing the opposite. Just like in the USA.

      Having no rules helps the council in the short term, because a larger house earns them more rates money. But it is harder for the inhabitents to maintain financially due to more rates, more costs to insure, maintain, more power needs.

      It helps power companies, council, government (collects GST), insurers, etc

      Does not help the community, affordability, neighbours or equality.

      The people moving out are generally more likely to care about community and not be National supporters.

      • saveNZ 14.1.1

        Labour/Greens need to include homeowners in, with renters in who they are trying to protect in Auckland from the Natz deregulation plans!

        They need to ditch the NIMBY talk, the simpleton policy talk, and actually use their brains to work out how the Natz are tricking them into supporting inequality and deregulation and removing democracy.

      • jcuknz 14.1.2

        I would have thought a sensible family would avoid that fourth child or is it 7th+8th. People think the state should look after them however silly their actions … whereas insurance is based on risk and if you are risky you pay more or have an up front share of the cost [ the word escapes me at the moment 🙁 ] as I did after wrecking two boats and having a $1000 excess [ word came to me that quick 🙂 ] The sea attracts me but is not for me sadly.

        • garibaldi 14.1.2.1

          “Water under the bridge” from your reply to me above jcuknz .If you have wrecked 2 boats then wouldn’t “water over the bridge” be more appropriate?

        • rhinocrates 14.1.2.2

          I would have thought a sensible family would avoid that fourth child or is it 7th+8th. People think the state should look after them however silly their actions

          You mean like the state beneficiary Blinglish who was rorting the system for his housing allowance?

          • saveNZ 14.1.2.2.1

            Most of the 4 bedrooms mansions seem inhabited by older people with no kids, funny enough.

            I’m sure the Natz strategy of importing in 2 grandparents per 1 low paid worker will help. sarc.

            • Andrea 14.1.2.2.1.1

              “Most of the 4 bedrooms mansions seem inhabited by older people with no kids, funny enough.”

              Sounds like a furphy masquerading as a humongous non-specific generalisation – funnily enough.

            • Whispering Kate 14.1.2.2.1.2

              I think you will find Savenz that some older people are residing and hanging on to their homes as an investment for their children especially in AK. Once upon a time this was not necessary but the longer older folks can stay in their homes and hopefully be carted out feet first, the better their children can be provided for. Its a disgusting state of affairs when parents have to do this, in our early life we could save hard (as we all should do for a home) but at least the goal was attainable – even with 19% mortgage rates and 23% bridging finance – but it is not possible now for our kids.

              We only have two to consider so I feel really sorry for mums and dads who have more than that to wish to give a hand to. All power to parents who want to help their kids – many children will rent all their days and no parent of this day and age wants that.

              • saveNZ

                My comments were more at jcuknz who thinks people who can’t afford housing is because they have too many children.

                Totally missed my comment that the houses are unaffordable not because they don’t have enough bedrooms (standard old state houses and villas designed for workers had 3 or 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom) but because the council and zoning and consumer society are pimping oversized housing with too many extras now being considered essential, and a lot of these houses violate regulations but the council just lets them all pass, creating ghetto’s of unaffordable mansions in areas that formally normal families could afford.

                I don’t care if older people live in big homes. Good on them!

                I’m not after a socialist state of throwing the older folk out of their homes to reallocate resources, nor am I after the capitalist state of having no regulation and letting people create new housing that local people on local wages can’t actually afford and creating social inequality.

                Something in between please. We used to have that with state housing.

                But now some economist right wingers seems to think we need 15 million people in NZ and it’s created this boom of speculation while making locals homeless or struggling and housing that does not actually fit most people’s pockets, let alone being carbon neutral or a house of the future!

  15. Spectator 15

    “The NZ economy lacks diversity and opportunities for productive investment leading people to over-invest in housing. ”

    If they are over investing in housing, why is there a housing shortage?

    • saveNZ 15.1

      Because National has ensured that there is plenty of demand! And that demand also helps our low wage economy too, that Bill English has always praised as making NZ ‘competitive’ in the world.

      • Red 15.1.1

        A more logically inconsistent thread from one commenter I have not seen, even when contradiction are highlighted Truely stupendous incoherence deserving of an oscar

        • saveNZ 15.1.1.1

          Thanks Red. I’m pleased it is so confusing for you!

        • ropata 15.1.1.2

          You really are titanically thick. You have failed to state what you disagree with, or to make any argument at all, and you have committed 3 grammar/spelling errors as well. Facepalm at your utter incompetence.

  16. Groundhog 16

    You continue to get this so wrong.

    “The NZ economy lacks diversity and opportunities for productive investment leading people to over-invest in housing.”
    Rubbish. The NZ economy is booming across a range of sectors, and investment is flowing into those sectors.

    “In particular the lack of a capital gains tax makes un-earned gains much more attractive than working for a living. ”
    Again, rubbish. Capital Gains taxes do not limit price rises, as evidence in Australia, the UK and elsewhere.

    English is correct to point out some of the crazy rules we have in place. House prices are an Auckland issue, and so that’s where you have to look for answers. The rural-urban limit is one. Auckland council and left wing mayors obsession with public transport (and the association inaction on letting Auckland sprawl) is another. Housing costs went up under Labour more than they have under National, and NZ’ers know that.

    • Sorrwerdna 16.1

      +100000

    • garibaldi 16.2

      Perhaps you should get the Oscar Groundhog.

    • Whispering Kate 16.3

      “House prices are an Auckland issue” – Rubbish, housing is on the rise all around the upper North Island. Aucklanders moving out and moving to these areas are causing the house price rise. Just look at how housing has risen right the way down to Napier and New Plymouth. It may have started here but we have passed the disease onto these other provinces.

      For what its worth I blame the open gates to immigration on a grand scale to folks who quite frankly have plenty of cash. We know people who live in the Auckland inner city, we regularly see Mustangs, Porsche’s, really expensive motors parked outside their apartment building – hardly anybody who is a local can afford motors like that – incidently this friend of ours feels like they are the only kiwi on the street. It doesn’t matter which way you look at it, we were all once immigrants but enough is enough and we need to put the brakes on but no Government has the balls to do it. By the way we also feel like we need a passport to enter our street – but I have already mentioned that on this site.

      • Groundhog 16.3.1

        You say ‘rubbish’, and then proceed to explain that increasing prices are the result of Aucklanders leaving. Do you not see the fallacy in your comment?

        And your comments about immigration are ill informed and xenophobic. A significant portion of the change in net migration is Kiwi’s coming home or not moving overseas. In any event, migration is a vote of confidence in NZ. If we had had a council in Auckland with any kind of forward thinking, the market would have been able to meet the demand.

        • ropata 16.3.1.1

          Groundhog churning out the Natcorp™ lines over and over. Yes immigration is a huge factor, liar. Yes Aucklanders are putting pressure on house prices elsewhere, liar. No the council rules are not the primary factor in the broken housing market, liar. The market has been fucked up by too much speculation and ballooning prices, and the Government has sat on their fat arses and done nothing substantial to regulate the madness.
          https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@new-auckland/2017/03/30/17398/housing-crisis

  17. AsleepWhileWalking 17

    When in doubt blame the succulents.

  18. feijoa 18

    Heard a German talking on the radio a while back saying in Germany you can only get kicked out of your flat if you wreck it , or if the owners themselves want to live in it
    No other reasons

    Should try that here and see how many serious landlords there are left

  19. greywarshark 19

    Planning what a lot of fuss, intrusive councils being concerned about light space between houses and not crowding each other out, and whether houses can be serviced with nearby fire hydrants when instant water’s needed, and having access to transport, and a bit of community planning with shops and perhaps a neighbourhood office allowing a library service, and medical care. And stormwater pipes. big ones so when there is a dump of rain everybody on the flat isn’t flooded with dank smelly water up to the armpits, and cycle lanes and places to cross and traffic smoothing that somehow the councils whose business it is, haven’t the right to enforce lawfully, and some trees around parks for shade so people can be outside and not burnt, and so the place isn’t an ashphalt jungle. And some hardy perennials to soften hard kerb lines and hard neighbourhoods.

    Bloody paperwork these councils actually thinking about people and what makes a place pleasant and encourages people to enjoy living near each other in an attractive place, not fancy mind, just okay where people take an interest. More rather than less of that would be good, so that someone up a tree with her foot stuck in the tree fork and too embarrassed to call help but shouting Oi Oi every few minutes, doesn’t get ignored by neighbours until her blood supply got squeezed and she either lost her foot, or her life. I couldn’t bear to read it all it was so sad that could happen and I think in NZ. Planning has an affect on people, it can drive them to isolate themselves, or encourage them to mix and take an interest. Planning and housing are not able to be thrown up any old how and be all things to all people, or just about.

    • Andrea 19.1

      Greywarshark: planners do think about people and what makes a place pleasant. The points you cover are indeed vital. Totally agree.

      And, of course, there is the Dark Side of councils. The mates’ rates and closed shops. The exorbitant costs. The poor quality of inspection and the ‘health and safety run wild’ aspects. Permissions given to build encroaching ego trips and wreck pleasant places in the name of ‘progress’ for a select few.

      I could wish we had more practical and visionary planners – and a few more Ian Athfields, too. The country has an over-supply of little boxes made of ticky-tacky.

      • lloyd 19.1.1

        If you lived in an Athfield house you might want a box, Those Athfield tubes don’t always fit the boxes too well.

  20. lloyd 20

    When it comes down to it Council’s District Plans are the result of democracy.
    If we had a dictator giving out a plan we would have distinct looking cities and towns. Some of them would be unlivable and some would become cities to admire – like Paris.
    If we had Blinguish as our planning dictator we know there would be no room for plants and furniture – I wonder what he would put in our visually impoverished dwellings?

    • saveNZ 20.1

      Nope Lloyd, judging by the amount of barristers on $500 p/h attending the unitary plan zoning changes – I don’t think the process could be considered a democracy.

      A mockery of democracy.

      Memocracy, prehaps?

      Bit like the super city – just wasting money on pretending to consult but the decision was already made.

      • saveNZ 20.1.1

        The councils evidence in the unitary plan was thrown out – it was not even compliant so they chickened out of submitting it but the good folks (sarc) at the commission took it anyway!!

        If the council’s own evidence cost millions to produce but was not compliant by policy experts – how the hell could you expect a normal citizen to consult under that level of bureaucracy and legal overload!

        The unitary plan was never a democratic process! And it was never about a vision of how people should live and the society we want in Auckland.

        It was about $$$$ to change zoning rules so that a few people could make a lot of money and the lefties were all fooled into supporting it, and didn’t even make a fuss when the affordability and other criteria were removed.

  21. NZJester 21

    10 to 1 it will be a Trojan horse bill that will be introduced. It will be touted as a change in law to cut back on the environmental regulations supposedly stagnating new residential housing but you can bet is will have wording in it that does not just apply to residential buildings. They will sneak in stuff that has it apply to industrial land and farming also. While it will not save any money in the building of new residential housing it will probably allow for big business and farming to move into sensitive environmental areas without a lot of the current protections in place.

  22. Takere 22

    This Pt England Development Enabling Bill of Nick Smiths’, allows the Crown to exercise its Executive Power(s) to Confiscate any local park, reserve,DoC managed land as well as National park land and private property too, to then onsell to the highest bidder!
    This is what the Crown is doing with the negotiators from a interim PSGE, the Ngati Paoa iwi Trust Board(which has only 2 members as well as 2 other boards and associated Deeds & Mandates) & its interim negotiators Eugene & Antony as a private commercial deal masquerading as a Treaty Settlement of which it is not!
    It is a precedent setting Bill! No one’s private property is or public property is safe from been confiscated throughout the whole of NZ in the “name” of “Housing!” It’s what you might call a “FireSale!”
    Nick Smith & Chris Finlayson are in cahoots!

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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