Category Archive

The Unitary Plan Improves Choice

Geoff SimmonsSeptember 29, 2016Property

The inevitable has happened; the NIMBYs (not in my backyarders) opposing the Unitary Plan have turned to legal redress to prevent change. The likes of the Character Coalition claim that the Unitary Plan process “trampled on people’s rights”, but this … Read More

3 Questions we have to answer before abolishing Auckland’s city limit

Geoff SimmonsMay 19, 2016Property

As Auckland housing reaches a crisis point and homelessness rears its ugly head, our politicians seem to be slipping into silly season. Having refused to deal with investor demand for housing, they are forced to flog the dead horse of … Read More

How lower dairy prices mean higher house prices – Whiteboard Friday

Gareth MorganAugust 7, 2015Property

Today we talk about Fonterra’s forecast milk price for farmers this year. Watch this video to understand why dairy farmers are bracing themselves, but Auckland housing investors are ready to cash in. How lower dairy prices mean higher house prices … Read More

How do we stop land banking?

Gareth MorganJuly 16, 2015Economics, Property

The Productivity Commission has produced a draft report that looks at ways to increase the supply of land for housing. The report includes many good ideas, such as getting rid of minimum parking requirements, which we will talk about in … Read More

Why our tax system encourages rich people to keep buying houses – Whiteboard Friday

Gareth MorganMay 8, 2015Property, Tax and Welfare

For those not cashed up, buying a house may not be a good move and you may be better off renting. It’s a different story for those who are cashed up. This video explains why it makes sense for the … Read More

Frustrated Reserve Bank finally speaks out on rocketing house prices

Gareth MorganApril 16, 2015Property, Tax and Welfare

We’re almost starting to feel sorry for the Reserve Bank. They are caught between a rock and a hard place, with inflation tamed but house prices out of control. They have tried out some tools – the loan to value … Read More

Reserve Bank throws another pail of water on house price inferno

Geoff SimmonsMarch 10, 2015Economics, Property

The Reserve Bank, faced with soaring Auckland house prices and low inflation, is getting creative. They are looking at making it harder for investors to borrow the money needed to buy rental properties. So at least the RB accepts the … Read More

Tax Mega-Rich for their Kiwi Hideaways

Gareth MorganFebruary 23, 2015Property, Tax and Welfare, Uncategorized

The UK media have been reporting on the global elite buying up secluded New Zealand ‘bolt-holes with airstrips’. The story goes that these properties are being snapped up in case of a ‘global uprising’ where the poor rise up against … Read More

Why does the Green Party oppose taxpayer savings?

Gareth MorganFebruary 2, 2015Property, Tax and Welfare

Some, including the Green Party, have questioned the wisdom of the Government’s proposed sale of state houses. In this blog we will look at the detail on how this proposal has worked overseas, and could work here. The question them … Read More

Why we shouldn’t fear the sale of state houses (if it is done well)

Gareth MorganJanuary 29, 2015Property, Tax and Welfare

John Key’s state of the nation speech promised to sell off state houses (1,000-2,000 this year, 8,000 by 2017) and boost the number of social housing subsidies. This has prompted the usual bleats from the political left, but we needn’t … Read More

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