NZ housing

Nigel Latta Only Tells Half the Story on the Economy

Geoff SimmonsEconomics

Last night Nigel Latta tackled the long-standing issue of the struggling New Zealand economy. For decades the country has been focused on working harder and producing more stuff rather than working smarter and making better stuff. We’ve been a big … Read More

How Minister Smith Could Deal with Land Banking

Geoff SimmonsEconomics

The average price of a house in Auckland is predicted to pass $1m when official figures are released later this week. In an interview on TV3’s The Nation over the weekend the Housing Minister Nick Smith (dubbed by Paddy Gower … Read More

NIMBY Backlash to The Auckland Unitary Plan

NIMBY Backlash to The Auckland Unitary Plan

Geoff SimmonsUncategorized

With a residents association representing existing property owners in a leafy suburb threatening legal action, and wealthy residents in the coveted Paritai Drive expressing outrage, the battle lines for the Unitary Plan are drawn. The fact is that the Unitary … Read More

Council Rates Amount to Social Welfare in Local Form

Gareth MorganPolitics

Gareth Morgan, Director of Gareth Morgan Investments Local councils which levy rates according to a formula whereby higher value properties pay proportionately more, are still muddled in their thinking. To be consistent with recent moves they have made to exit … Read More

How do we stop land banking?

Gareth MorganEconomics, 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

An Inflation Rectangle

Gareth MorganEconomics

Gareth Morgan, Director of Gareth Morgan Investments “Inflation is dead” has been the catchcry for some time, but that did not stop most forecasters being caught out by a lower than expected inflation figure for the September 1991 quarter. It … Read More