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Bernard Hickey

About

Bernard is back as a senior contributor on interest.co.nz. Until September 30, 2012 he was the managing editor here. He had previously worked for 18 years for Reuters, the FT Group and Fairfax as a financial journalist and editor. He is now the publisher of The Kaka.

Member for

16 years 10 months

Latest articles

Orr jabs at banks on deposit rates and inclusion
RBNZ Governor Adrian Orr calls on banks to lift deposit rates as much as mortgage rates; says Gabrielle shows banks haven't done enough on inclusion and resilience in regional areas
by Bernard Hickey
46
RBNZ Governor Adrian Orr calls on banks to lift deposit rates as much as mortgage rates; says Gabrielle shows banks haven't done enough on inclusion and resilience in regional areas
Govt starts Gabrielle response with $300m of funds
Cabinet decides on initial $250m top-up for road repair fund; initial $50m for discretionary grants to small business; Govt also considering rebuild work visa for affected regions
by Bernard Hickey
67
Cabinet decides on initial $250m top-up for road repair fund; initial $50m for discretionary grants to small business; Govt also considering rebuild work visa for affected regions
ac
Govt rewriting Budget 2023 for Gabrielle rebuild
Cabinet meets for last-minute re-write of Budget 2023 to pay for Gabrielle response and rebuild; initial wage-subsidy-style support expected; easier migrant worker access being eyed; Robertson sees eventual bill around $13b
by Bernard Hickey
42
Cabinet meets for last-minute re-write of Budget 2023 to pay for Gabrielle response and rebuild; initial wage-subsidy-style support expected; easier migrant worker access being eyed; Robertson sees eventual bill around $13b
Climate change now Robertson’s ‘defining dynamic’
Finance Minister says 1-in-100-year climate events now more regular; He wants a long-term infrastructure plan for adaptation; He sees tough conversations about whether, where, how and who pays to rebuild
by Bernard Hickey
68
Finance Minister says 1-in-100-year climate events now more regular; He wants a long-term infrastructure plan for adaptation; He sees tough conversations about whether, where, how and who pays to rebuild
PM Chris Hipkins speaking from the Beehive Theatrette Lecturn. Photo by Lynn Grieveson for The Kaka.
Labour clears decks before election
Hipkins ditches social insurance, TVNZ-RNZ merger, hate speech law and biofuels mandate; minimum wage to rise 7%; unspecified Three Waters changes flagged
by Bernard Hickey
244
Hipkins ditches social insurance, TVNZ-RNZ merger, hate speech law and biofuels mandate; minimum wage to rise 7%; unspecified Three Waters changes flagged
Transport and Auckland Minister Michael Wood (left), PM Chris Hipkins and Finance Minister Grant Robertson (right)
Fuel tax cut extended again
Govt extends 25c/litre fuel tax cut for yet another three months, saying it wants to focus first on ‘bread and butter’ ‘cost of living’ issues
by Bernard Hickey
70
Govt extends 25c/litre fuel tax cut for yet another three months, saying it wants to focus first on ‘bread and butter’ ‘cost of living’ issues
PM Chris Hipkins speaking from the Beehive Theatrette Lecturn. Photo by Lynn Grieveson for The Kaka.
Mahuta loses Local Government portfolio in Three Waters review
Nanaia Mahuta replaced by Kieran McAnulty as Local Government Minister and Andrew Little replaced by Ayesha Verrall as Health Minister
by Bernard Hickey
129
Nanaia Mahuta replaced by Kieran McAnulty as Local Government Minister and Andrew Little replaced by Ayesha Verrall as Health Minister
Jacinda Ardern's decision to resign and her replacement by Chris Hipkins has lifted Labour back above National in two polls. Photo by Lynn Grieveson for The Kaka
Hipkins' immediate 'honeymoon' bounce
Change from Ardern to Hipkins bounces Labour polling support back above National after less than a week in charge
by Bernard Hickey
42
Change from Ardern to Hipkins bounces Labour polling support back above National after less than a week in charge
PM Chris Hipkins speaking from the Beehive Theatrette Lecturn. Photo by Lynn Grieveson for The Kaka.
Hipkins set to loosen migration and tighten spending
New PM Chris Hipkins to use cabinet reshuffle and policy tweaks to try to distance Labour from Ardern and catch up to National
by Bernard Hickey
233
New PM Chris Hipkins to use cabinet reshuffle and policy tweaks to try to distance Labour from Ardern and catch up to National
Chris Hipkins.
Hipkins against lower house prices
PM-elect Chris Hipkins says in first news conference he wants to ditch unnecessary spending and doesn't want to do anything to lower house prices
by Bernard Hickey
120
PM-elect Chris Hipkins says in first news conference he wants to ditch unnecessary spending and doesn't want to do anything to lower house prices
Chris Hipkins
Chris Hipkins the sole nominee and will be the next Prime Minister
Hipkins sole candidate for Labour leader in caucus vote; expected to be endorsed tomorrow afternoon and become PM soon after
by Bernard Hickey
236
Hipkins sole candidate for Labour leader in caucus vote; expected to be endorsed tomorrow afternoon and become PM soon after
A tribute to a tragic PM
Bernard Hickey writes outgoing PM Jacinda Ardern deserves our thanks and respect for her crisis leadership, but she failed to deliver on her own transformational promises because of her fiscal conservatism
by Bernard Hickey
128
Bernard Hickey writes outgoing PM Jacinda Ardern deserves our thanks and respect for her crisis leadership, but she failed to deliver on her own transformational promises because of her fiscal conservatism
Damien O'Connor and Jacinda Ardern
Govt softens farm emissions plan
Ardern and O'Connor promise low initial methane price, cheap nitrogen price and inclusion of riparian planting in ETS
by Bernard Hickey
70
Ardern and O'Connor promise low initial methane price, cheap nitrogen price and inclusion of riparian planting in ETS
Finance Minister Grant Robertson presents the HYEFU and BPS for Budget 2023. Photo by Lynn Grieveson/The Kaka.
Petrol tax cut extended to March 31
Govt extends petrol tax cut by two months to end of March, but diesel RUCs cut will end as scheduled on Jan 31
by Bernard Hickey
74
Govt extends petrol tax cut by two months to end of March, but diesel RUCs cut will end as scheduled on Jan 31
Immigration counter
Govt loosens migration settings again
Govt expands 'green list' for work-to-residency visas to include nurses, construction workers and teachers; expands straight-to-residency visa list to midwives and auditors
by Bernard Hickey
95
Govt expands 'green list' for work-to-residency visas to include nurses, construction workers and teachers; expands straight-to-residency visa list to midwives and auditors
Govt delays healthy homes standard
[updated]
Megan Woods announces delay in healthy homes standards launch by one year to July 1, 2025, but to regulate property managers
by Bernard Hickey
59
Megan Woods announces delay in healthy homes standards launch by one year to July 1, 2025, but to regulate property managers
plan-approvedrf1
10 more years to replace RMA
[updated]
New regime to replace RMA to take 10 years to bed in, cost $3.891b and create benefits of $10.039b
by Bernard Hickey
39
New regime to replace RMA to take 10 years to bed in, cost $3.891b and create benefits of $10.039b
Open banking still two years away
Clark announces banks will be first designated for 'consumer data framework' to allow easy shifting of data and accounts, but implementation still 'two years away'
by Bernard Hickey
22
Clark announces banks will be first designated for 'consumer data framework' to allow easy shifting of data and accounts, but implementation still 'two years away'
Reserve Bank independence just ended
Opposition's shock at Orr's reappointment signals the end of an era of Reserve Bank independence, and that's ok because it was bound to happen post QE
by Bernard Hickey
47
Opposition's shock at Orr's reappointment signals the end of an era of Reserve Bank independence, and that's ok because it was bound to happen post QE
Luxon-Willis
Reserve Bank independence faces biggest challenge
Opposition leader and potential Finance Minister say they're 'shocked and appalled' Orr was reappointed Governor
by Bernard Hickey
115
Opposition leader and potential Finance Minister say they're 'shocked and appalled' Orr was reappointed Governor
money-laundering2
'Tougher' AML-CFT rules actually looser for some
Review of anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing suggests looser settings for some as $1.3b cost mounts
by Bernard Hickey
6
Review of anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing suggests looser settings for some as $1.3b cost mounts
Ardern criticises high bank profits
PM says banks not demonstrating 'social license' by repeatedly making very high profits, but does not have policy options; instead says banks 'should take a long hard look at themselves'
by Bernard Hickey
74
PM says banks not demonstrating 'social license' by repeatedly making very high profits, but does not have policy options; instead says banks 'should take a long hard look at themselves'
Actually, we'll almost all be just fine
Headlines warn of grim times as interest rates jump and house prices fall, but actually, households, banks and firms are in rude health
by Bernard Hickey
153
Headlines warn of grim times as interest rates jump and house prices fall, but actually, households, banks and firms are in rude health
Robertson proud of 5 years in charge of economy
Finance Minister notes five years since Labour won power, highlighting economic growth, low unemployment and house building; says inflation has peaked and will fall
by Bernard Hickey
89
Finance Minister notes five years since Labour won power, highlighting economic growth, low unemployment and house building; says inflation has peaked and will fall
Wood loosens migration settings again
[updated]
Immigration Minister reopens Skilled Migrant visa category ahead of full review; parent visa category reopened and quota more than doubled
by Bernard Hickey
133
Immigration Minister reopens Skilled Migrant visa category ahead of full review; parent visa category reopened and quota more than doubled