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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

15 years 6 months

Latest articles

Bernard's Top 10
Bernard's Top 10: How climate change could reduce NZ GDP by 9% and Australian GDP by 53%; The problem with polls, politics and democracy; Mexico's sugar tax lobbying miracle; China's swiping consumers; Clarke and Dawe
12th Nov 15, 12:04pm
by Bernard Hickey
47
Bernard's Top 10: How climate change could reduce NZ GDP by 9% and Australian GDP by 53%; The problem with polls, politics and democracy; Mexico's sugar tax lobbying miracle; China's swiping consumers; Clarke and Dawe
Wheeler won't use OCR hike to 'lean against' Auckland housing
Reserve Bank Governor says won't be hiking OCR to 'lean against' over-valued Auckland housing market; says house building not keeping up with migration
11th Nov 15, 3:25pm
by Bernard Hickey
29
Reserve Bank Governor says won't be hiking OCR to 'lean against' over-valued Auckland housing market; says house building not keeping up with migration
RBNZ warns of risk of sharp Auckland house price correction
RBNZ warns of growing risk of sharp correction in Auckland house prices; says now watching Hamilton, Tauranga too; says dairy debt manageable, but wants banks to do dairy stress tests; RBNZ collecting loan to income multiple data
11th Nov 15, 9:06am
by Bernard Hickey
101
RBNZ warns of growing risk of sharp correction in Auckland house prices; says now watching Hamilton, Tauranga too; says dairy debt manageable, but wants banks to do dairy stress tests; RBNZ collecting loan to income multiple data
Foreign land sales don't hurt National in polls - Key
PM defends decision to block sale of Lochinver to Shanghai Pengxin; says decision not political; ministers made independent decisions; says public debate over foreign land sales not hurting National in polls
9th Nov 15, 3:58pm
by Bernard Hickey
19
PM defends decision to block sale of Lochinver to Shanghai Pengxin; says decision not political; ministers made independent decisions; says public debate over foreign land sales not hurting National in polls
Labour rules out CGT in first term
Labour says won't introduce Capital Gains Tax in first term; shelves NZ Power plan; Twyford eyes easier rules for medium density housing; targeted rates linked to Council bonds for infractructure
8th Nov 15, 11:56am
by Bernard Hickey
56
Labour says won't introduce Capital Gains Tax in first term; shelves NZ Power plan; Twyford eyes easier rules for medium density housing; targeted rates linked to Council bonds for infractructure
Breaking out of the commodity trap
Bernard Hickey profiles an example of some New Zealand farmers who were able to break out of the commodity trap, thanks to some very special (and expensive) shoes
8th Nov 15, 5:02am
by Bernard Hickey
30
Bernard Hickey profiles an example of some New Zealand farmers who were able to break out of the commodity trap, thanks to some very special (and expensive) shoes
Budget deficit better than expected
Treasury reports OBEGAL deficit of $545 mln in first quarter of financial year; better than $798 mln forecast in May; Income taxes bit better than forecast; GST lower than forecast
6th Nov 15, 10:08am
by Bernard Hickey
7
Treasury reports OBEGAL deficit of $545 mln in first quarter of financial year; better than $798 mln forecast in May; Income taxes bit better than forecast; GST lower than forecast
Bernard's Top 10
Bernard's Top 10: How China uses 'soft' power in NZ; The real meaning of China's new 2 child policy; The case for Bernie Sanders; The birth of neuropolitics; Why middle-aged white Americans are dying much faster; Clarke and Dawe
4th Nov 15, 1:13pm
by Bernard Hickey
10
Bernard's Top 10: How China uses 'soft' power in NZ; The real meaning of China's new 2 child policy; The case for Bernie Sanders; The birth of neuropolitics; Why middle-aged white Americans are dying much faster; Clarke and Dawe
Jobs, wage growth weaker than forecast
Statistics NZ reports jobs fell 0.4% in Sept qtr and unemployment rate rose to 6.0% from 5.9% as participation rate also fell; jobs growth weaker than expected
4th Nov 15, 10:53am
by Bernard Hickey
16
Statistics NZ reports jobs fell 0.4% in Sept qtr and unemployment rate rose to 6.0% from 5.9% as participation rate also fell; jobs growth weaker than expected
Key downplays Auckland average nearing $1 mln
PM says Govt doing everything it can on Auckland prices as average value hits $918,153; says buyers can find houses under $400,000 on TradeMe; says Auckland lot like Vancouver and Sydney
3rd Nov 15, 5:03pm
by Bernard Hickey
61
PM says Govt doing everything it can on Auckland prices as average value hits $918,153; says buyers can find houses under $400,000 on TradeMe; says Auckland lot like Vancouver and Sydney
'Big bang' review of RMA, Local Govt and Transport laws
English launches 'blue skies' Productivity Commission review into Resource Management, Local Government and Land Transport Management Acts to transform urban planning and tackle housing affordability
2nd Nov 15, 3:51pm
by Bernard Hickey
3
English launches 'blue skies' Productivity Commission review into Resource Management, Local Government and Land Transport Management Acts to transform urban planning and tackle housing affordability
The benefit of the doubt
Bernard Hickey argues the Reserve Bank should have given the unemployed and exporters the benefit of the doubt on inflation by cutting for a fourth time on October 29
1st Nov 15, 5:02am
by Bernard Hickey
7
Bernard Hickey argues the Reserve Bank should have given the unemployed and exporters the benefit of the doubt on inflation by cutting for a fourth time on October 29
RBNZ pauses rate cuts
RBNZ holds OCR at 2.75%; says "further reduction seems likely"; warns may need even lower rates if NZ$ rebounds further
29th Oct 15, 9:04am
by Bernard Hickey
8
RBNZ holds OCR at 2.75%; says "further reduction seems likely"; warns may need even lower rates if NZ$ rebounds further
Bernard's Top 10
Bernard's Top 10; How Greenland is melting; NZ among the OECD's worst on environment; The global savings glut and (real) investment drought; Why NZ monetary policy is actually tightening; Clarke and Dawe
28th Oct 15, 2:28pm
by Bernard Hickey
118
Bernard's Top 10; How Greenland is melting; NZ among the OECD's worst on environment; The global savings glut and (real) investment drought; Why NZ monetary policy is actually tightening; Clarke and Dawe
A credibility gap
Bernard Hickey challenges ministers and councillors to adopt the Productivity Commission's recipe for closing the credibility gap between Auckland's future land supply for housing and demand for housing
25th Oct 15, 5:02am
by Bernard Hickey
23
Bernard Hickey challenges ministers and councillors to adopt the Productivity Commission's recipe for closing the credibility gap between Auckland's future land supply for housing and demand for housing
Bernard's Top 10
Bernard's Top 10: Inside the mind of Kweku Adoboli; Why robots aren't the reason middle incomes are stagnating; 2015 the hottest year -- again; Clarke and Dawe
23rd Oct 15, 3:57pm
by Bernard Hickey
8
Bernard's Top 10: Inside the mind of Kweku Adoboli; Why robots aren't the reason middle incomes are stagnating; 2015 the hottest year -- again; Clarke and Dawe
The dragon in Auckland's blue skies
Bernard Hickey argues the policy responses to Auckland's housing market fire are now officially a Tui ad. He argues some blue sky thinking is required to douse the flames
18th Oct 15, 5:02am
by Bernard Hickey
25
Bernard Hickey argues the policy responses to Auckland's housing market fire are now officially a Tui ad. He argues some blue sky thinking is required to douse the flames
Inflation in line with RBNZ forecast
Statistics NZ reports CPI inflation of 0.3% in Sept qtr as higher housing related costs more than offset lower ACC levies; Annual inflation 0.4%; Economists had expected 0.2% for qtr and 0.3 for year
16th Oct 15, 11:04am
by Bernard Hickey
20
Statistics NZ reports CPI inflation of 0.3% in Sept qtr as higher housing related costs more than offset lower ACC levies; Annual inflation 0.4%; Economists had expected 0.2% for qtr and 0.3 for year
Bernard's Top 10
Bernard's Top 10: ; Australia's big money laundering through real estate problem; Inside America's plutocracy; All-cash buyers in America triple in a decade; Why rates are falling; Clarke and Dawe
15th Oct 15, 11:48am
by Bernard Hickey
17
Bernard's Top 10: ; Australia's big money laundering through real estate problem; Inside America's plutocracy; All-cash buyers in America triple in a decade; Why rates are falling; Clarke and Dawe
Govt finally posts Budget surplus
Treasury reports OBEGAL surplus of NZ$414 million in year to June 30, 2015; First budget surplus in 7 years; Govt meets political target; Result a turn-around from forecast of deficit in May Budget
14th Oct 15, 1:09pm
by Bernard Hickey
32
Treasury reports OBEGAL surplus of NZ$414 million in year to June 30, 2015; First budget surplus in 7 years; Govt meets political target; Result a turn-around from forecast of deficit in May Budget
Key says land tax possible under TPP
PM says TPP carved out ability for NZ to impose land tax or stamp duty on non-resident buyers; says Labour Govt could still flout TPP and impose foreign buyers ban
12th Oct 15, 6:21pm
by Bernard Hickey
15
PM says TPP carved out ability for NZ to impose land tax or stamp duty on non-resident buyers; says Labour Govt could still flout TPP and impose foreign buyers ban
The consensus is broken
Bernard Hickey argues the TPP's proponents should not be surprised by the ungrateful response, but that luckily, it was a bullet dodged rather than the free trade triumph
11th Oct 15, 5:02am
by Bernard Hickey
16
Bernard Hickey argues the TPP's proponents should not be surprised by the ungrateful response, but that luckily, it was a bullet dodged rather than the free trade triumph
Bernard's Top 10
Bernard's Top 10: Here comes the deflation from Emerging Asia; Why money printing could make deflation worse; Why abolishing cash could solve the 0% problem; Maine's amazing lobster boom; A glorious disco mashup; Clarke and Dawe
7th Oct 15, 1:31pm
by Bernard Hickey
21
Bernard's Top 10: Here comes the deflation from Emerging Asia; Why money printing could make deflation worse; Why abolishing cash could solve the 0% problem; Maine's amazing lobster boom; A glorious disco mashup; Clarke and Dawe
TPP prevents future ban on foreign buying
MFAT says TPP effectively prevents future ban on foreign buying of property; TPP rules also apply to non-TPP countries such as China; TPP also doubles threshold for Overseas Investment Act rules; Labour worried
7th Oct 15, 11:03am
by Bernard Hickey
63
MFAT says TPP effectively prevents future ban on foreign buying of property; TPP rules also apply to non-TPP countries such as China; TPP also doubles threshold for Overseas Investment Act rules; Labour worried
How to think about fixing or floating as the OCR falls
Bernard Hickey looks at whether to fix or float and how long to fix when the Reserve Bank is cutting interest rates and targeting Auckland property investors
6th Oct 15, 5:04pm
by Bernard Hickey
1
Bernard Hickey looks at whether to fix or float and how long to fix when the Reserve Bank is cutting interest rates and targeting Auckland property investors