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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

How to seal in the tax moisture
Bernard Hickey says John Key is right to try to protect New Zealand's broad based and low rate tax base from an evaporation into the stateless cloud
22nd Mar 15, 5:00am
by Bernard Hickey
36
Bernard Hickey says John Key is right to try to protect New Zealand's broad based and low rate tax base from an evaporation into the stateless cloud
Govt open to indexing tax thresholds
Government says open to ACT suggestion for indexation of income tax thresholds to CPI inflation to avoid 'bracket creep' increasing effective tax rates
19th Mar 15, 5:59pm
by Bernard Hickey
4
Government says open to ACT suggestion for indexation of income tax thresholds to CPI inflation to avoid 'bracket creep' increasing effective tax rates
GDP growth fastest since 2007
Stats NZ says GDP rose 0.8% in Dec qtr; GDP rose 3.3% in year to December; retailing, tourism and real estate services grew strongly
19th Mar 15, 11:01am
by Bernard Hickey
11
Stats NZ says GDP rose 0.8% in Dec qtr; GDP rose 3.3% in year to December; retailing, tourism and real estate services grew strongly
Key denies Auckland housing crisis
PM says no housing crisis in Auckland; says Govt 'getting on top of it' despite MBIE analysis showing measures not improving 20k shortage
19th Mar 15, 10:47am
by Bernard Hickey
85
PM says no housing crisis in Auckland; says Govt 'getting on top of it' despite MBIE analysis showing measures not improving 20k shortage
Bernard's Top 10 at 10
Bernard's Top 10: 'Gold digger' tours of Chinese investors; Scooby dooby doo and Janet Yellen; A monster margin call; Clarke and Dawe; Dilbert
18th Mar 15, 10:05am
by Bernard Hickey
4
Bernard's Top 10: 'Gold digger' tours of Chinese investors; Scooby dooby doo and Janet Yellen; A monster margin call; Clarke and Dawe; Dilbert
English concerned about Auckland rents
Finance Minister warns Auckland rents and rising house prices a concern for Government; says RBNZ has tools to address interest-only loans to landlords
17th Mar 15, 3:32pm
by Bernard Hickey
34
Finance Minister warns Auckland rents and rising house prices a concern for Government; says RBNZ has tools to address interest-only loans to landlords
Guy lukewarm on meat Co-op plan
Primary Industries Minister cautious on chances for Meat Industry Excellence proposal for Fonterra-style industry Co-op getting off the grounds
17th Mar 15, 12:29pm
by Bernard Hickey
11
Primary Industries Minister cautious on chances for Meat Industry Excellence proposal for Fonterra-style industry Co-op getting off the grounds
Call for dairy conversion moratorium
Waikato Fed Farmers calls for debate on dairy conversion moratorium; Greens call for Landcorp to stop conversions; PM backs Fed Farmers' efforts
16th Mar 15, 6:18pm
by Bernard Hickey
2
Waikato Fed Farmers calls for debate on dairy conversion moratorium; Greens call for Landcorp to stop conversions; PM backs Fed Farmers' efforts
Graeme Wheeler's petrol can
Bernard Hickey says everyone thinks Graeme Wheeler is afraid of cutting rates because it would pour petrol on the fire in Auckland's housing market. Everyone, it turns out, except Graeme Wheeler
15th Mar 15, 7:00am
by Bernard Hickey
35
Bernard Hickey says everyone thinks Graeme Wheeler is afraid of cutting rates because it would pour petrol on the fire in Auckland's housing market. Everyone, it turns out, except Graeme Wheeler
Auckland housing not a factor in OCR
Wheeler says Auckland housing surge not a factor in OCR decision as RBNZ not seeing same 'wealth effect' on spending, CPI; but still concern for financial stability
12th Mar 15, 11:26am
by Bernard Hickey
8
Wheeler says Auckland housing surge not a factor in OCR decision as RBNZ not seeing same 'wealth effect' on spending, CPI; but still concern for financial stability
Bernard's Top 10 at 10
Bernard's Top 10: Decade Zero for climate change; Australia's Inter-generational report; 'Bring back the unions'; Clarke and Dawe; Dilbert
12th Mar 15, 10:03am
by Bernard Hickey
44
Bernard's Top 10: Decade Zero for climate change; Australia's Inter-generational report; 'Bring back the unions'; Clarke and Dawe; Dilbert
RBNZ sees flat rates until 2017
RBNZ holds OCR; forecasts 90 day bill rate unchanged at 3.7% until 2017; says strong downward correction needed for NZ$
12th Mar 15, 9:07am
by Bernard Hickey
31
RBNZ holds OCR; forecasts 90 day bill rate unchanged at 3.7% until 2017; says strong downward correction needed for NZ$
Key accused of bullying the RBNZ
Labour's Andrew Little accuses Key of using 'megaphone diplomacy' on the RBNZ over interest rates; Key accuses Labour of hypocrisy
11th Mar 15, 9:01pm
by Bernard Hickey
15
Labour's Andrew Little accuses Key of using 'megaphone diplomacy' on the RBNZ over interest rates; Key accuses Labour of hypocrisy
Solid Energy says restructure needed
Solid Energy chairman says restructure of bank debt necessary for survival beyond September 2016
11th Mar 15, 12:16pm
by Bernard Hickey
6
Solid Energy chairman says restructure of bank debt necessary for survival beyond September 2016
Govt reports first surplus in 6 years
Treasury reports budget surplus of $77 mln in 7 mths to Jan, which was $712 mln better than forecast on higher taxes, lower than expected spending
11th Mar 15, 10:03am
by Bernard Hickey
29
Treasury reports budget surplus of $77 mln in 7 mths to Jan, which was $712 mln better than forecast on higher taxes, lower than expected spending
'Eco-terrorist' threatens infant formula
Protestor threatened in November to lace Fonterra infant fomula with 1080 poison; 40,000 tests done and no poison found; dairy stocks halted on NZX
10th Mar 15, 4:03pm
by Bernard Hickey
34
Protestor threatened in November to lace Fonterra infant fomula with 1080 poison; 40,000 tests done and no poison found; dairy stocks halted on NZX
English sees little impact from RBNZ move
English sees little impact from RBNZ moves on capital for rental property mortgages; says RBNZ faces delicate balance on CPI inflation, housing market
10th Mar 15, 3:04pm
by Bernard Hickey
7
English sees little impact from RBNZ moves on capital for rental property mortgages; says RBNZ faces delicate balance on CPI inflation, housing market
English rules out new Solid Energy bailout
Finance Minister says Government has already bailed out Solid Energy twice; not clear it's viable long term; tough discussions underway with banks
10th Mar 15, 12:55pm
by Bernard Hickey
5
Finance Minister says Government has already bailed out Solid Energy twice; not clear it's viable long term; tough discussions underway with banks
Key says RBNZ capital move logical
Key says RBNZ move on capital for landlord mortgages logical, given falling inflation means Governor needs tools other than OCR hikes
9th Mar 15, 5:20pm
by Bernard Hickey
25
Key says RBNZ move on capital for landlord mortgages logical, given falling inflation means Governor needs tools other than OCR hikes
Generation Rent vs Generation Winston
Bernard Hickey wonders what policies a Generation Rent Party would use to combat the inter-generational wealth transferring policies of Generation Winston
8th Mar 15, 7:00am
by Bernard Hickey
60
Bernard Hickey wonders what policies a Generation Rent Party would use to combat the inter-generational wealth transferring policies of Generation Winston
Govt eyes new Auckland intervention
Smith says Govt planning new regulatory intervention in Auckland; says tough decisions needed on Heritage overlays restricting supply
5th Mar 15, 10:15am
by Bernard Hickey
29
Smith says Govt planning new regulatory intervention in Auckland; says tough decisions needed on Heritage overlays restricting supply
Bernard's Top 10 at 10
Bernard's Top 10: How negative can bond yields go?; Hunting capital gains or just predicting deflation? Life inside Pikettyworld; Clarke and Dawe; Dilbert
4th Mar 15, 10:33am
by Bernard Hickey
71
Bernard's Top 10: How negative can bond yields go?; Hunting capital gains or just predicting deflation? Life inside Pikettyworld; Clarke and Dawe; Dilbert
Key over-rules Authority on MPs' pay
Cabinet decides to change law for Remuneration Authority to ensure future pay increases in line with rest of public sector
2nd Mar 15, 5:12pm
by Bernard Hickey
19
Cabinet decides to change law for Remuneration Authority to ensure future pay increases in line with rest of public sector
An inbuilt bias
Bernard Hickey cites new research showing that bank leverage for mortgage lending has increased dramatically since new Basel rules in 1989
1st Mar 15, 7:00am
by Bernard Hickey
72
Bernard Hickey cites new research showing that bank leverage for mortgage lending has increased dramatically since new Basel rules in 1989
Govt to ramp up Tamaki re-development
Bill English says government to add about 5,000 houses in Auckland's Tāmaki over next decade
26th Feb 15, 1:10pm
by Bernard Hickey
3
Bill English says government to add about 5,000 houses in Auckland's Tāmaki over next decade