Bernard Hickey | interest.co.nz

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 the young are priced out of Britain; Young UK workers' wages down 15% since 2007; ECAN's high nitrate levels; An Ebola effect?; The amazing magic leap machine; Dilbert

22nd Oct 14, 12:47pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10: How the young are priced out of Britain; Young UK workers' wages down 15% since 2007; ECAN's high nitrate levels; An Ebola effect?; The amazing magic leap machine; Dilbert

How to think about fixed vs floating

Bernard Hickey looks at how to think about whether to fix or float and what bank economists are saying about interest rates

21st Oct 14, 12:42pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey looks at how to think about whether to fix or float and what bank economists are saying about interest rates

Key details Government's plans

Key lists Governments plans for reforms of social housing, social welfare, RMA, first home buyer grants, labour laws and trade agreements in third term

21st Oct 14, 11:01am

by Bernard Hickey

Key lists Governments plans for reforms of social housing, social welfare, RMA, first home buyer grants, labour laws and trade agreements in third term

Auckland property no one-way bet - Key

Key says first home buyers in Auckland should look at buying apartments to get on the ladder; Govt's focus on growing supply; blames land rules

20th Oct 14, 12:51pm

by Bernard Hickey

Key says first home buyers in Auckland should look at buying apartments to get on the ladder; Govt's focus on growing supply; blames land rules

English eyes more state house sales

New Housing NZ Minister Bill English plans to ramp up Housing NZ sales to accelerate social housing reforms and boost affordable housing supply

20th Oct 14, 12:17pm

by Bernard Hickey

New Housing NZ Minister Bill English plans to ramp up Housing NZ sales to accelerate social housing reforms and boost affordable housing supply

'Loopy' property rules taskforce starts

Paula Bennett names heads of Rules Reduction taskforce aimed at rooting out loopy property rules; complaints website launched

20th Oct 14, 11:45am

by Bernard Hickey

Paula Bennett names heads of Rules Reduction taskforce aimed at rooting out loopy property rules; complaints website launched

Not so guaranteed

Bernard Hickey argues for a joint Reserve Bank/Government education campaign about what Open Bank Resolution means for savers and taxpayers

19th Oct 14, 7:30am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey argues for a joint Reserve Bank/Government education campaign about what Open Bank Resolution means for savers and taxpayers

Key may spend more on child poverty

Key says open to spending more to reducing child poverty; Sees two-step flag referendum done by mid 2016; Likes silver fern, but not black background any more

15th Oct 14, 2:04pm

by Bernard Hickey

Key says open to spending more to reducing child poverty; Sees two-step flag referendum done by mid 2016; Likes silver fern, but not black background any more

Smith blames RMA for land price escalation

New Environment Minister and Housing Minister Nick Smith argues for RMA reform to focus on housing affordability; says RMA responsible for Auckland land price surge

15th Oct 14, 1:28pm

by Bernard Hickey

New Environment Minister and Housing Minister Nick Smith argues for RMA reform to focus on housing affordability; says RMA responsible for Auckland land price surge

Bernard's Top 10

Bernard's Top 10: Do NZers know their term deposits could be given haircuts? Apparently not; The German Patient; Where Auckland's young migrated; NZ drying out; Dilbert

15th Oct 14, 1:07pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10: Do NZers know their term deposits could be given haircuts? Apparently not; The German Patient; Where Auckland's young migrated; NZ drying out; Dilbert

Cunliffe pulls out of leadership race

David Cunliffe withdraws from Labour leadership race; says supports Andrew Little's candidacy; Race left to Robertson, Little, Parker and possibly Shearer

13th Oct 14, 2:53pm

by Bernard Hickey

David Cunliffe withdraws from Labour leadership race; says supports Andrew Little's candidacy; Race left to Robertson, Little, Parker and possibly Shearer

Profiting from a Living Wage

Bernard Hickey looks at the initial signs the Living Wage campaign is working to help companies and the economy alike

12th Oct 14, 8:00am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey looks at the initial signs the Living Wage campaign is working to help companies and the economy alike

Little to run for Labour leadership

Former union leader and list MP Andrew Little says he will run for Labour leadership

9th Oct 14, 11:45am

by Bernard Hickey

Former union leader and list MP Andrew Little says he will run for Labour leadership

Bernard's Top 10 at 10

Bernard's Top 10 at 10: Water 4.0; Why the world is trapped in a doom loop of credit booms; How the Living Wage worked in NZ; Breaking the (euro) buck; Dilbert

9th Oct 14, 10:05am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10 at 10: Water 4.0; Why the world is trapped in a doom loop of credit booms; How the Living Wage worked in NZ; Breaking the (euro) buck; Dilbert

English blames councils for housing poverty

English says council land restrictions worsen poverty; Govt focused on more private sector capital for social housing; Greens call comments "bizarre"

8th Oct 14, 10:22am

by Bernard Hickey

English says council land restrictions worsen poverty; Govt focused on more private sector capital for social housing; Greens call comments "bizarre"

John Key names new cabinet

PM John Key names new cabinet; Smith gets Environment; Bridges gets Transport; Adams gets Justice; Tolley gets Social Development

6th Oct 14, 10:56am

by Bernard Hickey

PM John Key names new cabinet; Smith gets Environment; Bridges gets Transport; Adams gets Justice; Tolley gets Social Development

Key eyes a few cabinet surprises

Key set to announce new cabinet at 11 am; says new names and portfolios may surprise some, but English and Joyce keep finance and economic roles

6th Oct 14, 8:49am

by Bernard Hickey

Key set to announce new cabinet at 11 am; says new names and portfolios may surprise some, but English and Joyce keep finance and economic roles

Low Fonterra payout may hit Budget-Key

Key announces supply and confidence deal with Maori Party; says monitoring economic impact of Auckland blackout; Sub NZ$5/kg payout my hit budget surplus

5th Oct 14, 3:05pm

by Bernard Hickey

Key announces supply and confidence deal with Maori Party; says monitoring economic impact of Auckland blackout; Sub NZ$5/kg payout my hit budget surplus

We pay our taxes. Why won't they?

Bernard Hickey points to planned crackdowns on tax evasion by big global tech companies in Europe and Australia and wonders why New Zealand is so quiet

5th Oct 14, 7:30am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey points to planned crackdowns on tax evasion by big global tech companies in Europe and Australia and wonders why New Zealand is so quiet

National loses outright majority

Electoral Commission says National loses 1 seat to go to 60 after counting of special votes; Green up 1 to 14; Other parties unchanged

4th Oct 14, 2:27pm

by Bernard Hickey

Electoral Commission says National loses 1 seat to go to 60 after counting of special votes; Green up 1 to 14; Other parties unchanged

Labour plans fast leadership vote

Labour plans leadership vote through late October, early November; result on Nov 18; Full review due after vote; Meanwhile, caucus eats itself

2nd Oct 14, 9:08am

by Bernard Hickey

Labour plans leadership vote through late October, early November; result on Nov 18; Full review due after vote; Meanwhile, caucus eats itself

Bernard's Top 10 at 10

Bernard's Top 10 at 10: Should scientists be the 'conscience of society'?; Does our economy reward psychopaths?; Clarke and Dawe on a wardrobe malfunction story; Dilbert

1st Oct 14, 12:28pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10 at 10: Should scientists be the 'conscience of society'?; Does our economy reward psychopaths?; Clarke and Dawe on a wardrobe malfunction story; Dilbert

English welcomes NZ$ fall

Finance Minister welcomes NZ$ fall as reducing headwind for exporters; says RBNZ will be happy to see it continuing to fall; sees not much inflation for consumers

30th Sep 14, 9:22am

by Bernard Hickey

Finance Minister welcomes NZ$ fall as reducing headwind for exporters; says RBNZ will be happy to see it continuing to fall; sees not much inflation for consumers

Key gives green light for RBNZ intervention

Key says 'Goldilocks' level for NZ$ around 65 USc; agrees with RBNZ that NZ$ over-valued; agrees intervention "would be logical"; doesn't know if RBNZ has intervened

29th Sep 14, 2:02pm

by Bernard Hickey

Key says 'Goldilocks' level for NZ$ around 65 USc; agrees with RBNZ that NZ$ over-valued; agrees intervention "would be logical"; doesn't know if RBNZ has intervened

Key does deals with Dunne, Seymour

National announces deals with ACT's Seymour and United Future's Dunne as Labour's Robertson bids for leadership

29th Sep 14, 9:08am

by Bernard Hickey

National announces deals with ACT's Seymour and United Future's Dunne as Labour's Robertson bids for leadership