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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

14 years 5 months

Latest articles

New PM to name Cabinet on Sunday with swearing in planned for Tuesday; Sam Lotu-liga says will step down at next election; Ministers seen in play include McCully, Parata and Smith; MBIE up for grabs
13th Dec 16, 4:22pm
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New PM to name Cabinet on Sunday with swearing in planned for Tuesday; Sam Lotu-liga says will step down at next election; Ministers seen in play include McCully, Parata and Smith; MBIE up for grabs
New PM Bill English talks up infrastructure, housing and ensuring benefits of growth widely shared in first news conference after being elected National leader; sworn in as PM with Paula Bennett deputy
12th Dec 16, 2:11pm
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New PM Bill English talks up infrastructure, housing and ensuring benefits of growth widely shared in first news conference after being elected National leader; sworn in as PM with Paula Bennett deputy
Bill English should refocus economic policy on increasing GDP per hour worked, rather than just total GDP
11th Dec 16, 5:02am
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Bill English should refocus economic policy on increasing GDP per hour worked, rather than just total GDP
Treasury sees surpluses rising to NZ$8.5 bln by 2021; English increases capital spending allowance by NZ$5.4 bln over 4 years; Borrowing programme increased; Debt repayment and quake rebuild priority over tax cuts
8th Dec 16, 1:42pm
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Treasury sees surpluses rising to NZ$8.5 bln by 2021; English increases capital spending allowance by NZ$5.4 bln over 4 years; Borrowing programme increased; Debt repayment and quake rebuild priority over tax cuts
Growing number of National MPs publicly declaring support for Bill English as PM; outcome of Monday vote may be fait accompli later today; Paula Bennett seen most likely choice as deputy; Collins focused on back-benchers
8th Dec 16, 12:10pm
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Growing number of National MPs publicly declaring support for Bill English as PM; outcome of Monday vote may be fait accompli later today; Paula Bennett seen most likely choice as deputy; Collins focused on back-benchers
English and Coleman to contest bid for National Party leadership in Caucus vote next Monday; English's hopes for quick and cohesive leadership change dashed; Coleman wants 'generational change'; English says NZ Super options open
6th Dec 16, 11:29am
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English and Coleman to contest bid for National Party leadership in Caucus vote next Monday; English's hopes for quick and cohesive leadership change dashed; Coleman wants 'generational change'; English says NZ Super options open
Key says will vote for English as National leader in December 12 caucus vote; says National can win 4th and 5th terms with English as leader; Key says wants quieter life with family; eyes board positions in Australasia or Asia
5th Dec 16, 1:59pm
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Key says will vote for English as National leader in December 12 caucus vote; says National can win 4th and 5th terms with English as leader; Key says wants quieter life with family; eyes board positions in Australasia or Asia
The PM doesn’t trust the Treasury’s forecasts for the very long term and the very short term, but he thinks we should rely on the medium term one that says we can afford tax cuts, extra social spending, the quake rebuilds and debt repayment
4th Dec 16, 5:02am
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The PM doesn’t trust the Treasury’s forecasts for the very long term and the very short term, but he thinks we should rely on the medium term one that says we can afford tax cuts, extra social spending, the quake rebuilds and debt repayment
RBNZ wary of increasing use by banks of wholesale offshore funding to fill gap left by falling growth of local deposits; says banks raising deposit and mortgage rates to help fill gap; see long term rates having bottomed out
30th Nov 16, 4:57pm
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RBNZ wary of increasing use by banks of wholesale offshore funding to fill gap left by falling growth of local deposits; says banks raising deposit and mortgage rates to help fill gap; see long term rates having bottomed out
RBNZ says Kaikoura quakes could cost NZ$3-8 billion, including up to NZ$3 bln of Govt spend and up to NZ$5 bln of insurance; still confident on economy; says insurers can handle claims
30th Nov 16, 4:05pm
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RBNZ says Kaikoura quakes could cost NZ$3-8 billion, including up to NZ$3 bln of Govt spend and up to NZ$5 bln of insurance; still confident on economy; says insurers can handle claims
RBNZ warns in Financial Stability Report that housing imbalances remain; Wheeler says won't use Debt To Income multiple restriction 'at this time'; RBNZ notes rising use by banks of 'hot' overseas funds
30th Nov 16, 9:18am
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RBNZ warns in Financial Stability Report that housing imbalances remain; Wheeler says won't use Debt To Income multiple restriction 'at this time'; RBNZ notes rising use by banks of 'hot' overseas funds
Finance Minister says rise in long term interest rates since Trump's election sign of normalisation of rates and inflation; should signal to home buyers rates have bottomed out; also will help rebalance NZ$ lower
28th Nov 16, 11:47am
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Finance Minister says rise in long term interest rates since Trump's election sign of normalisation of rates and inflation; should signal to home buyers rates have bottomed out; also will help rebalance NZ$ lower
PM says Treasury's forecasts of blow-out in debt by 2060 without NZ Superannuation changes "a load of nonsense"; says Treasury couldn't get forecasts right 44 days before Budget 'let alone 44 years out'; also downplays weak productivity
28th Nov 16, 11:31am
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PM says Treasury's forecasts of blow-out in debt by 2060 without NZ Superannuation changes "a load of nonsense"; says Treasury couldn't get forecasts right 44 days before Budget 'let alone 44 years out'; also downplays weak productivity
Like any building with concrete cancer, trust in a big society-wide idea can seem very solid right up until the moment of collapse
27th Nov 16, 5:02am
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Like any building with concrete cancer, trust in a big society-wide idea can seem very solid right up until the moment of collapse
Bill English and Paula Bennett plan to sell up to 2,500 state houses in Christchurch to community housing provider; includes house John Key grew up in; Housing NZ to retain up to 3,900 homes in Christchurch
24th Nov 16, 10:03am
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Bill English and Paula Bennett plan to sell up to 2,500 state houses in Christchurch to community housing provider; includes house John Key grew up in; Housing NZ to retain up to 3,900 homes in Christchurch
Ministers announce cap for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme in 2016/17 raised by 1,000 to 10,500; say allows horticulture and wine exporters to keep growing; Winston Peters rails against National's "immigration madness"
23rd Nov 16, 1:23pm
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Ministers announce cap for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme in 2016/17 raised by 1,000 to 10,500; say allows horticulture and wine exporters to keep growing; Winston Peters rails against National's "immigration madness"
Treasury publishes Long Term Fiscal Position forecasts; repeats 2013 warning that net debt will blow out to around 200% of GDP by 2060 without changes to NZ Super indexation and age
22nd Nov 16, 6:32pm
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Treasury publishes Long Term Fiscal Position forecasts; repeats 2013 warning that net debt will blow out to around 200% of GDP by 2060 without changes to NZ Super indexation and age
PM meets with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg; says told him to fix public perception that Facebook not paying enough tax; Key says feeling that got Trump got elected because voters believe 'world isn't fair'
21st Nov 16, 11:14am
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PM meets with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg; says told him to fix public perception that Facebook not paying enough tax; Key says feeling that got Trump got elected because voters believe 'world isn't fair'
John Key and Bill English say pre-election tax cut option still open despite Kaikoura rebuild costs; Key sees NZ$8-9 bln surpluses by 2019/20 so Kaikoura rebuild costs of NZ$2 bln 'not material'; HYEFU may be delayed
21st Nov 16, 11:02am
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John Key and Bill English say pre-election tax cut option still open despite Kaikoura rebuild costs; Key sees NZ$8-9 bln surpluses by 2019/20 so Kaikoura rebuild costs of NZ$2 bln 'not material'; HYEFU may be delayed
Long term bond yields have risen sharply since Donald Trump's election, which is pushing up mortgage rates and the Government's borrowing costs just as it may have to start borrowing again and just as housing markets are cooling
20th Nov 16, 5:02am
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Long term bond yields have risen sharply since Donald Trump's election, which is pushing up mortgage rates and the Government's borrowing costs just as it may have to start borrowing again and just as housing markets are cooling
Data on non-resident purchases shows 3% of property buyers non-residents for tax purposes, but no way of knowing how many of the other 97% are foreign students or temporary workers; new survey detail due in May
17th Nov 16, 6:33pm
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Data on non-resident purchases shows 3% of property buyers non-residents for tax purposes, but no way of knowing how many of the other 97% are foreign students or temporary workers; new survey detail due in May
Steven Joyce and Anne Tolley announce NZ$7.5 mln package of support for Kaikoura businesses with less than 20 workers; NZ$500/week per worker for eight weeks, but may be extended; to cost NZ$7.5 mln
17th Nov 16, 1:49pm
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Steven Joyce and Anne Tolley announce NZ$7.5 mln package of support for Kaikoura businesses with less than 20 workers; NZ$500/week per worker for eight weeks, but may be extended; to cost NZ$7.5 mln
Insurers put embargo on transferring home insurance from vendors to buyers from Rakaia to Masterton; Wellington deals frozen as mortgages impossible without insurance, say agents; Boom stopped dead in its tracks
17th Nov 16, 10:23am
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Insurers put embargo on transferring home insurance from vendors to buyers from Rakaia to Masterton; Wellington deals frozen as mortgages impossible without insurance, say agents; Boom stopped dead in its tracks
Finance Minister says Government has strong enough balance sheet to borrow billions of dollars needed to rebuild infrastructure around Kaikoura; says "funding is not an issue", although some other projects could be delayed
15th Nov 16, 4:05pm
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Finance Minister says Government has strong enough balance sheet to borrow billions of dollars needed to rebuild infrastructure around Kaikoura; says "funding is not an issue", although some other projects could be delayed
Key says main road and rail route from Picton to Christchurch may need realignment or re-routing in long term at huge cost; English highlights damage to main transport links and says Govt finances can handle repair costs
15th Nov 16, 1:06pm
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Key says main road and rail route from Picton to Christchurch may need realignment or re-routing in long term at huge cost; English highlights damage to main transport links and says Govt finances can handle repair costs