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

Price pressures rise in 'stonking' QSBO

NZIER QSBO finds businesses most confident about their own trading since June 1999; building investment intentions highest since 1975

8th Apr 14, 10:00am

by Bernard Hickey

NZIER QSBO finds businesses most confident about their own trading since June 1999; building investment intentions highest since 1975

Key asked Treasury for rates analysis

Key says Treasury advised Govt that new spending over NZ$1 bln would put extra pressure on RBNZ to raise mortgage rates

7th Apr 14, 6:35pm

by Bernard Hickey

Key says Treasury advised Govt that new spending over NZ$1 bln would put extra pressure on RBNZ to raise mortgage rates

Key downplays foreign home buying

Key sees little need for inquiry into non-resident buying of Auckland property; says house prices, rents now suggest foreign demand not an issue

7th Apr 14, 6:14pm

by Bernard Hickey

Key sees little need for inquiry into non-resident buying of Auckland property; says house prices, rents now suggest foreign demand not an issue

Lolly scrambled mortgage rates?

Bernard Hickey queries John Key's claim that a pre-election "lolly scramble" would obviously push up interest rates just like the 2005 one did

6th Apr 14, 7:00am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey queries John Key's claim that a pre-election "lolly scramble" would obviously push up interest rates just like the 2005 one did

Key chooses debt reduction

Key says Budget 2014 will not be pre-election 'lolly scramble'; new spending allowance will stay at NZ$1 bln; focus on using surpluses after 2014/15 to repay debt

2nd Apr 14, 12:50pm

by Bernard Hickey

Key says Budget 2014 will not be pre-election 'lolly scramble'; new spending allowance will stay at NZ$1 bln; focus on using surpluses after 2014/15 to repay debt

Bernard's Top 10 at 10

Bernard's Top 10: Is quake-proofing NZ Inc too expensive for too little benefit?; China's hunt for corrupt 'tigers and flies'; Don't forget M-Pesa; Big data brokers; Dilbert

2nd Apr 14, 12:09pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10: Is quake-proofing NZ Inc too expensive for too little benefit?; China's hunt for corrupt 'tigers and flies'; Don't forget M-Pesa; Big data brokers; Dilbert

IMF wants NZ to repay debt first

IMF calls on Govt, Opposition to keep fiscal policy tight to help RBNZ withdraw stimulus from economy growing above trend; NZ$ 5-15% over-valued

1st Apr 14, 1:00am

by Bernard Hickey

IMF calls on Govt, Opposition to keep fiscal policy tight to help RBNZ withdraw stimulus from economy growing above trend; NZ$ 5-15% over-valued

Key to unveil 2014 Budget approach

Key to outline Government's "broad approach" to Budget 2014 on Wednesday; lists ways to use surpluses, including tax cuts and contributions to NZ Super Fund and EQC

31st Mar 14, 4:44pm

by Bernard Hickey

Key to outline Government's "broad approach" to Budget 2014 on Wednesday; lists ways to use surpluses, including tax cuts and contributions to NZ Super Fund and EQC

An information vacuum

Bernard Hickey says an election debate based on gossip from auction rooms or the musings of estate agents is no substitute for proper policy analysis

30th Mar 14, 8:00am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey says an election debate based on gossip from auction rooms or the musings of estate agents is no substitute for proper policy analysis

'How Kiwibuild would cut housing costs'

Phil Twyford argues Labour's plan to build 100,000 houses in 10 years could cut building costs by NZ$47,000 per home

28th Mar 14, 3:01pm

by Bernard Hickey

Phil Twyford argues Labour's plan to build 100,000 houses in 10 years could cut building costs by NZ$47,000 per home

RBNZ eyes first home buyer and landlord stats

RBNZ collecting data on new lending to first home buyers, owner-occupiers and rental investors

27th Mar 14, 10:46pm

by Bernard Hickey

RBNZ collecting data on new lending to first home buyers, owner-occupiers and rental investors

Bernard's Top 10 at 10

Bernard's Top 10: How 'communism by stealth' made NZ's economy grow faster; A vampire sucks up US$40 bln a month; China's housing protests; Peak oil demand; Dilbert

26th Mar 14, 10:25am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10: How 'communism by stealth' made NZ's economy grow faster; A vampire sucks up US$40 bln a month; China's housing protests; Peak oil demand; Dilbert

The Baby Bust generation

Bernard Hickey looks at how the generations before and after the Rogernomics and Ruthanasia revolutions of 1984-93 have fared in terms of poverty, home ownership and incomes

23rd Mar 14, 8:00am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey looks at how the generations before and after the Rogernomics and Ruthanasia revolutions of 1984-93 have fared in terms of poverty, home ownership and incomes

Roost home loan affordability report for February

Home loan affordability worsens as house prices and interest rates rise, RBNZ on path to raise rates regularly

21st Mar 14, 12:17pm

by Bernard Hickey

Home loan affordability worsens as house prices and interest rates rise, RBNZ on path to raise rates regularly

NZ GDP up 0.9% in December qtr

NZ GDP grew 0.9% in December quarter and was up 3.1% from a year ago; in line with expectations

20th Mar 14, 11:31am

by Bernard Hickey

NZ GDP grew 0.9% in December quarter and was up 3.1% from a year ago; in line with expectations

'Blame the Greens, not the Chinese'

Bill English says Greens 'anti-sprawl' policies more to blame for expensive housing than buying by Chinese investors

19th Mar 14, 4:28pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bill English says Greens 'anti-sprawl' policies more to blame for expensive housing than buying by Chinese investors

Bernard's Top 10 at 10

Bernard's Top 10: China's 'Minsky Moment' of morally hazardous truth; Stephen Grenville says Australia and NZ should merge; Fighting yesterday's inflation battle tomorrow; Clarke and Dawe; Dilbert

19th Mar 14, 1:06pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10: China's 'Minsky Moment' of morally hazardous truth; Stephen Grenville says Australia and NZ should merge; Fighting yesterday's inflation battle tomorrow; Clarke and Dawe; Dilbert

Current account deficit falls to 3.4% of GDP

Record dairy exports shrink current account deficit to 3.4% in calendar 2013; improvement offset by rising profits by foreign firms; net debt falls to 66.6%

19th Mar 14, 11:05am

by Bernard Hickey

Record dairy exports shrink current account deficit to 3.4% in calendar 2013; improvement offset by rising profits by foreign firms; net debt falls to 66.6%

Home ownership rate slumps under 50%

Census figures show home ownership rate for adults falls below 50% for first time; home ownership rate for under 40s slumps to 22.1%

18th Mar 14, 12:57pm

by Bernard Hickey

Census figures show home ownership rate for adults falls below 50% for first time; home ownership rate for under 40s slumps to 22.1%

Monetary policy needs lots of mates

Bernard Hickey calls on governments of all colours and sizes to bear down on prices so the Reserve Bank has lots of 'mates' during this tightening cycle Monetary policy needs mates

16th Mar 14, 8:55am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey calls on governments of all colours and sizes to bear down on prices so the Reserve Bank has lots of 'mates' during this tightening cycle Monetary policy needs mates

Why the RBNZ isn't intervening in the NZ$

RBNZ's Grant Spencer and Graeme Wheeler explain why they're not intervening to bring down the NZ$, even though its near record highs

14th Mar 14, 7:33pm

by Bernard Hickey

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RBNZ's Grant Spencer and Graeme Wheeler explain why they're not intervening to bring down the NZ$, even though its near record highs

What the OCR hike means

Bernard Hickey looks at what the RBNZ's OCR hike and higher interest rate forecasts mean for mortgage rates and house prices

13th Mar 14, 11:47am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey looks at what the RBNZ's OCR hike and higher interest rate forecasts mean for mortgage rates and house prices

RBNZ finally hikes OCR to 2.75%

RBNZ hikes OCR 0.25% to 2.75% as expected; sees rates up by 2.5% by 2017; says high NZ$ not sustainable; says high LVR limit working

13th Mar 14, 9:06am

by Bernard Hickey

RBNZ hikes OCR 0.25% to 2.75% as expected; sees rates up by 2.5% by 2017; says high NZ$ not sustainable; says high LVR limit working

Bernard's Top 10 at 10

Bernard's Top 10: The problem with Apple's high profits and low taxes; China's Iron Oreful slump; The China Copper-pocalypse; Ambrose on the Shadow Banks; Why QE = stock booms; Dilbert

12th Mar 14, 11:13am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10: The problem with Apple's high profits and low taxes; China's Iron Oreful slump; The China Copper-pocalypse; Ambrose on the Shadow Banks; Why QE = stock booms; Dilbert

Key wants flag referendum next term

PM John Key proposes cross-party group to plan for flag referendum some time in 2014-17 parliamentary term, but before 2017 General Election

11th Mar 14, 12:30pm

by Bernard Hickey

PM John Key proposes cross-party group to plan for flag referendum some time in 2014-17 parliamentary term, but before 2017 General Election