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

Budget deficit worse than forecast

Treasury says budget deficit of NZ$1.063 bln in 7 mths to Jan was NZ$637 mln worse than forecast; sees underlying weakness in GST receipts

11th Mar 14, 10:18am

by Bernard Hickey

Treasury says budget deficit of NZ$1.063 bln in 7 mths to Jan was NZ$637 mln worse than forecast; sees underlying weakness in GST receipts

70% of voters believe dairying 'dirty'

Horizon survey for Fish and Game finds 70% of NZers believe expansion of dairying has worsened water quality in rivers, lakes and streams

10th Mar 14, 5:48pm

by Bernard Hickey

Horizon survey for Fish and Game finds 70% of NZers believe expansion of dairying has worsened water quality in rivers, lakes and streams

Key sets Election 2014 for Sept 20

PM John Key says 2014 General Election will be held on September 20; wants NZ PM to be at G20 meeting in November

10th Mar 14, 3:40pm

by Bernard Hickey

PM John Key says 2014 General Election will be held on September 20; wants NZ PM to be at G20 meeting in November

Get active to save money

Bernard Hickey says households are too passive about their escalating power bills. They should look at switching, and the industry should help

9th Mar 14, 8:01am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey says households are too passive about their escalating power bills. They should look at switching, and the industry should help

English warns 'anti-sprawl' councils

Finance Minister Bill English warns 'anti-sprawl' council planners to help boost supply or face blame for high NZ dollar and interest rates

6th Mar 14, 7:21pm

by Bernard Hickey

Finance Minister Bill English warns 'anti-sprawl' council planners to help boost supply or face blame for high NZ dollar and interest rates

Bernard's Top 10 at 10

Bernard's Top 10: TPP pointless, says Krugman; 'TPP really about containing China'; Why economists failed; Australia's 'nation of rent-seekers'; China and the Ukraine; Dilbert

5th Mar 14, 10:49am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10: TPP pointless, says Krugman; 'TPP really about containing China'; Why economists failed; Australia's 'nation of rent-seekers'; China and the Ukraine; Dilbert

Key says Cunliffe leadership "a shipwreck"

PM John Key describes David Cunliffe's Labour leadership as a "shipwreck and a trainwreck" after Cunliffe admits should have disclosed donations

4th Mar 14, 4:04pm

by Bernard Hickey

PM John Key describes David Cunliffe's Labour leadership as a "shipwreck and a trainwreck" after Cunliffe admits should have disclosed donations

Key pulls Groser out of Russia FTA talks

PM John Key protests unacceptable Russian actions in Crimea; says signing FTA deal now inappropriate; Trade Minister Groser called home from Moscow

3rd Mar 14, 4:47pm

by Bernard Hickey

PM John Key protests unacceptable Russian actions in Crimea; says signing FTA deal now inappropriate; Trade Minister Groser called home from Moscow

Why Inequality is such a drag

Bernard Hickey points to IMF research showing reducing income inequality can actually improve economic growth in the long run

2nd Mar 14, 8:00am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey points to IMF research showing reducing income inequality can actually improve economic growth in the long run

English attacks anti-sprawl "nonsense"

Bill English tells Auckland's anti-sprawl NIMBYs who won't allow growth 'to go up' to at least allow growth to 'go out'; eyes big state house reforms

26th Feb 14, 6:13pm

by Bernard Hickey

106

Bill English tells Auckland's anti-sprawl NIMBYs who won't allow growth 'to go up' to at least allow growth to 'go out'; eyes big state house reforms

Govt may only sell 30% of Genesis

English says Genesis to float in mid-April; price to be set at start of offer through 'front end book-build'; will include loyalty bonus shares

26th Feb 14, 12:56pm

by Bernard Hickey

English says Genesis to float in mid-April; price to be set at start of offer through 'front end book-build'; will include loyalty bonus shares

Bernard's Top 10 at 10

Bernard's Top 10: How to bottle a star; 'Why China will never have a Lehman moment'; Banks, vertical intergration and pensions; Clarke and Dawe; Dilbert

26th Feb 14, 10:00am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10: How to bottle a star; 'Why China will never have a Lehman moment'; Banks, vertical intergration and pensions; Clarke and Dawe; Dilbert

Roost home loan affordability report for January

Home loan affordability improves as prices fall after the RBNZ imposes LVR limits

25th Feb 14, 2:48pm

by Bernard Hickey

Home loan affordability improves as prices fall after the RBNZ imposes LVR limits

Key gives Genesis float green light

PM says cabinet decides to float Genesis in "next month or so"; details on Wednesday; float will be last by current or next National Govt

24th Feb 14, 4:43pm

by Bernard Hickey

PM says cabinet decides to float Genesis in "next month or so"; details on Wednesday; float will be last by current or next National Govt

The ugly truth

Bernard Hickey reckons the ugliest truth behind the 'Countdown Shakedown' story is that consumers have got exactly what they really wanted - Every Day Low Prices

23rd Feb 14, 7:17am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey reckons the ugliest truth behind the 'Countdown Shakedown' story is that consumers have got exactly what they really wanted - Every Day Low Prices

Food safety fears raised over inspections

Opposition parties call for government to resume all meat inspections after Metro investigation reveals food safety concerns over outsourced inspections

21st Feb 14, 4:09pm

by Bernard Hickey

Opposition parties call for government to resume all meat inspections after Metro investigation reveals food safety concerns over outsourced inspections

NZ budget deficit bigger than forecast

Budget deficit NZ$1.8 bln in six months to December 31, NZ$380 mln more than expected on soft tax receipts; Treasury unsure if softness temporary

21st Feb 14, 11:19am

by Bernard Hickey

Budget deficit NZ$1.8 bln in six months to December 31, NZ$380 mln more than expected on soft tax receipts; Treasury unsure if softness temporary

China demand for NZ protein set to grow

China acknowledges "the land is sick and we need to have fundamental change in agricultural management"; will need more food imports during a long remediation

21st Feb 14, 9:36am

by Bernard Hickey

China acknowledges "the land is sick and we need to have fundamental change in agricultural management"; will need more food imports during a long remediation

Watchdog widens probe to all supermarkets

Commerce Minister Craig Foss says Commerce Commission has widened its inquiry to all New Zealand supermarkets

20th Feb 14, 3:13pm

by Bernard Hickey

Commerce Minister Craig Foss says Commerce Commission has widened its inquiry to all New Zealand supermarkets

Govt lifts farm earnings forecasts

MPI lifts primary industries earnings forecast by 15.6% to NZ$36.5 bln for 2013/14 season; More than half of gains come from dairy

19th Feb 14, 5:04pm

by Bernard Hickey

MPI lifts primary industries earnings forecast by 15.6% to NZ$36.5 bln for 2013/14 season; More than half of gains come from dairy

Bernard's Top 10

Bernard's Top 10:'Enslave the robots and free the poor in the 2nd Machine Age; A grand theory of Secular Stagnation; NZ public debt now = Irish public debt in 2007; Dilbert

19th Feb 14, 12:56pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10:'Enslave the robots and free the poor in the 2nd Machine Age; A grand theory of Secular Stagnation; NZ public debt now = Irish public debt in 2007; Dilbert

Green plan for low interest solar loans

Green Solar Power policy proposes low interest Government loans for home owners to buy solar panels; National says policy 'magic money'

17th Feb 14, 12:38pm

by Bernard Hickey

Green Solar Power policy proposes low interest Government loans for home owners to buy solar panels; National says policy 'magic money'

One trick heifer

Bernard Hickey asks if New Zealand has put too many eggs into the one basket of selling milk powder to China

16th Feb 14, 8:00am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey asks if New Zealand has put too many eggs into the one basket of selling milk powder to China

Watchdog to probe Countdown

Commerce Minister writes to Commerce Commission on 'Countdown Shakedown' allegation; Key expects Commission to inquire

13th Feb 14, 3:39pm

by Bernard Hickey

Commerce Minister writes to Commerce Commission on 'Countdown Shakedown' allegation; Key expects Commission to inquire

Jones accuses Countdown of corruption

Labour MP Shane Jones accuses Countdown in Parliament of corruption, racketeering and acting like 'Tony Soprano'; Countdown rejects accusation

12th Feb 14, 4:48pm

by Bernard Hickey

Labour MP Shane Jones accuses Countdown in Parliament of corruption, racketeering and acting like 'Tony Soprano'; Countdown rejects accusation