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

What the RBNZ's OCR decision means

Bernard Hickey looks at what the Reserve Bank's OCR decision means for mortgage rates and house prices

31st Oct 13, 1:00pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey looks at what the Reserve Bank's OCR decision means for mortgage rates and house prices

RBNZ sees OCR low for longer

RBNZ holds OCR, but says high NZ$ gives it flexibility on timing and size of rate hikes likely in 2014

31st Oct 13, 9:07am

by Bernard Hickey

RBNZ holds OCR, but says high NZ$ gives it flexibility on timing and size of rate hikes likely in 2014

Wednesday's Top 10

Wednesday's Top 10: So much cash and so little consumer price inflation (but plenty of asset bubbles); The amazing Feargal O'Rourke; Mutant ninja companies; Dilbert

30th Oct 13, 1:08pm

by Bernard Hickey

Wednesday's Top 10: So much cash and so little consumer price inflation (but plenty of asset bubbles); The amazing Feargal O'Rourke; Mutant ninja companies; Dilbert

'Fortress Fonterra' criticised in report

Report recommends Fonterra shed 'Fortress Fonterra' reputation; employ PR people directly; change plant cleaning; create new risk committee

29th Oct 13, 2:39pm

by Bernard Hickey

Report recommends Fonterra shed 'Fortress Fonterra' reputation; employ PR people directly; change plant cleaning; create new risk committee

Meridian up 8.5% on debut

Meridian Energy instalment receipts open trading on NZX at NZ$1.08 vs initial public offering price of NZ$1

29th Oct 13, 1:11pm

by Bernard Hickey

Meridian Energy instalment receipts open trading on NZX at NZ$1.08 vs initial public offering price of NZ$1

MOM's epic fail

Bernard Hickey reviews the progress so far of the Government's partial float of two SOE electricity companies and finds few goals being achieved

27th Oct 13, 8:00am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey reviews the progress so far of the Government's partial float of two SOE electricity companies and finds few goals being achieved

Foreign ownership limits an option

Treasury suggests limits on foreign buying of homes in options paper; Treasury also advised against Govt expansion of Welcome Home Loans

24th Oct 13, 7:28pm

by Bernard Hickey

Treasury suggests limits on foreign buying of homes in options paper; Treasury also advised against Govt expansion of Welcome Home Loans

Housing Accords for Christchurch, Wellington

Housing Minister Nick Smith says in talks about Housing Accords with Christchurch and Wellington Councils

24th Oct 13, 5:39pm

by Bernard Hickey

Housing Minister Nick Smith says in talks about Housing Accords with Christchurch and Wellington Councils

Wednesday's Top 10

Wednesday's Top 10: Lake Buttermilk of Atiamuri; Nitrate poisoning and blue babies; Amazing Amazon and its lack of profit; Nugget of wonder; Dilbert

23rd Oct 13, 1:53pm

by Bernard Hickey

Wednesday's Top 10: Lake Buttermilk of Atiamuri; Nitrate poisoning and blue babies; Amazing Amazon and its lack of profit; Nugget of wonder; Dilbert

Roost home loan affordability report for September

Home loan affordability worsens ahead of LVR limits; 'which is creating opportunities for some'

23rd Oct 13, 11:59am

by Bernard Hickey

Home loan affordability worsens ahead of LVR limits; 'which is creating opportunities for some'

Auckland consents up since Oct 1 - Key

Key says Auckland building consents up since Oct 1 start to high LVR limit; Govt puts up NZ$5 mln for America's Cup bid

21st Oct 13, 5:14pm

by Bernard Hickey

Key says Auckland building consents up since Oct 1 start to high LVR limit; Govt puts up NZ$5 mln for America's Cup bid

Peters says KiwiFund a 'bottom line'

NZ First proposes state-guaranteed KiwiFund option for KiwiSaver to lower fees; Green Party supports idea; Labour open to it

21st Oct 13, 10:43am

by Bernard Hickey

NZ First proposes state-guaranteed KiwiFund option for KiwiSaver to lower fees; Green Party supports idea; Labour open to it

Conservative but wrong

Bernard Hickey says auto-enrolled KiwiSavers in default funds 'through laziness, ignorance or a deliberate decision' should be swtiched into lifecycle plans

20th Oct 13, 7:51am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey says auto-enrolled KiwiSavers in default funds 'through laziness, ignorance or a deliberate decision' should be swtiched into lifecycle plans

Guy admits MPI understaffed

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy admits ministry understaffed on China issues after Trade Minister complains publicly

17th Oct 13, 3:59pm

by Bernard Hickey

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy admits ministry understaffed on China issues after Trade Minister complains publicly

ACT's Banks resigns as minister

Key accepts resignation of John Banks as minister after court rules he must stand trial over electoral fraud allegation

16th Oct 13, 5:00pm

by Bernard Hickey

Key accepts resignation of John Banks as minister after court rules he must stand trial over electoral fraud allegation

Wednesday's Top 10 at 10

Wednesday's Top 10: America's debt ceiling Russian Roulette v 2.0 (Bazooka style); Danone's baby formula 'sponsorship' fees in China; SkyCity's wages of sin or stupidity; Dilbert

16th Oct 13, 1:45pm

by Bernard Hickey

Wednesday's Top 10: America's debt ceiling Russian Roulette v 2.0 (Bazooka style); Danone's baby formula 'sponsorship' fees in China; SkyCity's wages of sin or stupidity; Dilbert

Inflation back in RBNZ's 1-3% zone

Stats NZ reports annual inflation of 1.4%; quarterly inflation of 0.9% slightly above market and RBNZ forecasts

16th Oct 13, 11:00am

by Bernard Hickey

Stats NZ reports annual inflation of 1.4%; quarterly inflation of 0.9% slightly above market and RBNZ forecasts

RBNZ may exempt home builds-English

RBNZ in discussions about potential for exempting new home builds from high LVR speed limit, English says

15th Oct 13, 1:20pm

by Bernard Hickey

RBNZ in discussions about potential for exempting new home builds from high LVR speed limit, English says

FSC proposes KiwiSaver reforms

Financial Services Council proposes bigger contributions to KiwiSaver; fresh tax breaks; insurance for retirement; says fiscally neutral

14th Oct 13, 9:20am

by Bernard Hickey

Financial Services Council proposes bigger contributions to KiwiSaver; fresh tax breaks; insurance for retirement; says fiscally neutral

Benefits for millionaires

Where's the outrage? asks Bernard Hickey. Will the 'ignorant' young demand means-testing when they wake up?

13th Oct 13, 7:04am

by Bernard Hickey

134

Where's the outrage? asks Bernard Hickey. Will the 'ignorant' young demand means-testing when they wake up?

Key slaps down pension reform plan

Key says Retirement Commission just wants people to work longer and get less; Govt believes NZ Superannuation is affordable over 20 yrs

10th Oct 13, 2:52pm

by Bernard Hickey

Key says Retirement Commission just wants people to work longer and get less; Govt believes NZ Superannuation is affordable over 20 yrs

Wednesday's Top 10 at 10

Wednesday's Top 10: Too big to fail and too big to manage; A rocket tax?; Complex systems and black swans; 2 mln Internet opinion analysts; Dilbert

9th Oct 13, 11:56am

by Bernard Hickey

Wednesday's Top 10: Too big to fail and too big to manage; A rocket tax?; Complex systems and black swans; 2 mln Internet opinion analysts; Dilbert

Business confidence highest in 10 yrs

NZIER's QSBO shows rebound in business confidence in Sept qtr to highest since 2003; suggests 3% GDP growth; but inflation subdued

8th Oct 13, 10:00am

by Bernard Hickey

NZIER's QSBO shows rebound in business confidence in Sept qtr to highest since 2003; suggests 3% GDP growth; but inflation subdued

'No room for election lolly scramble'

Govt reports budget deficit for 2012/13 of NZ$4.4 bln, which was 30% better than forecast in May 2013; on track for 2014/15 surplus

7th Oct 13, 4:02pm

by Bernard Hickey

Govt reports budget deficit for 2012/13 of NZ$4.4 bln, which was 30% better than forecast in May 2013; on track for 2014/15 surplus

How to speed up your payments

Kiwibank's James Woodward explains how businesses are increasingly going online to make and receive payments, as are their customers

7th Oct 13, 10:06am

by Bernard Hickey

Kiwibank's James Woodward explains how businesses are increasingly going online to make and receive payments, as are their customers