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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

7.5 earthquake near Hanmer at 12.02 am damages Kaikoura; felt strongly in Wellington; reports of damage in Wellington buildings; Tsunami warning downgraded
14th Nov 16, 6:31am
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7.5 earthquake near Hanmer at 12.02 am damages Kaikoura; felt strongly in Wellington; reports of damage in Wellington buildings; Tsunami warning downgraded
President Donald Trump could destabilise China's economy, unleash a new European financial crisis and push up global interest rates in a way that slows New Zealand's economy and makes mortgages more expensive
13th Nov 16, 5:02am
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President Donald Trump could destabilise China's economy, unleash a new European financial crisis and push up global interest rates in a way that slows New Zealand's economy and makes mortgages more expensive
RBNZ Governor says economy already growing strongly enough to create necessary inflation; no need for extra help from Government with fiscal stimulus; Wheeler says open to NZ$ intervention
10th Nov 16, 7:43pm
RBNZ Governor says economy already growing strongly enough to create necessary inflation; no need for extra help from Government with fiscal stimulus; Wheeler says open to NZ$ intervention
RBNZ Governor says still in talks about including Debt to Income multiple limit in tool kit, but wouldn't use it right now because housing market has moderated; says English posing many questions on DTI
10th Nov 16, 1:10pm
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RBNZ Governor says still in talks about including Debt to Income multiple limit in tool kit, but wouldn't use it right now because housing market has moderated; says English posing many questions on DTI
RBNZ cuts OCR by 25 bps to record low 1.75%; forecasts OCR to be flat from here; but says may have to adjust policy again given international uncertainties
10th Nov 16, 9:13am
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RBNZ cuts OCR by 25 bps to record low 1.75%; forecasts OCR to be flat from here; but says may have to adjust policy again given international uncertainties
New Statistics NZ research shows household livings costs rose twice as fast for beneficiaries and poor than for the rich and faster than CPI; lower interest costs help homeowners; high rents hurt poor
8th Nov 16, 4:02pm
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New Statistics NZ research shows household livings costs rose twice as fast for beneficiaries and poor than for the rich and faster than CPI; lower interest costs help homeowners; high rents hurt poor
Paula Bennett and John Key announce $303.6 mln package of spending on emergency housing, including buying and leasing motels and building pre-fab homes; also $100 mln loan for Housing NZ; but deny crisis
7th Nov 16, 6:53pm
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Paula Bennett and John Key announce $303.6 mln package of spending on emergency housing, including buying and leasing motels and building pre-fab homes; also $100 mln loan for Housing NZ; but deny crisis
This week's jobs figures look fantastic, but they disguise flat real GDP per hour worked and an essentially stagnant economy where renters, the young and the unemployed have missed out
6th Nov 16, 5:02am
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This week's jobs figures look fantastic, but they disguise flat real GDP per hour worked and an essentially stagnant economy where renters, the young and the unemployed have missed out
Treasury reports OBEGAL Budget surplus of $222 mln for 3 mths to Sept 30, which is $725 mln more than forecast in May Budget; Revenues $523 mln higher than forecast on stronger economic growth
4th Nov 16, 10:05am
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Treasury reports OBEGAL Budget surplus of $222 mln for 3 mths to Sept 30, which is $725 mln more than forecast in May Budget; Revenues $523 mln higher than forecast on stronger economic growth
Finance Minister cautious about Reserve Bank hopes for Debt to Income multiple limits; say looking closely at unintended consequences; Key says Auckland housing market stabilising; points Mt Roskill voters to low interest rates
2nd Nov 16, 7:12pm
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Finance Minister cautious about Reserve Bank hopes for Debt to Income multiple limits; say looking closely at unintended consequences; Key says Auckland housing market stabilising; points Mt Roskill voters to low interest rates
Justifying delay of new bill, Justice Minister warns extending Anti-Money Laundering regime to real estate agents, accountants and lawyers could cost home owners NZ$1.6 bln over 10 yrs; Labour accuses Govt of going soft on policing dirty money from China
2nd Nov 16, 5:17pm
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Justifying delay of new bill, Justice Minister warns extending Anti-Money Laundering regime to real estate agents, accountants and lawyers could cost home owners NZ$1.6 bln over 10 yrs; Labour accuses Govt of going soft on policing dirty money from China
Jobs grew 35,000 or 1.4% in Sept quarter, but unemployment fell just 3,000 and jobless rate falls to 4.9% from 5.0% after participation rate jumps 0.4% to record-high 70.1%; wage growth still subdued
2nd Nov 16, 10:55am
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Jobs grew 35,000 or 1.4% in Sept quarter, but unemployment fell just 3,000 and jobless rate falls to 4.9% from 5.0% after participation rate jumps 0.4% to record-high 70.1%; wage growth still subdued
Justice Minister denies that lobbying from real estate agents has delayed round 2 of anti-money-laundering reforms; says still on track for passing of legislation by mid-2017; but backs off earlier aim to introduce legislation in 2016
1st Nov 16, 12:46pm
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Justice Minister denies that lobbying from real estate agents has delayed round 2 of anti-money-laundering reforms; says still on track for passing of legislation by mid-2017; but backs off earlier aim to introduce legislation in 2016
Finance Minister says Treasury looking at whether annual net migration may have lifted from long-run average of 12,000 to around 30,000; says will have implications for infrastructure, Govt spending outlooks
31st Oct 16, 11:14am
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Finance Minister says Treasury looking at whether annual net migration may have lifted from long-run average of 12,000 to around 30,000; says will have implications for infrastructure, Govt spending outlooks
Donald Trump's implosion does not mean the anti-globalisation backlash has ended. Bernard Hickey says it has only just begun, and New Zealand should adapt and ensure we don't catch the worst of the Trumpism bug
30th Oct 16, 5:02am
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Donald Trump's implosion does not mean the anti-globalisation backlash has ended. Bernard Hickey says it has only just begun, and New Zealand should adapt and ensure we don't catch the worst of the Trumpism bug
Bernard Hickey calls on Auckland to adopt targeted rates and look at selling its Port operating company, while Wellington should allow congestion charging and multiply its infrastructure fund for a huge and needed road, pipe and house building programme
23rd Oct 16, 5:02am
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Bernard Hickey calls on Auckland to adopt targeted rates and look at selling its Port operating company, while Wellington should allow congestion charging and multiply its infrastructure fund for a huge and needed road, pipe and house building programme
English says NZ$1 bln capital cost and NZ$1.5 bln of operating costs for extra 1,800 prison beds reduces room for tax cuts; English, Key say no need for population policy and migration good for economy
18th Oct 16, 3:05pm
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English says NZ$1 bln capital cost and NZ$1.5 bln of operating costs for extra 1,800 prison beds reduces room for tax cuts; English, Key say no need for population policy and migration good for economy
Inflation drops to 0.2% in September qtr from 0.4% in June quarter, but slightly above economists' expectations; housing costs (excluding land) rose 2.0% in quarter and 6.3% for year; transport costs down 11% for year due to ACC, petrol
18th Oct 16, 10:59am
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Inflation drops to 0.2% in September qtr from 0.4% in June quarter, but slightly above economists' expectations; housing costs (excluding land) rose 2.0% in quarter and 6.3% for year; transport costs down 11% for year due to ACC, petrol
Greens propose tightening migration settings to achieve 1% population growth per year; Shaw wants to smooth out big swings in migration and reduce pressure on infrastructure, housing; Winston Peters accuses of Greens of hypocrisy
17th Oct 16, 10:28am
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Greens propose tightening migration settings to achieve 1% population growth per year; Shaw wants to smooth out big swings in migration and reduce pressure on infrastructure, housing; Winston Peters accuses of Greens of hypocrisy
Just as our society has created an obesity-generating environment, it has also created a debt generating environment. Somehow, we have to change those social cues, writes Bernard Hickey
16th Oct 16, 5:02am
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Just as our society has created an obesity-generating environment, it has also created a debt generating environment. Somehow, we have to change those social cues, writes Bernard Hickey
Government increases Budget surplus to NZ$1.8 bln in 2015/16 from NZ$414 mln in 2014/15; English says rising surpluses give Govt options for debt repayment and tax cuts
13th Oct 16, 1:36pm
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Government increases Budget surplus to NZ$1.8 bln in 2015/16 from NZ$414 mln in 2014/15; English says rising surpluses give Govt options for debt repayment and tax cuts
RBNZ's McDermott warns of low inflation figure likely in September quarter; says inflation likely to be at bottom end of 1-3% target range in December quarter; repeats September OCR comment that "further policy easing will be required"
11th Oct 16, 4:29pm
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RBNZ's McDermott warns of low inflation figure likely in September quarter; says inflation likely to be at bottom end of 1-3% target range in December quarter; repeats September OCR comment that "further policy easing will be required"
Key says would still recommend first home buyers go for apartments despite 35 projects failing to get off ground due to funding, cost issues; says consenting still strong; English points to ramping up of Govt building plans
11th Oct 16, 12:24pm
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Key says would still recommend first home buyers go for apartments despite 35 projects failing to get off ground due to funding, cost issues; says consenting still strong; English points to ramping up of Govt building plans
Finance Minister signals significant ramping up of house building on Housing NZ Corp land in Auckland; says Govt will be major provider of "medium density, medium-priced" housing in Auckland; suggests Govt may spend on housing rather than tax cuts
10th Oct 16, 8:02am
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Finance Minister signals significant ramping up of house building on Housing NZ Corp land in Auckland; says Govt will be major provider of "medium density, medium-priced" housing in Auckland; suggests Govt may spend on housing rather than tax cuts
New Zealand should encourage and welcome high-skilled migrants, and not treat students and temporary workers as commodities to be exploited, Bernard Hickey says
9th Oct 16, 5:02am
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New Zealand should encourage and welcome high-skilled migrants, and not treat students and temporary workers as commodities to be exploited, Bernard Hickey says