Bernard Hickey

7.5 earthquake near Hanmer at 12.02 am damages Kaikoura; felt strongly in Wellington; reports of damage in Wellington buildings; Tsunami warning downgraded

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"

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

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

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

New Zealand should encourage and welcome high-skilled migrants, and not treat students and temporary workers as commodities to be exploited, Bernard Hickey says