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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

16 years 10 months

Latest articles

Don't pass it on
Bernard Hickey argues the banks could help the Reserve Bank get out from between a rock and a hard place by not passing on next week's OCR cut to savers and borrowers
by Bernard Hickey
51
Bernard Hickey argues the banks could help the Reserve Bank get out from between a rock and a hard place by not passing on next week's OCR cut to savers and borrowers
Wages, jobs softer than forecast
Partial jobs and wages data weaker than expected in June quarter; private sector wage inflation soft at 0.4% for qtr and 1.6% for year; economists see plenty of room for RBNZ to cut OCR next Thursday
by Bernard Hickey
19
Partial jobs and wages data weaker than expected in June quarter; private sector wage inflation soft at 0.4% for qtr and 1.6% for year; economists see plenty of room for RBNZ to cut OCR next Thursday
LINZ data shows 3% of buyers foreign tax residents
LINZ data for June quarter shows 3% of buyers say they are foreign tax residents, but data doesn't include overseas students or tempory work visas, or trusts and corporates; LINZ says more reliable data due in a year
by Bernard Hickey
183
LINZ data for June quarter shows 3% of buyers say they are foreign tax residents, but data doesn't include overseas students or tempory work visas, or trusts and corporates; LINZ says more reliable data due in a year
A real moon shot
Bernard Hickey argues a much hairier target for this and future Governments would be to enable the building of the 131,000 extra houses in Auckland that the Unitary Plan creators say is needed over the next 7 years
by Bernard Hickey
25
Bernard Hickey argues a much hairier target for this and future Governments would be to enable the building of the 131,000 extra houses in Auckland that the Unitary Plan creators say is needed over the next 7 years
Auckland's pivotal moment
Bernard Hickey is praying along with the Reserve Bank and the Government that the Unitary Plan now before the Auckland Council will not blow up in everyone's faces
by Bernard Hickey
95
Bernard Hickey is praying along with the Reserve Bank and the Government that the Unitary Plan now before the Auckland Council will not blow up in everyone's faces
RBNZ says further OCR cuts likely
RBNZ says inflation outlook has weakened due to 6% rise in NZ$ since June 9; says 'decline in exchange rate needed' as it's making it hard for RBNZ to meet inflation target; says likely further easing required
by Bernard Hickey
50
RBNZ says inflation outlook has weakened due to 6% rise in NZ$ since June 9; says 'decline in exchange rate needed' as it's making it hard for RBNZ to meet inflation target; says likely further easing required
RBNZ to limit landlords to 60% LVR NZ-wide
RBNZ acts to urgently tighten lending to investors; proposes 60% LVR limit for rental property investors nation-wide from Sept 1; also plans to tighten LVR lending above 80% for other borrowers
by Bernard Hickey
238
RBNZ acts to urgently tighten lending to investors; proposes 60% LVR limit for rental property investors nation-wide from Sept 1; also plans to tighten LVR lending above 80% for other borrowers
Inflation lower than forecast
CPI up 0.4% in June quarter and up 0.4% from a year ago; Economists had expected around 0.5% for both; RBNZ had forecast 0.6%; Auckland rents up 3.5% and Auckland new house costs up 7.6% from year ago
by Bernard Hickey
56
CPI up 0.4% in June quarter and up 0.4% from a year ago; Economists had expected around 0.5% for both; RBNZ had forecast 0.6%; Auckland rents up 3.5% and Auckland new house costs up 7.6% from year ago
What are we so afraid of?
Bernard Hickey challenges the knee-jerk idea that a big fall in Auckland house prices would automatically kill the economy and destroy the banks
by Bernard Hickey
136
Bernard Hickey challenges the knee-jerk idea that a big fall in Auckland house prices would automatically kill the economy and destroy the banks
RBNZ's McDermott quiet on next OCR move
RBNZ's McDermott talks about monetary policy decisions, but is quiet on current conditions; says RBNZ using committees more in OCR decisions; says regularly researching drivers of surprisingly low inflation
by Bernard Hickey
54
RBNZ's McDermott talks about monetary policy decisions, but is quiet on current conditions; says RBNZ using committees more in OCR decisions; says regularly researching drivers of surprisingly low inflation
Key downplays housing policy U-turn
Key says via phone call from London that decision to stop taking dividend from Housing NZ as 'a bit semantic'; says commentators increasingly accept Govt's 'comprehensive' housing plan'; says Labour plan not new or startling
by Bernard Hickey
48
Key says via phone call from London that decision to stop taking dividend from Housing NZ as 'a bit semantic'; says commentators increasingly accept Govt's 'comprehensive' housing plan'; says Labour plan not new or startling
Govt, RBNZ at loggerheads on migration, LVRs
RBNZ's Spencer toughens call for review of migration settings; English says RBNZ doesn't have detailed understanding of tax and migration policy, and may have missed recent moves
by Bernard Hickey
84
RBNZ's Spencer toughens call for review of migration settings; English says RBNZ doesn't have detailed understanding of tax and migration policy, and may have missed recent moves
Labour to build 50,000 new Auckland homes
Little says 50% of 100,000 Kiwibuild houses would be in Auckland; apartments priced under NZ$500,000; Labour plans Affordable Housing UDA to fast-track city developments; Labour would extend 2 year bright line test to 5 years
by Bernard Hickey
113
Little says 50% of 100,000 Kiwibuild houses would be in Auckland; apartments priced under NZ$500,000; Labour plans Affordable Housing UDA to fast-track city developments; Labour would extend 2 year bright line test to 5 years
The ultimate test
Bernard Hickey says politicians of all colours failed the Arthur Grimes test this week because they favoured the short term interests of speculators and developers over the longer term interests of families living in their own homes
by Bernard Hickey
143
Bernard Hickey says politicians of all colours failed the Arthur Grimes test this week because they favoured the short term interests of speculators and developers over the longer term interests of families living in their own homes
Labour to build 1,000 new state houses per year
Andrew Little announces second tranche of Labour's Housing policy; plans to build add net extra 1,000 state houses each year; return housing assessment to Housing NZ from WINZ; Housing would stop paying dividends; use funds to build houses instead
by Bernard Hickey
28
Andrew Little announces second tranche of Labour's Housing policy; plans to build add net extra 1,000 state houses each year; return housing assessment to Housing NZ from WINZ; Housing would stop paying dividends; use funds to build houses instead
Key insists RBNZ can move faster on LVRs
Key doubles down on instruction to RBNZ to move faster on LVRs, despite RBNZ speech saying it will only tighten LVR rules by end of 2016; Key also rejects RBNZ suggestion for migration review
by Bernard Hickey
87
Key doubles down on instruction to RBNZ to move faster on LVRs, despite RBNZ speech saying it will only tighten LVR rules by end of 2016; Key also rejects RBNZ suggestion for migration review
Labour plans to house 5,100 homeless
Andew Little launches first tranche of Labour housing policy; would spend $60 mln over 4 yrs to provide emergency housing for 5,100 homeless people; plan is for NGOs to buy or build houses
by Bernard Hickey
55
Andew Little launches first tranche of Labour housing policy; would spend $60 mln over 4 yrs to provide emergency housing for 5,100 homeless people; plan is for NGOs to buy or build houses
Key gives RBNZ green light to target landlords
Key says expects RBNZ to take extra measures to limit lending to rental property investors in Auckland and other high growth areas; RBNZ to speak on Thursday on housing market and Macro-Prudential policy
by Bernard Hickey
147
Key says expects RBNZ to take extra measures to limit lending to rental property investors in Auckland and other high growth areas; RBNZ to speak on Thursday on housing market and Macro-Prudential policy
Labour to unveil big housing plan
Labour Leader Andrew Little flags plans for new demand-side and supply-side measures to address Auckland housing crisis on weekend; will require modest borrowing in short term; big house building programme likely; negative gearing in focus
by Bernard Hickey
63
Labour Leader Andrew Little flags plans for new demand-side and supply-side measures to address Auckland housing crisis on weekend; will require modest borrowing in short term; big house building programme likely; negative gearing in focus
English gives RBNZ leeway to ignore TWI
Finance Minister says traditional links between NZ$ and interest rates not holding; says previous OCR cuts didn't affect currency; says TWI-OCR linkage not mechanical
by Bernard Hickey
31
Finance Minister says traditional links between NZ$ and interest rates not holding; says previous OCR cuts didn't affect currency; says TWI-OCR linkage not mechanical
Govt on track for 2015/16 surplus
Crown accounts show OBEGAL surplus of $2.304 bln for 11 months to May; Treasury says Govt on track for Budget forecast of $668 mln surplus for full 2015/16 year
by Bernard Hickey
Crown accounts show OBEGAL surplus of $2.304 bln for 11 months to May; Treasury says Govt on track for Budget forecast of $668 mln surplus for full 2015/16 year
Key calls Grimes' supply shock idea 'crazy'
PM says Arthur Grimes' call to build 150,000 new houses in Auckland to produce a 'supply shock' that drives prices down 40% is a 'crazy idea'; says home owners don't want equity values to fall; says it would hurt banks
by Bernard Hickey
110
PM says Arthur Grimes' call to build 150,000 new houses in Auckland to produce a 'supply shock' that drives prices down 40% is a 'crazy idea'; says home owners don't want equity values to fall; says it would hurt banks
Smith eyes compulsory acquisition powers
Building Minister says Cabinet considering granting compulsory acquisition powers for Urban Development Authorities; initially says could be used to combat land-bankers, but then back-tracks; Reaction mixed
by Bernard Hickey
28
Building Minister says Cabinet considering granting compulsory acquisition powers for Urban Development Authorities; initially says could be used to combat land-bankers, but then back-tracks; Reaction mixed
Key announces NZ$1 bln Housing Infrastructure Fund
Central Government to create temporary fund to pay for roads and pipes in high growth cities such as Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga, Hamilton and Queenstown; Councils will have to repay funds or buy back infrastructure after houses built
by Bernard Hickey
75
Central Government to create temporary fund to pay for roads and pipes in high growth cities such as Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga, Hamilton and Queenstown; Councils will have to repay funds or buy back infrastructure after houses built
A new deal
Globalisation made most of the world richer, but those who missed out are now revolting. Bernard Hickey argues they need a new deal
by Bernard Hickey
49
Globalisation made most of the world richer, but those who missed out are now revolting. Bernard Hickey argues they need a new deal