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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

Keep it low and wide
Bernard Hickey points out a 1% land tax on all property owners would now allow a 5.5% cut in personal tax rates or a 10% GST rate. So why won't John Key do another big tax switch?
by Bernard Hickey
200
Bernard Hickey points out a 1% land tax on all property owners would now allow a 5.5% cut in personal tax rates or a 10% GST rate. So why won't John Key do another big tax switch?
PM's lawyer successfully lobbied to stop Foreign Trust review
Documents show John Key's personal lawyer successfully lobbied him and Revenue Minister Todd McClay to stop IRD review of Foreign Trust regime, despite IRD concerns Foreign Trusts may hurt NZ's reputation
by Bernard Hickey
112
Documents show John Key's personal lawyer successfully lobbied him and Revenue Minister Todd McClay to stop IRD review of Foreign Trust regime, despite IRD concerns Foreign Trusts may hurt NZ's reputation
NZ$ jumps after RBNZ holds
RBNZ holds OCR at 2.25%; says further easing may be required; notes revival of house price inflation in Auckland; wants lower currency; but NZ$ jumps almost 1 USc to 69.2 USc after decision
by Bernard Hickey
38
RBNZ holds OCR at 2.25%; says further easing may be required; notes revival of house price inflation in Auckland; wants lower currency; but NZ$ jumps almost 1 USc to 69.2 USc after decision
Bernard's Top 10
Bernard's Top 10: Could Airbnb accommodate all the new tourists and collect bed taxes?; China's new baby boom; Watch out for driverless trucks; 'Let's just give away money'; John Oliver on MUDs; Clarke and Dawe on the Budget
by Bernard Hickey
2
Bernard's Top 10: Could Airbnb accommodate all the new tourists and collect bed taxes?; China's new baby boom; Watch out for driverless trucks; 'Let's just give away money'; John Oliver on MUDs; Clarke and Dawe on the Budget
Key defends land tax for foreigners
Key denies land tax for foreigners would break 'no new taxes' promise; says supply still best way to deal with Auckland housing issue; says first home buyers should buy apartments first; Seymour attacks 'third new tax'
by Bernard Hickey
67
Key denies land tax for foreigners would break 'no new taxes' promise; says supply still best way to deal with Auckland housing issue; says first home buyers should buy apartments first; Seymour attacks 'third new tax'
Key refloats idea of land tax for non-residents
Key repeats idea floated in July last year that a land tax on non-residents would not conflict with FTAs; says no decision made; says land tax common overseas; Twyford says Key tinkering and outright ban better
by Bernard Hickey
109
Key repeats idea floated in July last year that a land tax on non-residents would not conflict with FTAs; says no decision made; says land tax common overseas; Twyford says Key tinkering and outright ban better
Get ahead of the curve
The Reserve Bank needs to signal a progression of new lending controls that would kick in as interest rates fall to reset the expectations of landlords and lever itself out from between a rock and another rock
by Bernard Hickey
203
The Reserve Bank needs to signal a progression of new lending controls that would kick in as interest rates fall to reset the expectations of landlords and lever itself out from between a rock and another rock
English ramps up pressure on RBNZ board over Wheeler
Documents show English pushed RBNZ board last year to toughen scrutiny of Graeme Wheeler's performance; focus on inflation and financial stability performance relative to PTA; letter sent and extra meetings called for
by Bernard Hickey
50
Documents show English pushed RBNZ board last year to toughen scrutiny of Graeme Wheeler's performance; focus on inflation and financial stability performance relative to PTA; letter sent and extra meetings called for
Bernard's Top 10
Bernard's Top 10: Helicopter Money and us; The New Nothingness; Inequality and life expectancy; Will NZ power prices fall 66%? Europe and America's broken social contract; Clarke and Dawe with Lou Poles; John Oliver on the right to vote
by Bernard Hickey
33
Bernard's Top 10: Helicopter Money and us; The New Nothingness; Inequality and life expectancy; Will NZ power prices fall 66%? Europe and America's broken social contract; Clarke and Dawe with Lou Poles; John Oliver on the right to vote
Prices rose 0.2% in Q1
Statistics NZ reports CPI rose 0.2% in March qtr; up 0.4% from yr ago; broadly in line with forecasts; Petrol fell 7.7%; Cigarettes up 9.4%; Auckland rents up 3.2% vs yr ago
by Bernard Hickey
43
Statistics NZ reports CPI rose 0.2% in March qtr; up 0.4% from yr ago; broadly in line with forecasts; Petrol fell 7.7%; Cigarettes up 9.4%; Auckland rents up 3.2% vs yr ago
A big future liability
Bernard Hickey says the Govt's storing up an enormous social and financial liability by allowing Auckland's housing supply crisis to remain unsolved; says Bill English should apply the actuaries in his social investment programme to Auckland housing
by Bernard Hickey
178
Bernard Hickey says the Govt's storing up an enormous social and financial liability by allowing Auckland's housing supply crisis to remain unsolved; says Bill English should apply the actuaries in his social investment programme to Auckland housing
Bernard's Top 10
Bernard's Top 10: Uber for lawyers; How fat was blamed for sugar's crimes; Ever been hunted by a drone?; Japan's end game; A self-directed debt jubilee?; Central bank mistakes and consequences; Clarke and Dawe; John Oliver
by Bernard Hickey
28
Bernard's Top 10: Uber for lawyers; How fat was blamed for sugar's crimes; Ever been hunted by a drone?; Japan's end game; A self-directed debt jubilee?; Central bank mistakes and consequences; Clarke and Dawe; John Oliver
Key announces small business tax tweaks
PM says IRD will eliminate or reduce use-of-money interest for most provisional taxpayers; businesses with less than $5 mln turnover can 'pay as you go' from April 2018
by Bernard Hickey
6
PM says IRD will eliminate or reduce use-of-money interest for most provisional taxpayers; businesses with less than $5 mln turnover can 'pay as you go' from April 2018
Govt sticking to Auckland housing strategy
Key, English reject calls for new demand side measures to cool Auckland housing after shock surge in March; Govt continuing on with current supply-side strategy
by Bernard Hickey
65
Key, English reject calls for new demand side measures to cool Auckland housing after shock surge in March; Govt continuing on with current supply-side strategy
Key rejects calls to publish tax records
Labour Leader Andrew Little says will release his tax records; calls on John Key to copy David Cameron and release his tax records; Key says no need to as he is 'totally above board'; Little says Shewan review a whitewash; should be done by Judge
by Bernard Hickey
14
Labour Leader Andrew Little says will release his tax records; calls on John Key to copy David Cameron and release his tax records; Key says no need to as he is 'totally above board'; Little says Shewan review a whitewash; should be done by Judge
Govt to review overseas trust disclosure rules
After a week of pressure over Panama Papers, Key says an independent expert will review NZ's overseas trust disclosure rules; Labour wants full inquiry; Peters wants full Commission; ICIJ sees more NZ names to come
by Bernard Hickey
58
After a week of pressure over Panama Papers, Key says an independent expert will review NZ's overseas trust disclosure rules; Labour wants full inquiry; Peters wants full Commission; ICIJ sees more NZ names to come
Better labelling required
Bernard Hickey says the quiet removal of the guarantee for Kiwibank savers should remind all savers about the lack of a deposit guarantee and prompt regulators and the industry to run a public education campaign about NZ''s lack of a deposit guarantee
by Bernard Hickey
64
Bernard Hickey says the quiet removal of the guarantee for Kiwibank savers should remind all savers about the lack of a deposit guarantee and prompt regulators and the industry to run a public education campaign about NZ''s lack of a deposit guarantee
Govt accounts in surplus in Feb
Treasury reports NZ$398 mln surplus in eight months to Feb; NZ$730 mln better than expected and NZ$667 mln better than last year; GST, corporate tax and PAYE higher than forecast; spending in line with forecasts
by Bernard Hickey
22
Treasury reports NZ$398 mln surplus in eight months to Feb; NZ$730 mln better than expected and NZ$667 mln better than last year; GST, corporate tax and PAYE higher than forecast; spending in line with forecasts
Govt blames Opposition for haven reputation hit
Revenue Minister and Finance Minister blame Labour, Green and NZ First attacks for any reputational damage over 'Panama Papers' publicity around overseas trusts and say overseas critics 'just plain wrong'
by Bernard Hickey
13
Revenue Minister and Finance Minister blame Labour, Green and NZ First attacks for any reputational damage over 'Panama Papers' publicity around overseas trusts and say overseas critics 'just plain wrong'
Bernard's Top 10
Bernard's Top 10: Our 100% pure tax haven; The original Panama Papers in the Pacific; We were warned again and again; Mossack Fonseca, Panama and NZ's new best friends; Behind the Panama Papers; Clarke and Dawe; John Oliver
by Bernard Hickey
16
Bernard's Top 10: Our 100% pure tax haven; The original Panama Papers in the Pacific; We were warned again and again; Mossack Fonseca, Panama and NZ's new best friends; Behind the Panama Papers; Clarke and Dawe; John Oliver
Migration containing wage pressures - RBNZ
Deputy Governor explains how net migration has helped boost labour supply and contain wage pressures; says it's one factor allowing 'accommodative' interest rate settings; notes more young workers arriving in this migration cycle
by Bernard Hickey
35
Deputy Governor explains how net migration has helped boost labour supply and contain wage pressures; says it's one factor allowing 'accommodative' interest rate settings; notes more young workers arriving in this migration cycle
Govt puts capital facility directly behind Kiwibank
English says Government to put capital facility directly behind Kiwibank to replace NZ Post guarantee; sees NZ Post keeping its 55% stake
by Bernard Hickey
14
English says Government to put capital facility directly behind Kiwibank to replace NZ Post guarantee; sees NZ Post keeping its 55% stake
Govt opens door to tighter overseas trust rules
Revenue Minister says OECD reviewing rules around overseas trusts and IRD contributing to review if new framework for disclosure; NZ brought forward information exchange by a year
by Bernard Hickey
21
Revenue Minister says OECD reviewing rules around overseas trusts and IRD contributing to review if new framework for disclosure; NZ brought forward information exchange by a year
Govt rejects calls for tighter foreign trust rules
Greens, Labour call on Government to tighten loopholes that allowed Panama's Mossack Fonseca to set up overseas trusts in NZ to hide assets owned by controversial Mexican, Maltese figures
by Bernard Hickey
23
Greens, Labour call on Government to tighten loopholes that allowed Panama's Mossack Fonseca to set up overseas trusts in NZ to hide assets owned by controversial Mexican, Maltese figures
How to get richer
Bernard Hickey says New Zealand may be increasing the size of its economy by adding people and resources, but is not improving the productivity that will make everyone truly richer in the long run
by Bernard Hickey
92
Bernard Hickey says New Zealand may be increasing the size of its economy by adding people and resources, but is not improving the productivity that will make everyone truly richer in the long run