Bishop blocks Kāinga Ora-led plan for 37,000 new homes via ‘Specified Development Project’ in Tauranga’s Western Corridor, saying costs & risks outweigh benefits; Hamilton guts MDRS densification too
Was going to like this post but there’s nothing to like about corruption of decisions with private benefit being associated with donating $100,000 to a political party
I’m curious which way Winston jumps - it’s not unknown for him to put things on track if it’s good for him - and reliable ferry services would have good electoral response plus be another legacy for him like Kiwibank and Gold Card
Someone posted a thoughtful comment on the Regulatory Standards Bill (sorry, can't remember who, or find it again), which is apparently going through the motions. I don't know nearly enough about it, but assuming it is nefarious as it has been rejected 3 times already, perhaps all this insane nonsense is to ensure that it passes this time, because everyone is preoccupied with all these outrages to oppose this bill from becoming law. If anyone has a good 101, that would be awesome.
Support for this Bill is part of the Coalition Agreement Nat-ACT, so on Luxon's track record will go through, despite only 8% of voters in 2023 supporting it.
Yes, it's designed to create a 'chilling effect' on any new regulation, and thus weaken the state. Its basic purpose is to empower every racist lunatic whose internet connection is fine-tuned to US culture war insanity to block common good regulation on the basis of "individual freedom". In other words, it is among the most libertarian bullshit imaginable.
It appears purposefully designed to be unworkable. The intent is so ideologically driven that it will slow or stop parts of the government. It'll likely never embed and be repealed as soon as Labour gets in again.
Haha, touché! Still, I'm confident their signwritten cars will increasingly be hybrid or EV, so they have some good greenwashy images to include in their next annual report.
Wonder what the GDP per Capita result will be? - even more dire. At some point the MP’s of this government have to start feeling the personal risk of a truly disastrous economic plan.
Have you considered interviewing an economist like Steve Keen (profstevekeen.substack.com) to discuss government fiscal strategy and the widespread misunderstanding of the role of government spending?
It feels like so many of our structural issues stem from a fundamental misunderstanding/inability to leverage the government’s balance sheet effectively. Keen's insights on debt dynamics and the flaws of neoclassical economics could offer a fresh perspective on how to address these challenges.
He’s also developed a smart piece of software, Ravel, which maps dynamic fiscal interactions within the economy. This tool could add a new dimension to understanding the complex interplay between government spending, debt, and economic outcomes.
His views and tools, might resonate with a lot of the current frustrations and offer a roadmap for smarter fiscal policies.
Bernard, your exceptional reporting and analysis continue to be invaluable. Without The Kaka, I’d struggle to keep up with the current happenings. Thank you for your hard work.
As for the summer BBQs, I wouldn’t mind being a fly on the potato salad at a few of our politicians’ gatherings. It seems like there could be some lively discussions about who/what to toss on the barbie. Winnie, for instance, appears to have already doused the fire with petrol and is now carefully marinating his choice of protein, ready to serve up in 2025.
I travelled from Hamilton to Tauranga a few times recently and there is a lot of earthworks happening in the Western Corridor area shown on the map above - in the lower left of the map, across SH29 from where current earthworks can be seen. Does anyone know if the current earthworks are part of the now-cancelled development or are they for something else?
The BNZ moving to reduce its risk with stranded assets is just the start. The finance and insurance industries may force the country to make the necessary changes to reduce emissions, and the govt will say " nothing to do with us, that's the market working".
That bellowing from the dairy farm down the road won't be the bull.
I can't help feeling that we're enormously lucky. I look dumbstruck at the efforts of our leaders to fall over their feet going backwards as fast of possible, and am extremely grateful that no one is currently declaring war on us. What on earth would they do then? build a bunker?
So christopher Bishop asks Bill English to do a Kianga Ora hit job, kills every large development. So will winton developments get their hands on the Tauranga Land and mates rates?
I am currently listening to a podcast - Newscast from the BBC from Friday 13th. One of the discussion points is UK Labour's plan & target to build many more houses due to the huge population growth in the UK. Also, a comment that Spain has had huge house building over the last few years and this has had the effect of bringing down the cost of buying houses, boosting productivity and getting the economy to perform better.
Now, for all the hot air our government spouts about increasing productivity, getting the economy moving upwards etc etc, can anyone seriously believe them when they are actively stopping state house building?
As Bernard often says, our economy is a housing market with bits tacked on. If a government of any colour or coalition were to state as a major policy that they would build more houses to meet the increased population, I for one would vote for them!
However, I can hear the screams of derision from the current rich who's wealth is based on ever tightening the housing market, increasing the cost of their properties and rent increases!
and in the last 12 months the government has flooded New Zealand with 134,000 (March 2024, Statistics NZ) foreign immigrants, continuing to increase the demand for housing. Residential rental property owners will be ecstatic (or maybe that number of immigrants in a year is insufficient to gratify their lust to increase the demand for housing in New Zealand).
Remember, it’s not what they say - it’s what they do (or often, don’t)
And yet, they do this....
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDeeQEDyKFz/?igsh=b3BsNnk4ZmxzMXJy
Was going to like this post but there’s nothing to like about corruption of decisions with private benefit being associated with donating $100,000 to a political party
Alice, agree, its outrageous!!
I'm feeling the need to buy some popcorn, so I can watch Winston widening the cracks in the coalition.
Today is Friday December 13 - trying to avoid the bad omen?
I’m curious which way Winston jumps - it’s not unknown for him to put things on track if it’s good for him - and reliable ferry services would have good electoral response plus be another legacy for him like Kiwibank and Gold Card
A re-order the originals or withdraw from the coalition ultimatum, before May DP swap, perhaps?
Someone posted a thoughtful comment on the Regulatory Standards Bill (sorry, can't remember who, or find it again), which is apparently going through the motions. I don't know nearly enough about it, but assuming it is nefarious as it has been rejected 3 times already, perhaps all this insane nonsense is to ensure that it passes this time, because everyone is preoccupied with all these outrages to oppose this bill from becoming law. If anyone has a good 101, that would be awesome.
Geoff Bertram is pretty blunt about Mr Seymour's pet idea - https://geoffbertram.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/bertram-submission-nov-2024.pdf
And this might be what you saw about the bill - https://substack.com/@grahamhughes/note/c-81138888
Thanks so much for sharing! really appreciate that Andrew.
Support for this Bill is part of the Coalition Agreement Nat-ACT, so on Luxon's track record will go through, despite only 8% of voters in 2023 supporting it.
Yep. I just checked the Agreement between National and Act and it says "...by passing the Regulatory Standards Act (sic) as soon as is practicable."
So this is what Luxon is trying to hide with the TPB.
I wonder if Luxon has any idea of what it is about, but I am sure Willis & Bishop do.
There is also Melanie Nelson's Substack article, which was shared in the chat earlier today (hopefully this link will work...) https://open.substack.com/pub/melanienelson/p/the-overshadowed-bill-poised-to-rewrite?r=23nh2x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
There was a very informative interview with Melanie Nelson re the Regulatory Standards Bill on BHN last night
Yes, it's designed to create a 'chilling effect' on any new regulation, and thus weaken the state. Its basic purpose is to empower every racist lunatic whose internet connection is fine-tuned to US culture war insanity to block common good regulation on the basis of "individual freedom". In other words, it is among the most libertarian bullshit imaginable.
It appears purposefully designed to be unworkable. The intent is so ideologically driven that it will slow or stop parts of the government. It'll likely never embed and be repealed as soon as Labour gets in again.
Hoo, boy, it's almost as if the BNZ is demonstrating the kind of cojones capitalism has been promising us for years around climate change...
Will its executives avoid using petrol stations? Do they drive EVs and/or take public transport to work?
Haha, touché! Still, I'm confident their signwritten cars will increasingly be hybrid or EV, so they have some good greenwashy images to include in their next annual report.
Wonder what the GDP per Capita result will be? - even more dire. At some point the MP’s of this government have to start feeling the personal risk of a truly disastrous economic plan.
Hi Bernard,
Have you considered interviewing an economist like Steve Keen (profstevekeen.substack.com) to discuss government fiscal strategy and the widespread misunderstanding of the role of government spending?
It feels like so many of our structural issues stem from a fundamental misunderstanding/inability to leverage the government’s balance sheet effectively. Keen's insights on debt dynamics and the flaws of neoclassical economics could offer a fresh perspective on how to address these challenges.
He’s also developed a smart piece of software, Ravel, which maps dynamic fiscal interactions within the economy. This tool could add a new dimension to understanding the complex interplay between government spending, debt, and economic outcomes.
His views and tools, might resonate with a lot of the current frustrations and offer a roadmap for smarter fiscal policies.
Bernard, your exceptional reporting and analysis continue to be invaluable. Without The Kaka, I’d struggle to keep up with the current happenings. Thank you for your hard work.
As for the summer BBQs, I wouldn’t mind being a fly on the potato salad at a few of our politicians’ gatherings. It seems like there could be some lively discussions about who/what to toss on the barbie. Winnie, for instance, appears to have already doused the fire with petrol and is now carefully marinating his choice of protein, ready to serve up in 2025.
Good grief Bernard (and Lynn) get that Rosemary onto anything with potatoes pronto! It's delicious
Yes, Grant is correct. 😊
I travelled from Hamilton to Tauranga a few times recently and there is a lot of earthworks happening in the Western Corridor area shown on the map above - in the lower left of the map, across SH29 from where current earthworks can be seen. Does anyone know if the current earthworks are part of the now-cancelled development or are they for something else?
I would like to know this. It is scandalous that this housing project has been cancelled.
The BNZ moving to reduce its risk with stranded assets is just the start. The finance and insurance industries may force the country to make the necessary changes to reduce emissions, and the govt will say " nothing to do with us, that's the market working".
That bellowing from the dairy farm down the road won't be the bull.
I can't help feeling that we're enormously lucky. I look dumbstruck at the efforts of our leaders to fall over their feet going backwards as fast of possible, and am extremely grateful that no one is currently declaring war on us. What on earth would they do then? build a bunker?
So christopher Bishop asks Bill English to do a Kianga Ora hit job, kills every large development. So will winton developments get their hands on the Tauranga Land and mates rates?
I am currently listening to a podcast - Newscast from the BBC from Friday 13th. One of the discussion points is UK Labour's plan & target to build many more houses due to the huge population growth in the UK. Also, a comment that Spain has had huge house building over the last few years and this has had the effect of bringing down the cost of buying houses, boosting productivity and getting the economy to perform better.
Now, for all the hot air our government spouts about increasing productivity, getting the economy moving upwards etc etc, can anyone seriously believe them when they are actively stopping state house building?
As Bernard often says, our economy is a housing market with bits tacked on. If a government of any colour or coalition were to state as a major policy that they would build more houses to meet the increased population, I for one would vote for them!
However, I can hear the screams of derision from the current rich who's wealth is based on ever tightening the housing market, increasing the cost of their properties and rent increases!
and in the last 12 months the government has flooded New Zealand with 134,000 (March 2024, Statistics NZ) foreign immigrants, continuing to increase the demand for housing. Residential rental property owners will be ecstatic (or maybe that number of immigrants in a year is insufficient to gratify their lust to increase the demand for housing in New Zealand).