Housing crisis spreads to NZ Super; Govt concedes to farmers on trees for climate; Powell starts pivot to slower rate hikes; Beijing cracks down on dissent, but starts easing covid controls
Sounds interesting that you are looking into solutions in Australia, look forward to reading it! I saw some pictures a family member put online looking out from their work (a Victoria hospital) and I couldn't believe how modern, or even futuristic, the building looked. They must have some serious, and I'm guessing politically consistent, investment in their public services over in Australia.
Have some relaxing time, and hopefully get to enjoy some higher carb food. :)
Ha! Plenty of keto options here too. We stayed at a friend’s apartment built by Mirvac as part of a massive development on a former golf course about 13 kms from Melbourne’s CBD. They kept all the trees and built a wide range of up and downmarket townhouses chocked full of public playgrounds and barbecue areas. A real living space. Mirvac paid about A$100m for the 47ha and plans to sell 913 homes for A$886m with prices ranging from A$415,000 to A$2.75 million each. It can be done. Needs a big balance sheet and a big pension funds sector that has a level playing field with owner occupied residential land.
Agree with Mary - Bernard and Lynn, enjoy your "busman's holiday"! Bring back some Aussie inspiration. On China - the biggest mistake they made was choosing the wrong vaccine. Their's hasn't been as effective as others used widely elsewhere. Now, dialling back on lockdowns and relying on other tools such as ramping up (near) universal vaccination is going to result in more deaths from COVID in China, and we are talking MANY. However, what is really awful are the reports on people dying from other medical emergencies (and fire) while unable to seek medical aid or safety outside their apartment buildings. Or being refused entry to hospitals. It's developed into a no-win situation for the poor Chinese population.
I wonder if it has bewildered Xi to find that Covid19 cares not one iota about his repressive regime. It has just kept going. Nice if he's had to re-assess his methods in relation to people too even if that's a bit much to hope.
You reckon “we should all think about...making the accomodation supplement available to those people on superannuation”. Really? Without constraining lending at every increasing amounts for existing housing, this would lead to further house price inflation, because with the supplement people will be able to pay higher rents and mortgages. Must constrain creating money for houses somehow FIRST.
I agree increasing the supplement also needs to be done in tandem with massive new supply, funded by a residential land value levy. Would ensure many of those older home owners pay for the new homes of their poorer fellow NZ super recipients.
1. "Massive new supply" would work in theory, since house price inflation requires both demand greater than supply, and too much money. However, do you think massive new supply could be brought online in time to help the superannuitants you are talking about? We have been trying to solve house price inflation via supply for decades, with little success.
2. Why would you use a "residential land value levvy" to retroatvively punish those who followed the rules, istead of addressing the root causes of the problem (excess credit for existing housing)? i.e., Why tax the excess capital gain when you can eliminate it?
Just struck me today Bernard in the sunshine - re: your housing market with bits tacked on. Do you add on finance and insurance? No doubt you are familiar with Jane Kelsey's book from 2015?
Yay!! Thanks for the heads-up about Substack chats. :) Have a great holiday, Mary
Sounds interesting that you are looking into solutions in Australia, look forward to reading it! I saw some pictures a family member put online looking out from their work (a Victoria hospital) and I couldn't believe how modern, or even futuristic, the building looked. They must have some serious, and I'm guessing politically consistent, investment in their public services over in Australia.
Have some relaxing time, and hopefully get to enjoy some higher carb food. :)
Ha! Plenty of keto options here too. We stayed at a friend’s apartment built by Mirvac as part of a massive development on a former golf course about 13 kms from Melbourne’s CBD. They kept all the trees and built a wide range of up and downmarket townhouses chocked full of public playgrounds and barbecue areas. A real living space. Mirvac paid about A$100m for the 47ha and plans to sell 913 homes for A$886m with prices ranging from A$415,000 to A$2.75 million each. It can be done. Needs a big balance sheet and a big pension funds sector that has a level playing field with owner occupied residential land.
Agree with Mary - Bernard and Lynn, enjoy your "busman's holiday"! Bring back some Aussie inspiration. On China - the biggest mistake they made was choosing the wrong vaccine. Their's hasn't been as effective as others used widely elsewhere. Now, dialling back on lockdowns and relying on other tools such as ramping up (near) universal vaccination is going to result in more deaths from COVID in China, and we are talking MANY. However, what is really awful are the reports on people dying from other medical emergencies (and fire) while unable to seek medical aid or safety outside their apartment buildings. Or being refused entry to hospitals. It's developed into a no-win situation for the poor Chinese population.
I wonder if it has bewildered Xi to find that Covid19 cares not one iota about his repressive regime. It has just kept going. Nice if he's had to re-assess his methods in relation to people too even if that's a bit much to hope.
It is a tragic situation.
You reckon “we should all think about...making the accomodation supplement available to those people on superannuation”. Really? Without constraining lending at every increasing amounts for existing housing, this would lead to further house price inflation, because with the supplement people will be able to pay higher rents and mortgages. Must constrain creating money for houses somehow FIRST.
I agree increasing the supplement also needs to be done in tandem with massive new supply, funded by a residential land value levy. Would ensure many of those older home owners pay for the new homes of their poorer fellow NZ super recipients.
1. "Massive new supply" would work in theory, since house price inflation requires both demand greater than supply, and too much money. However, do you think massive new supply could be brought online in time to help the superannuitants you are talking about? We have been trying to solve house price inflation via supply for decades, with little success.
2. Why would you use a "residential land value levvy" to retroatvively punish those who followed the rules, istead of addressing the root causes of the problem (excess credit for existing housing)? i.e., Why tax the excess capital gain when you can eliminate it?
Just struck me today Bernard in the sunshine - re: your housing market with bits tacked on. Do you add on finance and insurance? No doubt you are familiar with Jane Kelsey's book from 2015?
https://hail.to/tui-motu-interislands-magazine/article/DKhrPSv If not, save for next year - definitely not holiday reading.
Thanks Wendtk. Indeed. Jane has so much good work in so many places. Yep. Insurance, banking, construction, agencies ets are the bits tacked on
Mmm I thought they might be