Simon says... New Zealand has a housing crisis

Property

National leader Simon Bridges suggests NZ has a housing crisis but declines an interview with interest.co.nz to explain brief comment in RNZ interview

6th Jun 18, 10:30am by Jason Walls

National Party leader Simon Bridges appears to have admitted New Zealand has a housing crisis, but is refusing to front up for questioning.

Speaking to RNZ about Housing New Zealand’s handling of meth “contaminated” homes on Tuesday, Bridges said the issue occurred in the “heat of our last couple of years, what many have called a housing crisis – I've tried to call it what it is. We wanted people in houses.”

When pressed on whether New Zealand has a housing crisis, Bridges said: “I am the Leader of the Opposition now, I suppose I get to decide how we phrase things and where we see things.”

This is a significant statement from the National leader.

For years in Government, the party denied there was a housing crisis.

Housing Minister Nick Smith and Prime Ministers John Key then Bill English all opted to use words such as “housing challenge” instead. Key, in particular, also said high house prices were a sign of New Zealand's success. This was against a backdrop of double-digit house price inflation and stories of people sleeping in cars and garages.

Since being elected National leader, Bridges has adopted a slightly different tone.

During his first press conference as leader, he admitted his party could have done better on housing.

Later that day, when talking to RNZ, he admitted there is a housing crisis, “for those it effects.”

His comments on Tuesday were the closest thing to admitting New Zealand has a full-on housing crisis – something Minister of Housing Phil Twyford has long maintained.

Bridges is refusing to talk to Interest.co.nz to explain and flesh out his comments.

After repeated requests for an interview – which he initially agreed to – a spokeswoman for Bridges says he has “nothing to add to what he’s already said.”

This is despite what he said being very brief and seemingly throwaway lines.

The refusal to front up means questions, such as ‘what has changed his perspective of the housing market since his comments in February’ will remain unanswered until next week when Parliament gets back from recess.

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114 Comments

by Uninterested | 6th Jun 18, 10:34am 1528238091

It's like pulling teeth...

by Houses Overpriced | 6th Jun 18, 10:38am 1528238283

So can we sue the previous two villains?

by Nic Johnson | 6th Jun 18, 11:05am 1528239957

Both now have Knighthoods and have sailed into the sunset. Fred the 'Shred' Goodwin had his taken off him. Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown as politicians got away scott free after turning a blind eye to a banking debacle. albeit they but should have been tried for treason. Oh how history has a way of repeating itself. Banking crisis around the corner.. Oh and Simon.. Its a debt crisis that has caused the housing crisis.

by theglc | 6th Jun 18, 6:25pm 1528266336

yes the debt crisis has contributed to the housing crisis but National did nothing about it.

Now there is going to be a correction and "return to mean" at best. National should take the blame for that too

by Bobster | 6th Jun 18, 6:48pm 1528267697

Yes, bill english’s knighthood really was a Fred Goodwin moment. Let’s see what people think of him and Key in a few years.

by CJ099 | 6th Jun 18, 8:53pm 1528275217

I know this is so hypocritical of National it's beyond a joke! Remember Mr Key tried to rebrand this country to make it more palatable to be sold off to China by trying to dump our identity as a nation. Can't have the British flag in there that will put off investors.

Nine years of NZ being literally sold to the highest bidder poor young Kiwis, it so isn't right! More homeless then ever on the streets.

by Zack Brando | 6th Jun 18, 1:26pm 1528248415

National are acting like hams lately.

by Bobster | 6th Jun 18, 11:53am 1528242799

I heard him on RNZ re this. He wasn’t massively impressive. I found him pretty annoying and unpolished. Not at all easy to listen to. He is toast and the nats are pretty much in the same place for a while. I don’t quite understand the nats numbers, but they look a busted flush. They are on a complete loser with this meth debacle, they cannot dodge it. They should fess up and Paula Bennett should be thrown under the nearest bus. Labour should really be twisting the knife with this issue

by PocketAces | 6th Jun 18, 2:56pm 1528253803

Trouble is there are too many people who even if all the Nats lined up and cooked and ate kittens and babies, would be somehow or other able to make it look like it was actually Labour that was doing it or that it was their fault for not doing something about it when they were in opposition, or backing too many people to have kids they can't afford that the Nats HAVE to eat them to get the numbers down like the good sorts they are. It is nonsensical, the level of denial of what that govt did to this country.

by Grendel | 6th Jun 18, 3:43pm 1528256625

The problem is we basically have a two party system plus one king maker (and a crappy king maker at that). So it's not that people are fine with the Nats (I know I'm not) the problem is they look less bad in comparison.
So to put it in your comparison, one side is cooking them the other side is piling them in a hole and and saying "look, we're note eating them, isn't that so much better?".

by Foxglove. | 6th Jun 18, 3:10pm 1528254636

Still to come once Labour gets the enquiry into gear. Brownlee over EQC & Southern Response. Many in Canterbury would like to see that expose one might think.

by Chessmaster | 6th Jun 18, 4:57pm 1528261074

Agree Bob. These Nats will remain in opposition after next election. They are so ffn arrogant and new leader is crap. Don't worry about crappy Labour party beating them, even the Auckland Blues rugby team will best them. At least our rugby boys are nice guys, I'll vote for them anyday over the Bennett/Bridges train smash. Btw I'm/was a national supporter but can't get myself to vote for this lot.

by Houses Overpriced | 6th Jun 18, 8:36pm 1528274201

You seem to have inherited a lot of characteristics from The Boy

by MikeM | 6th Jun 18, 10:43am 1528238631

NZ has a housing crisis but because we are stuck with the same old two-horse political race nothing material will ever be done about it.

by Zack Brando | 6th Jun 18, 10:54am 1528239287

I voted TOP, every other voter had that choice too .. if you don't like the outcome, you're free to try and move to a country with smarter electors.

Obviously NZ is great for slumlords, sexual harrassers, slave owners and retailers with no IT skills. Everybody else just wants an escape form the ongoing bleeding .. power prices, phones plans, rentals, on and on.

But nobody likes a complainer, best to just save up and leave.

by MikeM | 6th Jun 18, 11:01am 1528239718

I also voted TOP for many reasons, one of which relates to my comment. I'm not a complainer; I walk my talk.

by Gummy Bear Hero | 6th Jun 18, 4:24pm 1528259090

... it was a missed opportunity by the Gnats , not offering TOP a leg up ... the Gnats have never really embraced MMP , and understood that they need to build alliances ...

FPP has gone , guys .... 25 years gone ...

... I walk my walk .... .... no bloody public transport around here ....

by Pragmatist | 17th Dec 19, 8:49pm 1576568993

by NorthernLights | 6th Jun 18, 2:21pm 1528251669

Phone prices ?
NZs prices are cheap compared to a couple of countries I reside in
Why would any rational person vote for TOP ? It’s leader has yet to deliver on his majestic proclaimation of charity. He’s still holding most of his cash

by taimaiakka0 | 6th Jun 18, 1:28pm 1528248531

Ban on Foreign Buyer............

Delay and Dilute is new Labour Mantra...............

Select Committee plays an important role but many times are used by politicians to kill the essence of the bill

by J.C. | 6th Jun 18, 10:46am 1528238795

Chances are that he would claim a "crisis" is not necessarily a "bubble." The latter is probably even more difficult to say than than the former.

Wonder if the knows the difference between a midget and a dwarf.

by Alter Ego | 6th Jun 18, 10:47am 1528238878

Sue...What a Knight. of the realm........or two....no you cannot touch em......once they have bolted...Took the money and ran....

Now in the House of Lords.....go figure.

by Solidname | 6th Jun 18, 10:52am 1528239126

I'm staggered he didn't want to give you an interview, shocked to my core, particularly when someone high up at National commented on this problem over a decade ago -

"It’s those aspects of the home affordability crisis that I want to concentrate on today.
But first, let’s take a minute to look at the enormity of this problem.

It wasn’t so long ago, in the 1990s, in fact, that New Zealand had a high level of home ownership compared to other countries. Not so anymore. We now have what has been described as the second worst housing affordability problem in the world.

Make no mistake; this problem has got worse in recent years. Home ownership declined by 5% between the 2001 and 2006 census to just 62.7%. To put that into context, home ownership for the preceding five years had been stable at 67.4%...."

It's a good little read is this - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0708/S00336.htm

by taimaiakka0 | 6th Jun 18, 1:34pm 1528248862

Also to check, how many are NZ citizen or residents (Specially all houses sold under National rule in the last 6 years).

As per national defination only people who are outside NZ are foreigners and all students or short term visa holders or anyone who has or is visiting NZ and has a IRD and local address (Does not matter if you reside or is used for vested interest) is a NZ citizen.

Once the correct data is out abot Non Resident buyer (3% Lol) will have another admission of another Goof up by National leaders.

by Double-GZ | 6th Jun 18, 10:54am 1528239271

If I were Simon I wouldn't want to have an interview with interest.co.nz too considering 99.99% of the commenters here are DGM's who support the COL.

by Brock Landers | 6th Jun 18, 12:31pm 1528245117

He ain't going to win anybody over by being a coward.

Just like you aren't going to win anybody over speaking with your special needs acronyms.

by Kakapo | 6th Jun 18, 1:12pm 1528247568

I think the word for Bridges at this point is 'flaccid'. He's just limp and ineffectual.

by scarfie | 6th Jun 18, 7:43pm 1528270994

Haha, you should try shaking his hand. I doubt you would come away with a difference impression to what you already have.

by NorthernLights | 6th Jun 18, 2:26pm 1528251991

Brock please remember DubleGzzzz is handicapped financially

by Retired-Poppy | 6th Jun 18, 7:02pm 1528268527

Ha-ha-ha :)

by keriwin | 6th Jun 18, 1:07pm 1528247271

You should move over to whale oil. These lefties are blind.

by NorthernLights | 6th Jun 18, 2:24pm 1528251870

Dearest DubleDz
If only you were a little more enlightened yourself instead of poking disdain at the eloquent writings here at interest.co
I’ll pray for you

by theglc | 6th Jun 18, 8:23pm 1528273389

that makes you a 1000/1 minority

by Zack Brando | 6th Jun 18, 9:57pm 1528279059

@ Double-GZ

To call 99.99% of people on here 'Doom and Gloom Merchants' is such a tired-old-line. Also wealth is often transferred, not destroyed - so using the acronym 'DGM's' shows your financial ignorance and indicates you are probably leveraged up to the eyeballs.

Also, conflating people who may be property bears with supporters of "the COL" shows a poor understanding of statistics, which is what I'd expect from someone who just made one up.

by rastus1 | 21st Jun 18, 8:42am 1529527362

For good reason ....former Nat supporter, but the legacy of john Key needs vanquishing before i return. So poor old Simon, wrong place wrong time...the sewer pipes need a wash out before i return.

by Didge | 6th Jun 18, 10:55am 1528239305

Burnt Bridges strikes again.

by Smalltown | 6th Jun 18, 11:22am 1528240925

Move over Eminem - look out Mike Curb Congregation.- Burning Bridges

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sCo5GaDq7k

"Friends all tried to warn me ......."

by Boatman | 6th Jun 18, 11:05am 1528239950

Silly little boy !

Does he not realize that you are a business-friendly organization and that your site is visited by tens of thousands of Kiwis many of whom who make decisions in business based on the views and opinions and plans of politicians

by Foxglove. | 6th Jun 18, 12:13pm 1528243986

You have to conclude this identity is rather gauche. Very disappointing. Cannot fathom how he got as far as a law degree let alone a crown prosecutor. One imagines some crooks must have been sorry to see him move on. National for all of us, need to be a better opposition than this. Labour were useless enough, this lot might even be worse.

ps; featured quote might explain things. “A Lawyer. A professional advocate hired to bend the law on behalf of a paying client ; for this reason considered the most suitable background for entry into politics.”

by Solidname | 6th Jun 18, 11:49am 1528242574

The problem for National is they can't counter any of the punches on a lot of things, in particular those key areas that lost them the election. If Labour focus on Health, Education, Housing, Immigration there is nothing that National can say without coming across, at best, as disingenuous. As more and more is exposed, they'll lose increasing amounts of credibility - the meth example will I'm sure have upset their core rentier class voters who forked out thousands to address a mythical (methical) problem

by Foxglove. | 6th Jun 18, 12:08pm 1528243685

Yes agreed the rather careless performance of particularly their third term, is biting back. The irony is though they did not lose the election per se, rather they lost power. And that was because they had no solid coalition partners, and instead of courting WP, in hindsight their only chance, they went after him.

by TainuiBabe | 7th Jun 18, 10:48pm 1528368531

National was on a suicide mission, the moment they decided to go after Winston Peters. They deserved to get a beating from him.

by middleman1 | 6th Jun 18, 1:36pm 1528249019

No need to land any significant punches this far out from the election when the Nats polling support is rock solid at a high level, the government's majority is wafer thin due to the wizened bauble seeker consigning his party to oblivion and the CoL doing a damn fine job of smacking itself round the chops.

Your suggestion that the meth issue will translate into widespread disaffection with the Nats is wishful thinking given the relatively low percentage of blue voters who are landlords and the small number directly affected by the issue. And of those who did get hit, how many were not able to recover off insurers. Bridges has admitted they got it wrong due to dud advice but at least they listened to experts unlike Woods and co who ignore or don't seek official advice and make ideological decisions at the direction of flaky CoL splinter factions, which have disastrous consequences for regions such as Taranaki.

by RickStrauss | 6th Jun 18, 2:12pm 1528251161

I agree expecting dyed in the wool National voters to hold National accountable for any of their messes is overly optimistic. It matters not how they perform, their life-long voters will continue to vote for them regardless.

Still, it's impressive that after a 9-year hiatus in which we had a "good problem to have" and a "sign of our success", National can now once again admit the existence of a housing crisis.

by NorthernLights | 6th Jun 18, 2:31pm 1528252267

Simon says do this
He’s a lightweight like some of the spruikers here so I can’t see why he won’t be interviewed if only for benefit of DubleGzz Zach & TTP

by FamilyGuy | 6th Jun 18, 11:08am 1528240115

A very high volume of immigration has changed the social fiber of NZ and it will change even more. However, changes will be evident after decades when we'd not be able to do anything about it. Immigration is not bad but diversifying a country at such a speed is problematic. Scandinavian countries have managed to keep population diversity under check and are doing well.

by Averageman | 6th Jun 18, 11:18am 1528240691

Agreed. Change is not the problem, its how (quickly) were changing. Bridges on a shortcut to a hiding as his party had the wheel for the last nine on this so there no rock for him to hid under as the designated fall guy while it unravels.

Personally thought he was smarter than accepting an interview on this area at the moment. Almost feel sorry for him.

by B-Rocker | 6th Jun 18, 11:17am 1528240623

Or in the case of Sweden, WAS doing well. They have now bought into the diversity doctrine and are paying the price, with their no-go zones.

by richard1965 | 6th Jun 18, 1:51pm 1528249916

You are correct changed from 120 mt or 90 mt house to 40mts house for a family and those days are not far away when politicians will say that at least you have a roof even if it 20mts and look at those in third world countries who are sleeping in open.

by fat pat | 6th Jun 18, 8:17pm 1528273039

Scandinavian countries have managed to keep population diversity under check and are doing well.
You’re being sarcastic there right? It looks to me like Sweden could become a failed nation. Rampant Muslim immigration is a huge problem for the future. The indigenous Swedish people don't replicate until their mid 30's and when they do they typically have one child. The Muslim migrants reproduce at a young age and have 5 or 6 kids. Project that into the future! While the liberals hold hands and fantasise about ethnic diversity, Swedish rape statistics are going exponential. Some areas of Sweden are no-go even for the police because of migrant gangs. Of course the Muslim migrants want all worman to wear burkas and they’d really like to instigate sharia law. Is that what we want for NZ?

interesting video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjpcp4gESsU&t=1s

by Fritz | 7th Jun 18, 12:12am 1528287140

Yeah screw that. My brother lives in Sweden and he is seeing it first hand. And he was only a block away fron the nutter in a van who went berserk.
The west has lost its mind.

by NorthernLights | 7th Jun 18, 7:20am 1528312800

Have you seen the rape statistics increases in Sweden ?
I don’t believe all Scandinavia has handled immigration well

by B-Rocker | 6th Jun 18, 11:14am 1528240454

Is it just me or did he not actually admit to a housing crisis at all?
The words in this article have him saying that many have called it a housing crisis.

by Gareth Vaughan | 6th Jun 18, 12:02pm 1528243330

Listen to the full interview. He has clearly implied there's a housing crisis. If he wants to explain his views or comment further, Jason's keen to hear from him.

by middleman1 | 6th Jun 18, 2:18pm 1528251489

I have personally considered the AKL market to be in or near a crisis for a while if historic concepts of home ownership aspirations of NZrs are applied when calculating 'shortages'. But given the hordes of low quality migrants that have flooded in over recent years, I challenge the orthodoxy that includes these recent low (for now) resource migrants in the 'denied home ownership' category.

The word 'crisis' when applied to housing is not capable of credibly objective definition, yet the media seem to be obsessed with endlessly point scoring on this semantical irrelevance. Bridges can't and won't admit that Smith and English were wrong to not name it a crisis so why not skip the silly game, agree to not use the magic word so we can hear some useful cross examination of him by a serious journo, about why they sat on their hands for so long and some detail on what they'd now do to fix a problem that the floundering Twyford seems increasingly incapable of addressing?

by Noncents | 6th Jun 18, 11:16am 1528240565

I can see the interview now.

Journo: So you mentioned a Housing Crisis, care to elaborate.
Simple Simon: Um, I am not sure what you mean.

Journo: Sorry, should have used smaller words. Why do you think we have a housing crisis?
SS: Well Sir Key told me to sell up as Sh!t is about to hit the fan, and the auction clearance rates were abysmal.

Journo: Oh, I see. So you don't think it's an affordability crisis?
SS: Of course it's an affordability crisis. If I don't make at least $500k profit off the sales, how am I supposed to get the new Rolex, Bentley, and flights over to holiday with Sir Key.

Journo: Do you think the issue is new?
SS: um, maybe. although I was not aware of it until today.

Journo: Really? Some would suggest that it has been around for a while.
SS: No, I have only been leader for a month or two. Anything before then doesn't count.

Journo: Oh, I see. So what should be done to fix it.
SS: It's obvious, vote National, we will increase immigration so that there are people to buy the houses.

Journo: We tried that 10 years ago, John Key said he would fix the problem.
SS: He did, I had no issue making money the last 10 years.

Journo: Thanks Simon, I think we will end it there... it's been...uh...great...to talk to you. Really insightful.
SS: Cheers.

SS to his Caucus: Had a great interview today, watch the news. I really reckon we will gets votes out of this one. Could be a game changer.

Jian Yang to Xi Jinping: It is working, the imbeciles have no idea. This puppet is even more malleable than the last one. I expect to have nothing but good news going forwards.

by Noncents | 6th Jun 18, 11:44am 1528242278

Later that day...

Xi Jinping to Jian Yang: well done comrade. It is showing much more promise than that other motley bunch. We donated vast sums to them, but our infiltrators are saying they have no real leadership so it is very hard to focus them on our causes.

Comrade Helen has been bought back, to assist us in our goals. But even she is finding the one they call Winston a bit of a headache.

Jian Yang: What should we do, humble leader?

Xi Jinping: We need to stop wasting our time with the current coalition and move forwards with the One China policy. The province of NZ will soon be fully under our authority.

Jian Yang: Excellent idea, but how

Xi Jinping: It is threefold.
1. We will continue to undermine the current mob by enticing them into ludicrous decisions.
2. We will continue to promote your worth (and poison the others), we should have you installed as leader of National by 2020.
3. We will then "assist" the election process to ensure your victory.

Jian Yang: Splendid!

by Alter Ego | 6th Jun 18, 12:04pm 1528243472

If only it was a joke....Sold are souls to to overseas interests. Imported trouble..blindly.

A Capital Idea. for some, a disaster for our futures. Sold out for 30mill of silver.....now of biblical proportions...brought up to date.

by Noncents | 6th Jun 18, 1:18pm 1528247927

Yes, I should have added

"The events depicted in this Post are fictitious. Any similarity to any person living or dead is merely coincidental."

by NorthernLights | 6th Jun 18, 2:49pm 1528253372

NoCents
Makes all sense

by Uninterested | 6th Jun 18, 2:53pm 1528253596

China has got everyone running scared. I think that the West needs more people like Trump to stand up to it in a much stronger way. National was in bed with it and Labour is so naive it will be a walkover.

by richard1965 | 6th Jun 18, 2:00pm 1528250455

People in NZ and other smaller island nations forget that we are so small that THEY (If you name will be termed as racist) can buy us / our country not once but number of times.

by Alter Ego | 6th Jun 18, 2:32pm 1528252368

If one cannot tell the truth about Nations, etc, then why bother.

Are we becoming so politically correct, we cannot even admire ladies in Bikinis and bathing suits....anymore.

No American would stop that........Would they?.....Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder.

I have been doing it for years....And I am British to the core,,,,,,(Core...look at that....).

i live in New Zealand, I visit many Nations, recognising the difference is paramount....and a pleasure...sometimes.

Even China is useful for cooking the differences. Pot calling Kettle Black.

We are what we are, but some Nations, who shall be nameless have had a history of fiddling their Financial Currencies, with others......I yaun for the day I can do...That....

Being British, is where I was born,I am a Man of the World, (No not that Man).....I can call a spade a spade when someone calls me a POM, get over this Politically correct stuff.....I do not care...

As I always say....Politicians have never been proved right...nor Bankers....All corrupted by something or other......and that includes NZ and USA & GB + any Nation you can can find Capital in.........even the EU.

So do not be put down by this PC bullpucky...just another way of controlling us mere mortals...who know what is wrong,..... from doing ..write......truth be told.

Oh and it pays to advertise that....

We can been scammed by experts of every hue and mix......since money began...now you cannot even print about the truth of it....get over it.

Print and be damned...says I. Launder it where ye may.......(Even Bikini Atoll).

Cut yer cloth according to yer means......says I......and speak freely. ..or don't bovver.

by NorthernLights | 6th Jun 18, 2:54pm 1528253670

Richard it’s not racist at all to state fact
China’s CCP definitely has a strategic plan to spread their countrymen & women throughout the world
They’re everywhere in Africa USA Canada etc for a reason
The CCP didn’t wake up one day and allow its controlled population freedom to leave China for reasons of good health There is a plan and with Trump pulling out of TTP it’s given China even more opportunity to dominate the whole pacific region

by Noncents | 6th Jun 18, 3:11pm 1528254672

"The CCP didn’t wake up one day and allow its controlled population freedom to leave China"

I reckon this is the real crux of the argument.

China is very much "controlled" anything that happens there is done for a very specific and calculated reason.

One could argue that the "internal" crackdown on cashflow, was really nothing more than correcting the overt buying of property to ensure it is slightly less obvious. After all, you don't want to show your hand too early.

by Chessmaster | 6th Jun 18, 5:10pm 1528261809

Wait till the Indians lose their fascination with racist Australia. NZ is 100 times nicer and friendlier. In the next 5 years, we will start seeing the Indian millionaires basing their families here just for the clean air, water (yes we are very good compared to those countries). Locals will be refined to apartments. I can so see that happening as we continue to promote NZ benefits overseas

by Fritz | 7th Jun 18, 12:16am 1528287393

China has plenty of sinister motives. But so does the USA. And Russia. It just seems to come with super power status.

by NorthernLights | 6th Jun 18, 2:32pm 1528252359

Sir Key ? Really !?
I’m so glad I’m out of there

by Pragmatist | 6th Jun 18, 2:46pm 1528253168

Every former PM gets a gong, at least those that last more than a year. Clarke and Bolger got ONZ, the rest are Sir or Dame. I think the last one that didn't was Hugh Watt, who was only PM for 6 days..

by Noncents | 6th Jun 18, 3:07pm 1528254469

Yeah, I think the only criteria is that they have to have left office.

Clarke wont qualify until ~~she~~ Jacinda resigns/loses

by Pragmatist | 6th Jun 18, 3:41pm 1528256491

Eh? Clarke got ONZ, Which is a step up in the hierarchy according to Wikipedia. "The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system" Key got the next level down, The NZ order of merit.

by Kate | 6th Jun 18, 4:05pm 1528257929

Helen Clark has no 'e' at the end of her name. Clark abolished the British titular titles having set up the New Zealand Order of Merit honours system. A local/sovereign nation one, like Australia has had for many years.

First thing JK did on being elected was write to The Queen, requesting that NZ be readmitted to the British honours system - and The Queen agreed.

We are no longer a British colony - quite why HRH agreed to readmit us and allow us to run two honours systems (ours and theirs, side-by-side) is puzzling.

Clark, I understood, would refuse a British titular title were one offered to her.

A republican, Clark stated in 2002 that she thought it was "inevitable" that New Zealand would become a republic in the near future.[63] Her term in office saw a number of alleged moves in this direction,[64] under her government's policy of building national identity. Examples include the abolition of appeals to the Privy Council in London and the foundation of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, the abolition of titular Knighthood and Damehood honours (restored in 2009), and the abolition of the title "Queen's Counsel" (replaced by "Senior Counsel", restored in 2012).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Clark

by Gummy Bear Hero | 6th Jun 18, 4:12pm 1528258332

.. I don't blame her ... " Sir " has a nice ring to it , for the blokes ... but " Dame " sounds like a large female horse , it brings up mental images of an old nag...

by Alter Ego | 6th Jun 18, 4:57pm 1528261051

Might as well state...do all State Politicians of any ilk, have their own personal Hair Stylist...cos it ain't working.....cos it it ain't working.

by Alter Ego | 6th Jun 18, 4:37pm 1528259840

I think that is Mare. the word you are seeking so plainly.......the word escapes me.....for a nagging wife.

Her poor hubby must be so under the whether...or not....thumb.

Hell-en. here..is......Another amateur Prime Munny-ster in a sub-prime job....and then she primed the Entire World..nearly, ...then she lost the plot at her last post....and got stamped out. of the UN....via the glass ceiling.

Her world came crashing down...again.

by Pragmatist | 6th Jun 18, 7:46pm 1528271211

Clark set up the NZOM? "The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of chivalry in New Zealand's honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand"

1996 was Bolgers watch.

by Kate | 7th Jun 18, 12:49am 1528289384

I stand corrected!

by Fritz | 7th Jun 18, 12:19am 1528287560

Such a poncy, fuddy duddy, archaic system. Key is a funny fellow

by NoFax | 6th Jun 18, 11:32am 1528241558

It is a crises but this government, and the last, are not really acting as though it is a crises. It probably cost National the election not admitting that there was a crises and I also think it will cost this Government the election if they don't act as well. What I would like to see is the National and the Gov. come up with a plan to solve the crises as this will take 10 years to sort out properly. Kiwibuild will be the Government's achilles heel unless they actually re-think it and get National and the rest of the country on-board.

by Solidname | 6th Jun 18, 12:38pm 1528245529

The issue now for National becomes those that have been worst affected by the housing crisis are statistically now more inclined to vote - looking at the last election numbers the voter turnout increase was 3% (or thereabouts) for every 5 year age increase until age 49 (excluding first time voters who apparently turned out reasonably well this time round).

House ownership amongst people aged 30-39 fell to 43% in 2013, I imagine that will be worse now based on the numbers quoted by banks vis-a-vis investor to FHB loans (40%-ish of purchasing being made by investors for most of that time).

by Nzdan | 6th Jun 18, 1:30pm 1528248648

Those 30-39 year olds are probably sick of being told they aren't saving enough, to stop wasting money on avocados and smart phones, told that they always want the newest flashest houses so they need to lower their expectations, only to be outbid at auction on their "run down dream home" by an investor who has recycled rent money funded equity into a deposit. They can still live in that dream home if they like, however the landlord doesn't want pets, kids and no you can't hang a picture on that wall.

by Double-GZ | 6th Jun 18, 1:37pm 1528249029

I am in this age group and I had sushi avocado for lunch lol.

by Nzdan | 6th Jun 18, 1:42pm 1528249339

I'm in this age group as well, I'm not overly keen on Sushi or Avocado but my wife on the other hand!!

by RickStrauss | 6th Jun 18, 2:16pm 1528251394

Congrats on being younger than last year.

by Solidname | 6th Jun 18, 2:17pm 1528251477

You're 30-39? I believe you bought your first investment property in the 90s, which means you'd have to be at most 21 when you bought that - bank of mum and dad?

by RickStrauss | 6th Jun 18, 2:48pm 1528253295

DGZ has previously claimed to be early 40s, and to have bought his/her first house in the early 1990s. So...age 13, perhaps (if under 40). Also claimed to have no mortgage, but at other times claimed to have bought an investment property in Puhoi in the last year, and at yet other times said "If I have to sell one or two investment properties in a downturn I'll be fine" (why, if no mortgages?). Not to mention claimed both to own and not own 5 Prebble Place, Orakei. (Perhaps worried he'd given away his identity?)

I think people have learned to take DGZ's statements with a grain or mountain of salt.

by Solidname | 6th Jun 18, 2:52pm 1528253561

It's hard keeping up with it all, particularly when he signs off as TTP, then that adds a whole new dynamic to the enigma that is DGZ.

by NorthernLights | 6th Jun 18, 2:37pm 1528252659

You’re a sushi guy DGZz
I love you anyway
You can’t help who you are

by Houses Overpriced | 6th Jun 18, 8:41pm 1528274469

You mean you have the mental capacity of that age group, but twice the age

by NorthernLights | 6th Jun 18, 2:41pm 1528252901

Dream homes in Auckland ?
How many millions does that cost now ?
Grossly overpriced for what you get
The lifestyles over too with mass immigration for years

by meh | 6th Jun 18, 3:35pm 1528256124

Home ownership in the 20-34 age group now only 25% compared to 43% back in 1981.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12064329

Anyone know what the ownership ratio of "investment" properties is in the 50-65 age group compared to 40 years ago?

I'm guessing it's significantly higher. My assumption being that once houses were a means for creating a home and ultimately a social good. 2nd homes were most likely a bach at the favourite kiwi holiday location. Now they are peddled as investments by the banking and real estate industries for "creating" wealth.

Retirement is obviously costing a feckload more than it did 40 years ago or is everyone just more greedy?

Main causes (among others) in my opinion -
The complete devaluation of "money"
The imbalance between the supply and demand of wealth.

Of course if 90% of world's wealth is held by 10% (or something like that) it's obvious to see that supply is limited.

by Fritz | 7th Jun 18, 12:23am 1528287810

Nz's future has been sold down the (polluted) river. Great thanks to respective governments of the last 20 years.

by middleman1 | 6th Jun 18, 1:41pm 1528249275

NoFax. No need for a plan, we already have one. Twyford unequivocally promised the electorate he had the answers and that Kiwi build will deliver 100,000 ADDITIONAL houses. No ifs or buts.

by K.W. | 6th Jun 18, 3:19pm 1528255152

Haha, funny how that word "additional" seems to have gone missing. And there will be less private developments going forward, as they will struggle to get bank funding if competing against Government owned developments that will be selling below market value.

by alittle | 6th Jun 18, 12:49pm 1528246185

Tell us somerhing new.

You admit or do not admit - does it matter now.

by stuart786786 | 6th Jun 18, 1:02pm 1528246960

Knock knock... Simon says...... We goofed...... Anyone listining........

Nahhhh..... Who cares

by Houses Overpriced | 6th Jun 18, 1:32pm 1528248741

Really? That's the attitude they had prior to the election and now where are they?

by K.W. | 6th Jun 18, 2:40pm 1528252813

National need to stop Labour allowing foreign buyers to buy up land. Just look what has happened in Melbourne. If the OIA amendments go through as currently planned, this will happen in Auckland as well!
"Chinese developers have taken a virtual stranglehold on the future supply of new housing in Melbourne's outer suburbs after acquiring more than two-thirds of all big greenfield land parcels offered for sale in the past 18 months, in deals worth about $2 billion.
This surge of foreign capital has pushed broadacre land values above $1 million a hectare and contributed – along with planning and infrastructure delivery bottlenecks – to the cost of a standard 400 square metre lot rising 30 per cent in a year to a median of $323,000
https://www.afr.com/real-estate/residential/vic/twothirds-of-all-sales-…

by NorthernLights | 6th Jun 18, 2:45pm 1528253141

Dear KW
That’s the CCP plan all along
Let its people spread out across the world and buy up strategically
It’s not just happened in Melbourne
Heck they brought in their own building companies to build spec apartment towers in Australia & bought Golden Circle too This is a long term plan by China to dominate

by rastus1 | 6th Jun 18, 2:44pm 1528253068

"Bridges said the issue occurred in the “heat of our last couple of years, what many have called a housing CRISIS – I've tried to call it what it is. We wanted people in houses.”"

John Key speech in 2007 –
This decline shows no signs of slowing. In fact, on current trends, the crisis will only deepen. Home ownership rates are predicted to plummet to
60% within the next decade. And one of the biggest factors influencing home-ownership rates over the next 10 years will be the difficulty young
buyers will have getting into their first home.
This problem won’t be solved by knee-jerk, quick-fix plans. And it won’t be curbed with one or two government-sponsored building developments.

Instead, we need government leadership that is prepared to focus on the fundamental issues driving the CRISIS. National is ready to provide that leadership

Legacy of greed. Least we forget.

by lalaland | 6th Jun 18, 3:17pm 1528255071

by Te Kooti | 6th Jun 18, 3:18pm 1528255131

I don't particularly care for either party, but as an observation, the comments on housing related articles offer so little in constructive criticism. More a vehicle for the bitter to vent, particularly around foreign ownership. We all come to NZ at some point.

Where are the cheap western cities you would want to live in?

by PocketAces | 6th Jun 18, 6:16pm 1528265786

Foreigners, as defined for the purpose of purchasing property, are people that are not citizens or residents here, they are people wanting own from other shores, quite, quite different to someone who comes here to live and become and NZer.

by Te Kooti | 7th Jun 18, 9:32am 1528320770

An analysis in 2016 revealed 3% of NZ house sales were to non-resident, non-NZ citizens. Of that 3%, Australian and Chinese investors were equal at 30% apiece. Plenty of NZ'ers own houses in Australia, so I wouldn't be taking the moral high ground on that. The evidence doesn't support this non-resident house investment as statistically significant in house price rises.

by DaveB1978 | 7th Jun 18, 2:48pm 1528339694

The problem is we can't build a cost effective houses

by kiwi_overseas | 6th Jun 18, 5:52pm 1528264358

Now that Bridges has admitted there is a housing crisis, he can come up with some solutions & put pressure on the government, such as:

1) Drop the immigration rate to something sustainable (my personal preference is to give to the RBNZ as a macroeconomic tool (set conditions to allow maximum gdp/capita growth with interest rate & immigration rate adjustments) and take it off the politicians altogether as they have shown to be incompetent managing it

Labour has done nothing so far.

by Squishy | 6th Jun 18, 7:22pm 1528269764

This would have been a useful level of insight to have prior to September, 2017 while they where still in government. Their "belated" acceptance suggests they fell asleep at the wheel.

by stuart786786 | 6th Jun 18, 7:46pm 1528271180

Knock knock.... Simon will say..... We goofed up EQC......

by theglc | 6th Jun 18, 8:36pm 1528274206

Its a good start for the Nats to start telling the truth, after 9 years of denials and BS every one cottoned on hence why they were swept aside in the election.

Unfortunately they need a leader that can dismantle Labour piece by piece and Bridges is not the man for that.Should have gone for Collins

by Alter Ego | 6th Jun 18, 8:50pm 1528275015

Forced interest rates down, invested in Houses, Leveraged up....now falling Purchasers, must quit whilst ahead.... Guess who I am referring too... Any fool could see it...except ...

by solardb | 6th Jun 18, 8:51pm 1528275096

You do have to look at our "system" though . What makes it so hard to say , ok we got it wrong , we should have done more on housing ? what would the media response be to that ?

by Property Leader | 7th Jun 18, 7:58am 1528315139

I think the comment is a good sign. Just the first small step for a man but we now need a giant leap for mankind. To turn it into a leap he needs to say what they did wrong and how they could reverse the situation.
As a person deeply involved in the provision of housing for a wide spectrum of provincial New Zealand for the last two + decades I think our nation needs to start saying investment in housing be it rental or owner occupied is the best most productive investment anyone can make. There is no point in having plenty of money in the bank if you and your children are not well housed.

by DaveB1978 | 7th Jun 18, 1:35pm 1528335310

The so called 'housing crisis' has been caused by lack of supply of houses in general and also the right type of houses. Part of this is also due to leaky building as that has redirected a lot of resources into fixing/replacing existing houses instead of building more. I bought a house in 2010 and the sum assured to replace it in the event of a natural disaster is more that I paid for the house and land combined. This tells me I either got the house really cheap or that building costs are far too expensive now. It reality it is a combination of the 2. The GFC also took away a lot of funding for developers so not as many houses got built. In 2016 we looked at building a house. It was going to cost about $1.3m to build. We ended up buying for $1.165m. Would I have bought for an existing house for $1.165m if I could have built for $1m? Probably not. The cost of building underpins house prices. The only time it doesn't is when people trade existing houses and there is no demand for more (e.g during the GFC). Labour's Kiwibuild sell at cost scheme isn't going to produce a stand alone 3brm house within 20kms of the Auckland CBD for what I paid for it in 2010 ($355k). They are going to be $600k+ and tiny (if/when they actually get built).

by powerdownkiwi | 25th Jun 18, 1:33pm 1529890402

Dave B - would we have a 'housing crisis' if our population was declining?

So why is nobody calling it what it is - a population crisis?