If National wins ...

[iceman]

Yes, of course it is eZ. Nothing to do with Labour and/or its policies at all.

We can always rely on EZ for a bit of amusement at the start of the week :-)

[Major von Tempsky]

In the olden days, people like Norman Kirk physically built their own house with their own hands. Can you imagine anyone from Labour doing that these days unless they were a builder/tradie? The disappearance of striving except by National Party voting rural people...

[macduffy]

In the olden days, people like Norman Kirk physically built their own house with their own hands. Can you imagine anyone from Labour doing that these days unless they were a builder/tradie? The disappearance of striving except by National Party voting rural people...

That was then, major. Personally, I can't imagine anyone, Labour-inclined or otherwise, doing that now. In our day - 1960's - we did all our own painting, including priming weatherboards, dug the trenching for the drains and water supply - on a back section - and helped a plumber mate put the roof on the house. But a lot of people did that - and we didn't vote Labour.

[westerly]

That was then, major. Personally, I can't imagine anyone, Labour-inclined or otherwise, doing that now. In our day - 1960's - we did all our own painting, including priming weatherboards, dug the trenching for the drains and water supply - on a back section - and helped a plumber mate put the roof on the house. But a lot of people did that - and we didn't vote Labour.

It is now almost impossible to buy a vacant section, and build your own house in any of the major cities. Sub divisions are controlled by developers who can make far more profit by providing turnkey options of readybuilt, landscaped, and fenced houses. Included is multi page list of covenants to restrict any possible lowering of “standards” which may lower the tone of the neighbourhood.
Local Bodies have assisted by imposing restrictive rules and regulations.
As most of the buyers are now so heavily mortgaged. Politicians are terrified of any sudden rise in interest rates and the consequent social upheaval this would cause.
National with it’s open immigration policies, and let the market take care of problems approach, has done nothing to remedy the problems.
As in the past at some stage Labour or a coalition Government will need to take action because under present policies the number of people without adequate housing will continue to rise with a consequent increase in social problems.

westerly

[fungus pudding]

It is now almost impossible to buy a vacant section, and build your own house in any of the major cities. Sub divisions are controlled by developers who can make far more profit by providing turnkey options of readybuilt, landscaped, and fenced houses. Included is multi page list of covenants to restrict any possible lowering of “standards” which may lower the tone of the neighbourhood.
Local Bodies have assisted by imposing restrictive rules and regulations.
As most of the buyers are now so heavily mortgaged. Politicians are terrified of any sudden rise in interest rates and the consequent social upheaval this would cause.
National with it’s open immigration policies, and let the market take care of problems approach, has done nothing to remedy the problems.
As in the past at some stage Labour or a coalition Government will need to take action because under present policies the number of people without adequate housing will continue to rise with a consequent increase in social problems.

westerly

Sections are dirt cheap - as long as you don't want to live in the same spot as thousands of others. That applies world wide and no govt. can ever do anything about it without lowering demand. E.g. shooting every second citizen would have a price lowering effect.

[elZorro]

Sections are dirt cheap - as long as you don't want to live in the same spot as thousands of others. That applies world wide and no govt. can ever do anything about it without lowering demand. E.g. shooting every second citizen would have a price lowering effect.

And if your job is in the city? Start driving in from the outskirts at 5.30am? Some Auckland commuters might as well be milking cows if they have to be on the job that early. David Slack has a ranging comment over the weekend. Very perceptive.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...-ways-with-him

[Bjauck]

Sections are dirt cheap - as long as you don't want to live in the same spot as thousands of others. That applies world wide and no govt. can ever do anything about it without lowering demand. E.g. shooting every second citizen would have a price lowering effect.

NZ is top of the IMF list as far as home affordability is concerned. So NZ's inability to supply affordable homes does not apply the world over

[fungus pudding]

NZ is top of the IMF list as far as home affordability is concerned. So NZ's inability to supply affordable homes does not apply the world over

New Zealand's problem is far too many people want to live in central Auckland. Australia it's Sydney. England - London. America - New York, L.A. France - Paris. Politicians can't solve that.

[elZorro]

A good result for aged care workers, and E Tu Union backed their members, lobbying like Federated Farmers do. The wage rises are being ramped up over five years though, but the new training aspect sounds good. It looks to me more like a grudging move towards a liveable wage.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opin...+19+April+2017

[jonu]

A good result for aged care workers, and E Tu Union backed their members, lobbying like Federated Farmers do. The wage rises are being ramped up over five years though, but the new training aspect sounds good. It looks to me more like a grudging move towards a liveable wage.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opin...+19+April+2017

Agreed El Z. The whole aged care/ home help/ disabilities sector has been a black mark against our society for a long time. If a society is judged by how it looks after its most vulnerable we are pretty poor.