Auckland housing market

[artemis]

Not necessarily, if the housing market went flat for 10 years like it has in the past many might think that was a good thing. I was content when the pop was around 3M, since then we now have more crowded beaches, more traffic congestion, Auckland water supplies from Hamilton waste crapped into the Waikato river, and well the beautiful sight that is a much greater South Auckland, .......... Well, yes, and a shortage of housing of course. I don't believe we are on the eve of destruction, but it would seem that it shouldn't just keep going.

There's lots of tradeoffs needed. It's not as simple as capping the population. People want more (healthcare, border control, research, graduates, support for the poor, social housing, improved private rentals, minimum wage increase, roads, cycleways, trainsets ... ), many worthy causes. The funding will come from borrowing or growth or cutting back elsewhere. Surely the most palatable is growth? That means matching skilled NZers or migrants with employers who want to maintain or expand, and pay tax. And most migrants have to pass the skills test.

[MAC]

There's lots of tradeoffs needed. It's not as simple as capping the population. People want more (healthcare, border control, research, graduates, support for the poor, social housing, improved private rentals, minimum wage increase, roads, cycleways, trainsets ... ), many worthy causes. The funding will come from borrowing or growth or cutting back elsewhere. Surely the most palatable is growth? That means matching skilled NZers or migrants with employers who want to maintain or expand, and pay tax. And most migrants have to pass the skills test.

Agree that economies are complex and dynamic, though desirable skills can be obtained through more private sector training than we have, there's a desire for skills but a reluctance to train, and a better focused education system in some areas also.

And, yes through immigration, though it doesn't have to be immigration growth and a greater population.

Those leaving for what ever reason can adequately be replaced by those arriving with selected desired skills, with a net balance.