I stopped reading the recommendations at “increase the accommodation supplement”. The last few decades have proven, categorically, that the “free market” will always fail to deliver on housing needs (particularly for low income households).
When you look at why renting costs have increased faster than ownership costs the accommodation supplement is the reason.
It sets a floor under rental prices and pushes up rents for those who aren’t receiving the accomodation supplement. This pushes up the pr…
Hi Bernard - there is a far simpler way of sorting the problem that actually makes NZ far wealthier and doesn't cost any one - it is also a concept as old as the Crown vesting ownership rights to land in individuals and them then paying a land tax in return - there is nothing stopping government being the sole provider of mortgages in NZ and using the revenue to offset running expenses - at present much of the value of property in NZ is expropriated by the Australian banks using money magicked …
Many thanks. I will open this up and spread it around. You're all welcome to do that to. Many thanks. The support of paid subscribers allows me to do this work and I'm conscious this is work that is yours as well as mine. Always a good idea to ask first before 'giving away' stuff that isn't wholly mine. Cheers.
A question for my paying subscribers. Should I open this up to the public now, in order to spread this around more? I'm happy to if this comment gets more than 10 likes. I try to keep plenty exclusive for those who have paid good hard money. But I wonder if opening it up would be useful to keep the debate going. Thoughts?