Bernard Hickey

Australia’s world-first teen social media ban begins.

Australia beat England in the first Test in two days, but took four days to beat them in the second Test. At this rate, Australia will soon be needing all five days to beat England.
Matthew Hamilton, Kew
The Age letters

Heatwave? hard rain? Blame #climatechange
Sea Surface Temp anomalies out in the Tasman: 2.7˚C above normal
earth.nullschool.net#current/ocea...
#nzpol

Real rents collapsing in Wellington. It is a dying city. Because a Government delivered a coup-de-grace, on top of the quake & insurance hit. And a long-running housing supply growth restraint.

A fascinating picture of our two biggest cities. Adjusted for wage inflation...

IRD the only Govt department that got the budget requests they've asked for the last couple of years.

Bronze plaque saying "A Letter to the Future. Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it. August 2019. 415ppm CO2"

TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".

WOW! THANK YOU!! — GCN

Monday's Early Bird: RMA rewrite & fresh poll due Bishop expected to unveil replacement for RMA this week; 1News poll due tonight; Coster says Mitchell & Hipkins knew about McSkimming, which they deny or disavow; ASB sees 2.5% growth in 2026

Early Bird post out in full only online for paying subscribers only: Bishop expected to unveil replacement for RMA this week; 1News poll due tonight; Coster says Mitchell & Hipkins knew about McSkimming, which they deny or disavow; ASB sees 2.5% growth in 2026. #nzpol

IRD hunts for more cash as deficit widens Budget deficit worsens by $704m; IRD eyes tax on loans to business owners worth $29 billion; ComCom Chair says electricity system a 'market failure'; Congestion charges may cut need for RONS - Bishop

FYI, I’ve opened this one up to all to read, listen and share after requests from paying subscribers to make it publicly available, as part of my public interest journalism mandate. Many thanks to subscribers who pay to allow me to do this. #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/ird-hunts-...

Here's the story of the last few years. The mortgage pain peaked in late Nov 2024 - 17 months after RBNZ finished ramping up the OCR. That's what the reckonomists call a 'long and variable lag' - it's also why it is obvious to anyone with a brain that monetary policy is very, very stupid.

One of the obvious impacts of Govt not investing into a downturn is tanking taxes (= higher deficits). Countless examples across the world, but sadly most of our reckonomics commentariat are small island caveman monetarists, so, prices going up? Ug. Throw kiwis on the dole, ug, crash economy. [🧵1/n]

In today’s HeraldOnSunday

Cartoon. Title; “Trick Shot” Image shows PM Christopher Luxon standing on an archery range, with three targets, one in front of the other. The first is labelled “Climate” the second in smaller one is labelled “Economy” and the third large one is labelled “Climate Catastrophe” The first one has no arrows in it at all, the second is peppered with arrows, and the third one has an arrow in the bullseye. The PM is clapping and saying, “Oh, Bravo Nicola. Bravo!”

The NZ Govt is reneging on climate commitments, which could have trade and legal risks for the country. Not to mention contributing to us all frying or drowning.
My #cartoon today #NZpol #Climate

How much money you need to be in the wealthiest 10% of Americans You need nearly $2 million in net worth to be considered part of the wealthiest 10% of Americans.

Despite a brief pandemic-induced recession, higher inflation and rising borrowing costs since 2020, the wealthy have gotten considerably wealthier.

Here's how much you now need to be in the top 10% of wealthy Americans.

Saturday's Early Bird: Public health jobs slashed Public Health Agency cuts crisis planning jobs from 11 to two & Māori health from six to two; Pollution limits relaxed in new national standards; 'Beers at the Basin' cancelled; Rent slide accelerates

Early Bird out online only for paying subscribers. Public Health Agency cuts crisis planning jobs from 11 to two & Māori health from six to two; Pollution limits relaxed in new national standards; 'Beers at the Basin' cancelled; Rent slide accelerates. #nzpol

Inland Revenue's bombshell proposal to change taxation of shareholder advances This week we discuss yesterday's bombshell proposals from Inland Revenue about changing the tax treatment of company loans to shareholders. One of the most significant changes to the taxation of small

This week I discuss Inland Revenue's proposals to change the tax treatment of loans made by companies to shareholders. A genuine bombshell announcement with huge ramifications and one which essentially has immediate effect.

soundcloud.com/user-2622281...

‘Carspreading’ to be word of the year in 2026.

Thousands more Queensland properties subject to land tax as net widens Thousands more properties have fallen under Queensland's land tax regime, as the state is projected to raise hundreds of millions in extra revenue each year from the charge.

Quoted on why we should raise more from land tax. "if we compare that to raising [revenue] from gambling or stamp duty, land tax is really the best choice available to them.

Drones spotted near Zelenskiy’s flight path to Dublin, triggering major security alert Irish navy ship spotted five drones operating near route of the Ukrainian president’s aircraft by Howth coast

Five sophisticated drones flew in the route of Ukrainian President Zelenskiy’s flight path as he arrived in Ireland; had he not arrived slightly early, they would have passed close.
EU and Irish officials are treating it as a Russian hybrid attack
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...

Tax change could leave family businesses with bigger bills Inland Revenue is planning to crack down on how owners of companies can take loans.

There's a great discussion on The Hoon w @bernardchickey.bsky.social today

This change is to stop businesses & their shareholders avoiding tax on wages/salaries & dividends by making loans to shareholders which are never repaid

It's also not restrictive #nzpol

www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines...

Via @bernardchickey.bsky.social - wasn't aware of that loophole.

IRD hunts for more cash as deficit widens Budget deficit worsens by $704m; IRD eyes tax on loans to business owners worth $29 billion; ComCom Chair says electricity system a 'market failure'; Congestion charges may cut need for RONS - Bishop

FYI Here’s today’s podcast/email for paying subscribers…Budget deficit worsens by $704m, just as IRD eyes a new tax on loans to business owners worth $29 billion; ComCom says the electricity system is a 'market failure'; Congestion charges may cut the need for more RONS, says Bishop #nzpol

The Weekly Hoon: Govt's climate change mask drops Bernard Hickey talks with Cathrine Dyer & Jessica Palairet about Govt backsliding on Paris & rejection of Climate Commission advice; Terry Baucher details IRD's big new tax plan as Govt revenues sag

Here’s this week’s 'Hoon' podcast, incl me chatting with Cathrine Dyer & Jessica Palairet about NZ’s climate change policy back-tracking, and me talking with Terry Baucher about the IRD’s plan to tax SME loans to shareholders as dividends. Applies to $29 billion lent to 119,000 shareholders. #nzpol

Cartoon

Friday's Early Bird: Govt's deficit worsens Budget deficit worsens by $700m; IRD eyes tax on loans to business owners worth $28 billion; ComCom Chair says electricity system a 'market failure'; Congestion charges may cut need for RONS - Bishop

Here’s my Early Bird wrap-up of today’s news for paying subscribers online only: The Budget deficit worsens by $700m; IRD eyes tax on loans to business owners worth $28 billion; ComCom Chair says electricity system a 'market failure'; Congestion charges may cut need for RONS - Bishop #nzpol

Hmmm. Wonder how this will end...

The report outlines the findings of a more than eight-month investigation into Hegseth’s use of Signal to share details of planned U.S. strikes in Yemen. nbcnews.to/4iDZuVx

Bishop admits 'slippage' on housing targets Govt well behind schedule for social home targets; Foodbanks warn of closures without funding renewal; Benefit rejections double; House prices slip again in Nov; Major Hawkes Bay event cancelled

In today’s Chorus podcast/email… Govt well behind schedule for social home targets; Foodbanks warn of closures without funding renewal; Benefit rejections double; House prices slip again in Nov; Major Hawkes Bay event cancelled #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/bishop-adm...

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