Search

If someone asked you how much of New Zealand was built upon, what would your guess be? 5% or 10%? Read more

There are many facets to New Zealand’s housing affordability conundrum, but the bottom line is there is a shortage of houses, and there is a shortage of new houses (dwellings) being built. Supply is not meeting demand as in other markets and prices are absorbing the difference. Read more

By now, householders must be used to being exhorted by politicians, economists, and international agencies to save more. Yet, some policies encourage them to borrow in order to save or invest. Read more

It was difficult not to be underwhelmed after reading the government and Auckland Council’s Housing Accord released a couple of weeks ago. It was a manual of what has failed in almost every housing market in the world and showed one common problem: everyone agrees to build more houses and sets an arbitrary target without following through. Read more

Most New Zealanders probably know little about Switzerland. Until this week, my own knowledge certainly didn’t extend far beyond cheese, watches, and knives. Read more

To those of us in the Anglo world, Germany can seem an odd place. Corduroy suits are in vogue and pretty news presenters look like they have quickly thrown on their boyfriend’s shirt after a night of passion. Read more

I am currently on a research trip studying local government and housing affordability in different jurisdictions around the world. This week, I have been in and around London conducting interviews and meetings. Read more

Here’s a radical idea: Let’s think of houses as places where people live. Housing affordability is the big political issue of 2013. Read more