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Mike_Hunt

38 comments · +512 / −433 · rank #9124 of 40,276

What a fantastic point of view that Im sure a lot of us outside the education sector suspected all along. I personally know of teachers that have been in the profession under 5 years out striking today. They knew what they were getting themselves into! Im sure that teachers do work hard including working outside of their core hours. But so do the majority of us in the private sector.

+72−25

There are multiple legitimate reasons why someone, where price is not an issue, would want to rent. They could be on an assignment at work for six months, might need to rent while your house is being built, using as a base for travel etc

+15−2

Katy perry is hardly rock and roll. More an over processed star whose goal is to take as much money from the tweens as possible

+20−8

One thing we do know, change is coming.Sooner rather than later I hope. Property Managers have it too good for too long - money for jam!

+9−2

I disagree. Reining in the property managers industry should leave more money in the landlords pocket by ensuring the PMs arent charging excessive rates on rent for practically nothing. Plus the rorting of landlords when a tradie is used.

+6−1

Then dont plan to work in the private sector too.Most people (granted, not all) work more than 9-5 and a lot of people who want to move up the ranks put in MANY more unpaid hours than their 40hr contract states - and theres no extended breaks throughout the year or at Christmas. Said people also need to factor in childcare during school holidays, teacher-only days and of course teacher strikes. Quite a lot in the private sector didnt even get inflation-based pay rises, let alone rises of 16%!

+6−2

With the way immigration is going, Auckland house prices will continue to climb and climb. A $650k mortgage with 95% lending - on an already subsidised Kiwibuild house - will reap huge rewards in 5-10+ years.

+7−6

How ridiculous Mr Sensible. Of course, I work hard and spend my hard earned money on having a nice life. Its too short not to enjoy. In saying that Im not overly frivolous either. Do you really think people only work to find a lifestyle?

+3−3

You didnt earn your vast increases in property value over the last 5-10 years, they were a result of immigrants flooding in, not any work on your part. Given the cost of land in AKL, a young family cant even afford a do-up.

+1−3

What a silly statement. Im someone in a similar position to you having never qualified for any govt assistance, despite having a child. Although it seems Im younger given Im in my mid-30s. Im certainly not well-off and watch what I spend. However, I dont pay taxes with the assumption that one day what I pay will equal what should be given back to me in government-funded benefits. Taxes pay for, amongst other things, health, education, law and order and helping those in our society that are less fortunate. So your taxes have gone somewhere, not just to a pot for you to get when youre 65.I dont believe that my taxes are a saving-scheme for my retirement and neither should you.

+0−3

Perhaps if all landlords sold their properties it might reduce house prices to a reasonable level. This means those tennents that had no choice to rent will now be able to purchase a first home. Less demand on rentals, more people in home ownership, greedy property mangers out the door. That would be a very nice economic cycle.

+10−14

Dear CaptainNationalSupporter, you do realise the tax wasnt implemented by central government?You do also remember that you had to pay the tax increase (GST) that the central government implemented under National to mow your lawns? Or did you trim that from your memory? Bring back John right?

+7−13

Education time: The billions of dollars being used is a self refilling fund. It is used to gaurantee the sale of properties by a developer and is paid back to the government once the property is sold( yes there are still administration costs that will be at the tax payers expense).Basically if a developer is having trouble getting investment (therefore unable to build any homes) he can go to the government who will gaurantee to buy a portion,provided they meet kiwibuild rules. This allows the developer to obtain funding from a bank or investor based on them already having presold these houses. Once the houses are built, the government sells at cost getting the money back to invest in the next development. This incentivizes the building cheaper homes ( something the SHAs did the opposite of and so made suitable first homesmore scarce and less affordable) and allows more homes(not kiwibuild) to be built that the developer makes most of his profit on.

+0−7

I understand there are some real costs to end users of fuel tax but surely its scaremongering to say that well all need to pay more. Take the example from the article above, the trucking companys costs are increasing $7k a week. That only works out to be less than 8c PER YEAR for every New Zealander. I know there are more companies out there but if they all radically put their prices up it seems like theyre using this tax as an excuse for a price increase.

+3−16