A key support for the current Labour-led Government, the NZ First Party seems to be taking the recent survey on housing affordability more seriously than the Prime Minister. Housing Spokesperson Pita Paraone has issued a press statement on the subject. The results are "appalling" says Mr Paraone, and NZ First wants a real solution found to this problem. What concerns The Hive is this paragraph - "An insatiable appetite for property investment, a population explosion through immigration, no foreign ownership restrictions and low wages are further impediments to the pursuit of the Kiwi dream of owning their own home."
We do not see this problem as having been driven by either immigration or foreign investment. And it is interesting that a few interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank have managed to cool things off. The Hive sees explanations such as those suggested by NZ First as misleading and potentially harmful to our economy. We do not want to see immigration or foreign investment as issues raised by any party in the forthcoming election.
NZ First is well placed to help solve this problem by insisting on a Budget for 2008 which boosts productivity and which reduces inflationary pressures on the economy. If the government doesn't deliver such an outcome they should vote against the Budget. They can also start being more questioning on the Government's emission trading policies. These are going to increase energy costs for all consumers. The elderly will be particularly hard hit. Will NZ First be doing anything to support this core constituency or will they sit back preferring instead to continue to enjoy the baubles of office?
The Hive has a further question. How is it possible to be Foreign Minister and head a party which has anti-immigrant and anti-foreign investment attitudes?
