Auckland Housing Affordability

[Perry]

And the media just love stories about un-affordability, don't they? Then the gummint deems it a licence to meddle in a mess that's of its own making. And so it goes on.

[Bobsyouruncle]

And they ignore the fact that it is bad behaviour and lack of accountability with tenants that creates the need for bigger bonds, more rent up front etc. Plonkers.

[Kbkiwi]

It's pretty hard not to blame the government for the lack of unaffordability - the lack of income growth for the lower half of our population is directly tied to Nationals flood of immigrants willing to work for minimum wage (or less), and live ten to a house. There is simply no positive wage pressure to push incomes up even a few percent.

[Davo36]

It's pretty hard not to blame the government for the lack of unaffordability - the lack of income growth for the lower half of our population is directly tied to Nationals flood of immigrants willing to work for minimum wage (or less), and live ten to a house. There is simply no positive wage pressure to push incomes up even a few percent.

Thing is, Labour does exactly the same. The figure was 50,000 back in 2003...

[eri]

i blame trying to live to

1st world standards

with only 2nd world productivity

[Wayne]

i blame trying to live to

1st world standards

with only 2nd world productivity

And the govts not even trying to do anything to lift productivity.
They crow about the growth but it is all because of immigration.
Without immigration GDP growth would be more like 0.4%.
GDP per person hasn't grown in years - just the number of people.

If we get big enough (maybe 20-30 million) then we can be self sustaining and not rely on exports so much.
But I for one wouldn't relish living here with 30 million others.

[eri]

the problem with increasing productivity in nz

is workers expect to be paid for the gains before they are made

and then they see no need to make them

meanwhile a life on the dole is more attractive to many than a job as baker, bartender or barista

which is why we have to import them from os

but at least we get to pick from among the best

of the global migration

[Wayne]

meanwhile a life on the dole is more attractive to many than a job as baker, bartender or barista

Baker aside - how many people can live on the wages of a barista or bartender?
Life on the dole may well be better financially.

[sidinz]

Life on the dole may well be better financially.

Ah, but then you couldn't boast that you were as posh as a 'barista.'
(Just my little dig at this ridiculous euphemism.)

[Bobsyouruncle]

20 million is a good number. We wouldn't notice much difference providing they were spread around. Then our internal economy would be humming.

[eri]

have virtually worked as all 3 over the years

and if you take any job seriously, are on-time, work hard, honest, srve the customers and try too make your bosses life easier etc

you are soon eagerly embraced by the owner/company and given better pay and promotions to stop you from leaving

sadly people who go in to minimum wage jobs thinking the boss owes them for just turning up

unsurprisingly

don't get offered those opportunities

[Wayne]

you are soon eagerly embraced by the owner/company and given better pay and promotions to stop you from leaving

and better pay for a Barista or Bartender is how much?

[Bobsyouruncle]

Sadly the millennials are largely clueless about work ethic. Eri is right on. My daughter worked for us for a few years and my wife really instilled great skills and work ethic in her. Her first job for somebody else was her promoted twice in 2 years and she is now being offered the opportunity to buy half the company. Be pleasant, diligent, thankful and reliable, you'll always have a future.

[artemis]

Baker aside - how many people can live on the wages of a barista or bartender?
Life on the dole may well be better financially.

Obviously plenty do. Leaving aside government subsidies, a single person on 40 hours minimum wage gets a lot more than a single person on a basic jobseeker benefit.

The barista is building a work history ready for future opportunities. A beneficiary not so much.

As my mum used to say - the next 5 years is going to pass anyway so might as well plan to be in a better space.

[Wayne]

Obviously plenty do. Leaving aside government subsidies, a single person on 40 hours minimum wage gets a lot more than a single person on a basic jobseeker benefit.

The barista is building a work history ready for future opportunities. A beneficiary not so much.

As my mum used to say - the next 5 years is going to pass anyway so might as well plan to be in a better space.

All true.
Building a work history is important and your mum's advice was good!
One of the problems people face is that full time employment is defined as 30 hours or more.
What the jobless numbers don't record are thoe who are in 'full time employment' but don't actually earn enough to live.