Jonathan Milne, Author at Newsroom

Watercare workers thermal welding a tunnel beneath Mays Rd, in Auckland's Penrose. Photo: Supplied

Govt must guarantee debt or users will pay the price, says Watercare

by Jonathan Milne 02/12/202302/12/2023

The chief executive of NZ’s biggest water provider says Aucklanders’ charges will triple – unless the new Govt agrees to its bailout plan

Aucklanders and Wellingtonians aren't feeling the pain of rising prices so severely as residents of Singapore and the world's other most expensive cities. Photo montage: Newsroom

Economy

NZ cities drop down The Economist ‘cozzie livs’ rankings

by Jonathan Milne 01/12/202303/12/2023

If cost of living increases are hurting Auckland and Wellington, they can take some perverse consolation that other global cities are feeling the pain worse

Auditor-General John Ryan says he personally trusts public servants in his dealings with them – but he understands those like some Māori who don't. Photo: Jonathan Milne

Government

Auditor-General seeks greater scrutiny of public sector integrity

by Jonathan Milne 30/11/202301/12/2023

Govt agencies are to face tougher accountability, with the new Parliament to decide on a special select committee on performance reporting

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the details of how the new Government restores interest deductability are likely to be Budget sensitive. Photo: Supplied/Mark Tantrum

Investing

‘Unorthodox’ retrospective cut in taxes on landlords

by Jonathan Milne 29/11/202329/11/2023

Restoring interest deductibility for property investors will cost Government tax coffers a projected $900m – with a ‘highly unusual’ twist

The builder, the council and others must all share liability for $245,000 damages over this leaky home in Wānaka, the Weathertight Homes Tribunal says. Photo: Google

Housing

Fears cutting away building consents undermines liability for shonky houses

by Jonathan Milne and Matthew Scott 29/11/202330/11/2023

The new Govt wants to move responsibility for problems away from local council building inspectors – but that assumes any insurance firm will take on the risk

Mining company TTR plans to lower a South African-made De Beers crawler, like this one, onto 40 hectares of seabed off Taranaki. Photo: Supplied

Primary Industries

Govt backing for Taranaki seabed mining, amid environment debate

by Jonathan Milne 28/11/202329/11/2023

Mining boss admits giant crawler would ‘totally destroy’ seabed, but says what little marine flora and fauna is there would recover quickly.

Wools of NZ boss John McWhirter is placing his hopes for the struggling sheep-farming industry in the use of new products like the commercial wool tiles in forestry service Te Uru Rākau's head office in Rotorua. Photo: Supplied

Primary Industries

New forestry HQ beats wool mandate, amid doubts about trade rules

by Jonathan Milne 28/11/202329/11/2023

Concern that new government’s requirement that 16,000 public buildings choose wool carpets and other products will simply open the door to cheap British woollen imports