Bill English is quoted in the Herald today as saying, a propos of rising house prices and low housebuilding numbers: It’s clear that the lowest-income households have been the most affected so our planning processes have probably done more to increase income inequality in New Zealand than most other policies and it does remain a…

The results of the first-ever trial of a Warrant of Fitness for New Zealand houses are in, and they look good. The trial was run by several local councils, and involved 144 houses around the country being checked for things like having insulation, proper electrical wiring, smoke alarms, no leaks or major mould, proper heating,…

Income and wealth gaps have a profound – and negative – effect on New Zealand, researchers have claimed. Speaking to a conference on inequality organised by the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, education researcher Cathy Wylie said inequality was “a chronic illness – and it’s getting worse”. A poorer area like Porirua lost a…