Despite various opinion pieces recently, the New Zealand property market is not heading for a crash. Given the sheer inertia of demand pressures in Auckland, we also think chances of a substantial correction are slim. This article lays out an answer to the question asked by Slade Robertson’s opinion piece in the NZ Herald this morning: are we heading for a crash or correction? Read

In light of National Drive Electric Week happening this month we thought we’d talk about how businesses can access funding for their electric vehicle ventures. Read

Aggregates – various forms of crushed rock – are used for building and road construction. These materials accounted for 11% of total freight volumes (tonnes) in 2012/13 but tend to travel short distances. Nevertheless, with growing demand for construction materials, especially in Auckland, aggregates road freight is likely to track upwards over the years ahead. Read

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) is spreading fast in New Zealand and causing devastating effects for farmers. The Government this week announced an ambitious attempt to stamp out the disease, through mass culling and strict restrictions on farmers. M. bovis causes a wide range of problems in cattle, ranging from pneumonia to arthritis. The government says they have a good shot at eradication… if they act now. Read

Does New Zealand have the infrastructure to support a large electric vehicle fleet? For this article I’ve run some numbers on how many EVs the New Zealand grid can handle. Read

Electric vehicles really caught the headlines last year, with sales rocketing ahead of government targets in New Zealand and most projections globally. What can we expect for electric car sales in the next couple of decades? Read

The time has come when buying an electric vehicle might be cheaper than getting a petrol car. This article addresses ten questions you might ask about electric vehicles. Read

Plummeting house sales prompted the Real Estate Institute to call on the Reserve Bank to review its loan-to-value ratio limits. But the effect of LVRs is only part of the picture. Floating mortgage interest rates have ticked up over the past year. And, after being downgraded by Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s for their high exposure to property markets, it appears that Australian-based banks are being more selective in their lending. With the target of financial stability, the Bank appears to be nowhere near the removal of LVRs. Read

We have revised up our car sales forecasts considerably over the five-year forecast period when compared to our February outlook. A big part of this long-term lift is a change in our forecasts for net migration. But there are also factors, such as high ownership rates and an improving economy, which are also going to push up demand for vehicles throughout our five-year forecast period. Read

Exports made their rebound in the June quarter, with volumes up 6.8% from March (seasonally adjusted). Rising prices on the international market have supported a lift in dairy, horticultural, and forestry export volumes – so much so that Eastland Port boasted record log shipments in the month of June. Although the recovery in export prices has brought demand for heavy vehicles back on line, there are concerns about the consequent increases in road maintenance costs. Read