Property · Building · Design
COVID-19 is sweeping the world, countries have shut down to varying degrees, and global markets have been hit hard. An economic downturn has become an unstoppable overall trend. Is this a suitable time to invest? Lockdown has given us ample time to calmly review our finances and understand ourselves better. In fact, any time can be a good time to invest, provided you are ready.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began affecting New Zealand’s economy, the Government has introduced a series of rescue measures. Today, Finance Minister Grant Robertson proposed further measures, including a new tax loss carry-back scheme estimated at around NZ$3,100,000,000, to provide additional help for small and medium-sized businesses affected by the pandemic. The proposal is expected to go before Parliament in late April. We promptly invited a tax expert to provide a professional assessment.
The latest REINZ figures show that New Zealand’s median house price rose 13.7% in March to a record NZ$665,000, up from NZ$585,000 in March 2019. Eight regions also recorded new median house price highs.
The nationwide lockdown has entered its fourth week. While the threat of viral transmission appears to be easing, the economic downturn caused by the pandemic is becoming more severe. The New Zealand Government has introduced a series of support measures to help businesses and individuals through these economic difficulties. As the channels through which money flows, banks have a major role in providing direct assistance. Below, Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) Head of Asia Franky Wang uses BNZ as an example to offer practical advice for customers seeking help from their bank.
The Government has announced further measures to help small and medium-sized businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finance Minister Grant Robertson said that although the Government had responded swiftly to the crisis and already announced around NZ$20,000,000,000 in support, he recognised that more was needed.
Leading real estate company Barfoot & Thompson recently released a report analysing and forecasting how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect New Zealand’s property market. Drawing on the views of 53 real estate agents and mortgage brokers, the report assesses the current residential market and the differing attitudes and plans of buyers, sellers and investors.
The New Zealand Government has recently introduced a series of policies affecting people’s livelihoods to reduce the pandemic’s negative impact. Although widely welcomed, some policies have also drawn criticism from various quarters, including those protecting residential tenants. Yimi Online Workshop, a free online public-interest seminar initiated by Yimi Roundtable with title sponsorship from Huarong Credit, explored how landlords and tenants could resolve conflicts and find common ground during lockdown.
As the country enters lockdown, New Zealand’s construction industry faces a crisis. How can it minimise losses, retain its workforce and work together through this turbulent period?
International credit rating agency Moody’s announced on 3 April that it was maintaining New Zealand’s credit rating at the highest level, Aaa. It expects the economy to remain resilient thanks to the Government’s strong fiscal management and the economy’s flexibility. What does Aaa mean for New Zealand?
The newly completed hair salon is in central Auckland, where the pristine white walls on either side are particularly striking. A square slab of richly textured stone divides the interior wi
Frank Xu: New Zealand’s construction industry needs overseas help to deliver infrastructure “The New Zealand Government plans to substantially increase its budget for infrastructure projects
Forecasting errors put housing shortfall far below expectations Calculations based on the latest census results released by Stats NZ in September 2019 suggest that New Zealand’s housing shor