HOUSING WASH-UP

There has been mixed reaction to the Reserve Banks measures to cool the Auckland housing market.

Some claim that it will actually make it harder for first time buyers.

I'm not in that camp but I'm also not convinced that it will make much of a difference to property investors intentions.

20%-30% -who cares ?

The definition of what constitutes a property investor is a more interesting development. Its now a home that you don't live in. If the IRD test this in court and win, then anyone who owns a house that is rented out will be up for some serious taxes when the house is sold.

If the government was to go after the tax distortions with property investment that would be a double whammy.

 

BOOZE

Aucklanders will not be able to buy alcohol from supermarkets or bottle shops before 9am or after 9pm.

That's part of Auckland Council's Alcohol policy.

Other changes include trading hours for bars of 8am to 4am in Auckland's central business district, everywhere else they'll have to close at 3am.

Under the new policy 23 priority areas will be created and there will be a two year freeze on the issuing of new off-licences in priority areas from when the policy comes in to effect.

This is not just an Auckland thing. Councils around the country are grappling with this issue.

As the saying goes, nothing good happens after mid-night.

Councils and police are rightfully worried about the liquor fueled mayhem that goes on.

Bars closing at 3am looks to be reasonable.

We don't need anymore off-licences either.

However, this is about punishing the great majority of folk who don't do the bad stuff.

Tony Astle from Antoinnes, the best restaurant in the country in my opinion, will have his liquor hours cut to 1am. He has never had one complaint in 45 years. His clientele quite often comes in after mid-night, after a concert or whatever. His business will be punished because the council wants to attempt to control the louts. Louts don't got to Antoines let me tell you.

This is the same council who refuses to address the drug, alcohol fuelled layabouts called beggars who inhabit the city streets.

This is the same police force who are conspicuous by their absence on the city streets.

And now, when I go to the supermarket at 8am on a Sunday morning, I won't be able to buy a box of beer !

Its nuts.

 

MCCREADY

A judge has rejected serial litigant Graham McCready's attempt to privately prosecute John Key over repeatedly pulling the ponytail of Auckland waitress Amanda Bailey.

The Auckland District Court had ordered McCready to provide full written statements.

He said that was an impossibility since he did not have the cooperation of anybody.

Yes that's right Mr McCready, the chief witness didn't want to proceed. She told you that and you ignored her. You said it wasn't any of her business.

Who's the dope then ?