Debate rages in the leadup to the 2017 general election over the National government’s record on managing the housing market. Stung by public pressure and political criticism over soaring house prices, the government abruptly introduced new property taxation rules in May 2015.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/money-errors-swell-land-transactions

Last June at Coney Island, New York, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut ate a record 70 hot dogs, including the buns, in 10 minutes. That’s one every 8.5 seconds. Compared to Chinese conglomerate HNA Group, Mr Chestnut has the appetite of a small bird. In January HNA announced the purchase of finance company UDC from ANZ Bank for $660 million. The previous month it announced the $US6 billion takeover of New York Stock Exchange listed Ingram Micro, a technology distributor based in California.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/hunters-corner-warning-leverage-china

Summerset Group [NZX:SUM] shareholders are concerned about the flow-on implications on the business from the government’s increased funding for care workers. The retirement village and aged care operator, which held its annual meeting yesterday afternoon, is affected by the government’s pay equity settlement for aged care workers, which will boost their pay from an average $16.65 an hour to between $19 and $23.50 an hour.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/hold-husummerset-shareholders-concerned-flow-effects-government-funding-increase-cs-p-202304

The long wait is nearly over. On Wednesday, the Commerce Commission will announce its decision on the proposed merger of NZME and Fairfax. The commission has taken some extra time to consider new material presented by the media companies in recent months but there is no reason to think it is wavering from the draft decision it issued last November, which was a clear "no."

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/friday-hu-previewing-potential-stuffme-outcomes-p-202302

Finance Minister Stephen Joyce's announcement of a lower long-term government debt target yesterday is another step in a long-term shift in New Zealand's fiscal stance. National had already set a target of getting net debt below 20% of GDP by 2020: That is now being supplemented by a target of between 10-15% of GDP by 2025.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/implications-joyces-pre-budget-fiscal-shift

Trustpower says the Electricity Authority should restart its transmission pricing review rather than simply commissioning a new cost-benefit analysis. Earlier this week, the authority ditched its cost-benefit analysis, acknowledging it was fatally flawed, at about the time it had planned to announce a final decision after a process dating back to April 2009.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/trustpower-electricity-authority-start-again-jr-p-202335

A new report ranking of countries with “the most environmentally friendly people” shows the greenest nations are also some of the poorest. The MoneySuperMarket survey lists Mozambique, Ethiopia and Zambia as having the top eco-friendly credentials. “At the top of the list, people from Mozambique have the least impact of anyone anywhere – using almost 100% green energy, producing almost no carbon dioxide and creating almost no waste,” the report says.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/editors-insight-worlds-greenest-people-germanys-fading-greens-and-gdps-flaws

World financial markets and many political leaders breathed a sigh of relief at the result of the first French presidential election. But the May 7 runoff between Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron could still produce unexpected consequences. Two fears put to rest are that a majority of French voters have not turned their backs on the European Union and that the poll predictions were spot on.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/editors-insight-centre-holds-now-french-prepare-second-round

In a deft political move, Finance Minister Steven Joyce has tightened the government's track for lowering debt. The target of getting net debt below 20% of GDP by 2020 remains: It is now being supplemented by a target of taking debt to between 10-15% by 2025. That change, in one fell swoop, deals with both a political and an economic problem for the government.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/budget-2017-joyce-announces-tougher-debt-target-and-11b-new-infrastructure-investment-rh-p-0

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) confirms it’s investigating Harpal Kang, the “hero” Uber driver who drove a stranded US couple from Auckland to Wellington – after picking them up toward the end of a full work day of Uber driving. Mr Kang faces a day in court if it’s found he’s violated the NZTA rule that commercial drivers cannot drive for more than 5.5 hours without a break, or for more than a 13.5-hour shift (and NZTA spokeswoman Sarah Azam says this is a legal requirement for all commercial drivers, including Uber drivers, not an industry guideline or recommendation).

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/nzta-investigates-auckland-wellington-driver-lets-uber-hook-ck-p-202318