Take a guy who has MS and cant work, his partner earns just over the WINZ threshold to get a benefit and they are honest to declare they are in a relationship (yeah that happens a lot, but I personally think it should be like Aus if you lie).
Now we are taking in immigrants and building house after house and of course Kiwis thinking they have done something really smart are following overseas investors and chasing the boom. Same thing happened in Australia prior to the GFC, except the Aus govt did the right thing unlike Keys and didnt protect real estate, nor did Ireland and the US.
Now I know we look at our currency and think our economy is strong, what happens if the RE boom pops? (no that couldnt happen in NZ could it). Of course those who bought a house to live in just wont care and nor should they.
But why does the guy who cant get any benefit due to circumstances beyond his control suffer.
Yet an Auckland multi millionaire sells his $4m mansion, retires and claims super.
Wouldnt the answer to housing and immigration to generate tax to pay for baby boomers pensions (because we didnt want to work to 70), be to means test pensions? Which in turn would cut down on the immigration we supposedly NEED and stop this crazy expansion and when it stops leaving builders out of jobs for decades.
Just a genuine question, no harm meant and not meant to rattle cages. I just think immigration is not the only solution to pay for the pensions.
Maybe others have ideas on the pension issue looming?