David Farrar: Unconvinced by KiwiSaver changes

The Government announced:

Since 2010, Kiwis have been able to withdraw from their KiwiSaver accounts to assist with the purchase of a first home so long as they live in the homes they buy.

“However, workers in service tenancies, such as farm workers, rural teachers, country cops, and defence personnel, have effectively been locked out of first home withdrawal because their jobs require them to live in employer-provided housing,” Nicola Willis says.

Bob Edlin: “Common sense” consumer law favours hard-done-by Aussie banks ....

“Common sense” consumer law favours hard-done-by Aussie banks (ha!) by extinguishing rights of Kiwi litigants

PoO was cheered to read the headline which announced Commonsense financial reforms underway.

We tempered that with wariness, because the headline sat atop a press statement from the Beehive, from the office of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson. And in our experience, a Minister’s notion of common sense is apt to be at odds with the public’s notion of common sense.

David Farrar: Bayly goes

The Herald reports:

Andrew Bayly will stand down as a Government minister after an “animated discussion” with a staffer, during which he “placed a hand on their upper arm, which was inappropriate”.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has accepted Bayly’s resignation and said Bayly indicated to him that “his actions fell short of the expectations he sets himself”.