My goto economic marker for how well the economy is doing has always been...

Harvey Norman - interest free period duration...
When things are bad, doom and gloom all around, interest free period scoots up to 60 months
When they are all good, their interest free period is usually 18/24 months 

Just wondering if anyone has any other different, slightly offbeat, indicators they watch, other than the usual media/economist statements.

Responding to genuine surveys is one way we can contribute to our communal knowledge...

https://tinyurl.com/nz-health-survey?ref=61115

Navigating round trade is a real pain at the moment.
Also looks like they are trying to make the page more optimized for mobile devices rather than desktop computers.

Hello

I have tried searching for help on this subject but most articles keep going on about the property being subject to brightline testing.

I have my own house and lived in it freehold for 26 years. I bought a 2nd house across the road 5 years ago and it is also freehold and not subject to the brightline test. I am now 64 years old and feel I have sufficient money to see out the remainder of my life without having to sell the 2nd house. 
Here is my question: My only child who is 32 currently lives in the house and I would like my son to have the house as a gift without any money changing hands. Can I do this without having to place the house into a trust or pay a huge tax bill as I simply want him to have a good start in life? I am not sure what would happen if for some reason I ended up in a rest home at some stage as my current house would be more than enough equity to pay rest home expenses if required.

Thanks in advance for any input.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/129153136...pp-android

Did Angry Andy ever go? Or was he just pushed into the background a bit so he didn't come off as so combative?

Certainly his attacks on the Nurses failure to sign off on their contract was telling. I think he believed that the Union would simply sign it off - but forgot the members need to do that. Strange as the former Union head.

His constant denial of a crisis, his outright lies in a recent interview highlighted by those working in health shows a man barely holding on.

Which surprisingly, is indeed still with us. I think perhaps its high time that at least a little of the history of women's rights was taught in high schools, because the twisted nonsense which is being spread helps no one.
Its the 21st century fgs, not the 19th. The whole article makes scary reading.


https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3006210...m-movement

"In a tour of the country earlier this month, Hannah Spierer addressed a crowd in W─ünaka.

Ask any farmer and most will tell you what you see on their show is not typical for most farmers, except for the very wealthy ones.

Not everybody has got millions to splash around after selling an alcohol brand to a big corporation.

Sustainable sheep farming? Carbon zero? Seriously? For sheep?
Why dont they ditch their quad bikes and jump on a horse if they really want to make a difference.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/n...CKSFX43YE/

Gotta give some credit where its due...
Jacinda must have done something right if her comments are enough to get such a reaction from China.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/07/01/chine...to-summit/

We need to find other trading partners ASAP so we are less dependent on China.

Not before time; they're a repulsive little group with some extremely nasty views.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politic...anisations

"The Government has quietly designated two United States far-right organisations, the Proud Boys and The Base, as terrorist organisations.

Just in case you missed it...

This one sets a satellite into a unique orbit around the moon.  
From what I understand it will be a test of the orbit that might be used for a bigger gateway station to placed in the same orbit down the track...

Pretty impressive stuff for little ol' NZ.  The actual launch starts around 58 minutes in

Quote:CAPSTONEÔÇÖs primary objective is to test and verify the calculated orbital stability of a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit around the Moon, the same orbit planned for Gateway. NASAÔÇÖs Gateway is a small space station that will orbit around the Moon to provide astronauts with access to the lunar surface. It will feature living quarters for astronauts, a lab for science and research and ports for visiting spacecraft. CAPSTONE will also test a navigation system developed by Advanced Space that will measure its absolute position in cislunar space using interaction with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter without relying on ground stations for navigation support.

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/lunar/