Kiwi households gorged on debt

Reserve Bank of New Zealand - Key Graphs - household debt

By December 2008 the outstanding total debt of households had increased more than six times in dollar terms since 1990. As a percentage of households' disposable income, household debt peaked at over 160% early in 2008, nearing 3 times the December 1990 level. The weighted average interest rate on total household debt however had fallen from over 15% to just above 8.5% per annum (at December 2008, 92% of household debt was housing debt, at an average rate of around 8%). Interest servicing of the increased debt, as a percentage of incomes, was 50% higher than in 1990.

Higher productivity - Not Longer Hours- the answer

Improving productivity needs to be at the centre of the government's agenda over the remainder of its term in office. The previous government's focus was on drawing more people into the workforce - in fact paying people to join the workforce. The damage of such an approach has not yet been calculated. However, some work has been done on the effects on productivity. New Zealand Business Roundtable Articles shows that productivity growth slumped during the first nine years of the 21st century. New Zealand continued to lag behind the faster-growing Australian economy. Other commentators have already highlighted the greater use of technology, labour-saving devices, shorter working weeks and quality of management as potential contributing factors in the superior performance of other countries such as France and Ireland.

Britain to unveil digital future - technology | Stuff.co.nz

Britain to unveil digital future - technology | Stuff.co.nz
UK getting in on Broadband act.

Cellphone ban in cars likely this year - Telecommunications - NZ Herald News

Cellphone ban in cars likely this year - Telecommunications - NZ Herald News

Great to see the government taking this issue seriously.

Ernie Newman: Time to pull telecommunications out of Stone Age - Telecommunications - NZ Herald News

Ernie Newman: Time to pull telecommunications out of Stone Age - Telecommunications - NZ Herald News

Thoughtful article from TUANZ Chief Ernie Newman. Its about time New Zealand caught up with the rest of the world. Time to move from the Flintstones to the Future.

Vodafone: Let's work together - Broadband - NZ Herald News

Vodafone: Let's work together - Broadband - NZ Herald News
Vodafone has contributed innovative solutions to the challenge of improving Broadband for NZ Inc.

disclaimer: the writer is employed by Vodafone NZ the opinions expressed are his and do not necessarily represent those of Vodafone.

Social Capital Needs Rebuilding

Social Capital is the glue that holds society together. It takes many forms. It is present when volunteers clean up a stream, build a marae, or teach literacy classes. It adds to the strength of communities. It stands in contrast to the selfish individualism for the libertarian Right. It also stands in contrast to the collectivist uniformity of the far left. Building Social Capital is about empowering local communities, rebuilding neighbourliness and recognising the value of voluntarism.

Given the failures of the centralisation of political and financial power which has developed since the 1950s perhaps it is time for a different policy programme?

Mobile Communications Will Drive Economic Growth

At the GSMA's Leadership Summit, bringing together 400 CEOs, government ministers and officials, industry leaders today stressed the unique role that broadband, specifically mobile broadband, can play as an economic stimulus. Those leaders called for governments to support the rollout of mobile broadband services to drive economic growth.
The release of new spectrum for mobile broadband services in 2009 will ultimately add the equivalent of $211 billion to China's GDP, and could add the equivalent of $95 billion to India's GDP1, according to a new report by Professor Leonard Waverman and consultancy LECG for the GSMA, which represents the global mobile industry. The rollout of mobile broadband networks will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, encourage new businesses across the value chain, improve productivity and boost consumer spending.

As the mobile industry is one of the few parts of the private sector currently capable of providing an economic stimulus, governments need to ensure they adopt policies that encourage more investment in mobile services and networks. Wherever possible, governments should seek to create a stable regulatory environment, while licensing spectrum on the right terms to encourage spending on network infrastructure and services, stimulating economic growth.

Obama Approach - the Right One

President Obama has displayed a refreshing sense of realism and optimism in his approach to the Middle East. His determination to use his influence to curb Israeli settlements will be helpful in securing a hearing from most governments in the Middle East. His support for Israel's right to exist should reassure Israelis that they will not be abandoned by their superpower supporter.