The latest OECD data show that the ratio of housing cost to household incomes in New Zealand increased just 3.4 per cent over the six years from 2010 to 2016. Hang on, I hear you cry: what about our famous house price bubble? Just who is suffering from the house price "crisis"? High house prices are symptomatic of some real strains on our economy, and, indeed, our society. We should indeed be interested in keeping that rental price index within limits, and with ancillary programmes and regulations, such as "warrants of fitness" for house and flat rental properties.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 24, 2016 16:29 UTC