Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Business

Auckland growth woes: 'quality problem' - Key

5 May, 2016 12:15 AM3 minutes to read
Prime Minister John Key has made a speech at the opening of the Employers and Manufacturers' Association. Issues with Auckland's housing and transport are 'quality problems', he says. Video: Anne Gibson

Prime Minister John Key has made a speech at the opening of the Employers and Manufacturers' Association. Issues with Auckland's housing and transport are 'quality problems', he says. Video: Anne Gibson

Anne Gibson
By
Anne Gibson

Property Editor

VIEW PROFILE

Prime Minister John Key has dismissed Auckland's growth issues as "a sign of success....a quality problem."

Citing housing, immigration, transport and hotel capacity, Key challenged a business audience by asking if they would want the opposite scenario and lack of growth.

Opening the Employers and Manufacturers' Association's new $20 million headquarters in Grafton this morning, Key told more than 100 guests how the issues were an extremely visible display of a city flourishing.

His comments follow a two-week Herald series on Auckland housing issues and strong calls for changes to immigration policy and policy changes to deal with the pressures on the city.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"If you look at the challenges Auckland has at the moment - and you know, they're well documented from housing to transport - they are in a funny kind of way a quality problem to have because what they reflect is that Auckland is doing well.

"You've got net migration not just strong from India, China and Australia but actually net migration from around the country," Key said.

"If you look at cities that are doing badly, yip, they may not have issues on their housing and may not have as much traffic jams - although I will point out last Thursday I was in Te Kuiti in a traffic jam - but the point being, in a way what would we rather have?" Key asked guests.

"And the truth is we would rather be having to deal with the challenges of growth and say 'OK we've got to deal with those issues but gosh they're signs that as a city we're doing incredibly well and actually as a country we're doing incredibly well'," Key said, also citing growth in the information technology, tourism, agricultural and horticultural sectors.

"Yip, dairy prices are weaker but manufacturing has grown 41 months in a row now," Key said, then referred to meeting the Indian president on the weekend at Auckland's Langham hotel.

"These guys running the hotel said they have never had an April in the history of the Langham that's been this busy. You know, these hotels in Auckland now are running at 97 per cent occupancy.

Related articles

Business

Inside Warren Buffett's big gig

01 May 03:23 AM
Business

Houses trumping latest council CVs

02 May 08:00 AM
Business

Auckland property sales slump 29pc

03 May 12:30 AM
New Zealand

Chinese teen's gutsy letter to Kiwis

03 May 05:00 PM

"It's amazing and it's just a sign of success of success as a country. So there's a lot of good things happening out there. We have issues to deal with you're in the right place to do it," Key said, congratulating the EMA on its new premises.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Business

New meme stock victim: Bed Bath & Beyond tumbles

18 Aug 11:19 PM
Premium
Business

What to expect from Chorus' earnings

18 Aug 10:24 PM
Premium
Business

Turkey shocks with unorthodox stab at scorching inflation

18 Aug 09:47 PM
Business

Winton forms new $200m business with Australian lender

18 Aug 09:34 PM
Business

SkyCity refutes Adelaide sale speculation

18 Aug 09:29 PM

Most Popular

Mid-air horror: Panic on Air NZ flight from LA as masks drop, emergency declared
New Zealand

Mid-air horror: Panic on Air NZ flight from LA as masks drop, emergency declared

18 Aug 10:55 PM
Live: 400+ Nelson homes evacuated; Far North town isolated after slips
New Zealand

Live: 400+ Nelson homes evacuated; Far North town isolated after slips

18 Aug 10:41 PM
Murder charge after death at property in South Auckland
New Zealand|Crime

Murder charge after death at property in South Auckland

18 Aug 09:43 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP