Bernard Hickey
@bernardchickey.bsky.social
Podcaster and newsletter writer about housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa. Free and paid versions here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thekaka?r=akd4&utm_medium=ios
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
New Zealand’s privacy watchdog and Manage My Health were both warned of security issues with the Manage My Health platform six months before hackers would hold patients' private health data as ransom.
Manage My Health, Privacy Commissioner warned of security risks six months ago
ebx.sh
January 7, 2026 at 5:46 AM
New Zealand’s privacy watchdog and Manage My Health were both warned of security issues with the Manage My Health platform six months before hackers would hold patients' private health data as ransom.
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
ICYMI- yesterday's #Trump cartoon for @australia.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:49 PM
ICYMI- yesterday's #Trump cartoon for @australia.theguardian.com
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
WSJ - Secretary of State Rubio told lawmakers that recent administration threats against Greenland didn’t signal an imminent invasion and that the goal is to buy the island from Denmark. www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Exclusive | Rubio Tells Lawmakers Trump Aims to Buy Greenland, Downplays Military Action
The secretary of state said the White House is using rhetoric to pressure Denmark into negotiations.
www.wsj.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:57 PM
WSJ - Secretary of State Rubio told lawmakers that recent administration threats against Greenland didn’t signal an imminent invasion and that the goal is to buy the island from Denmark. www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Trump complained about even having to run against Democrats before floating the idea.
‘Dictator’ Trump Floats Idea of Canceling Midterm Elections
The president said he risked being accused of being an autocrat if he suggested the Dems weren’t worth running against.
trib.al
January 6, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Trump complained about even having to run against Democrats before floating the idea.
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
The UK and France will send armed forces to Ukraine following any peace deal, Starmer says at the press conference after the meeting between European leaders and Trump’s envoys.
January 6, 2026 at 7:02 PM
The UK and France will send armed forces to Ukraine following any peace deal, Starmer says at the press conference after the meeting between European leaders and Trump’s envoys.
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
In an interview with NBC News, President Trump suggests U.S. taxpayers could reimburse oil companies for improving Venezuela’s energy infrastructure:
January 5, 2026 at 11:27 PM
In an interview with NBC News, President Trump suggests U.S. taxpayers could reimburse oil companies for improving Venezuela’s energy infrastructure:
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
January 4, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
New world order
AFR fill-in
AFR fill-in
January 5, 2026 at 8:42 AM
New world order
AFR fill-in
AFR fill-in
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Tuesday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/morten-morla...
January 5, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Tuesday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/morten-morla...
Oof
January 5, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Oof
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Sunday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/morten-morla...
January 4, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Sunday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/morten-morla...
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
12/25/2025- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/de...
December 24, 2025 at 11:11 PM
12/25/2025- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/de...
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Big banking data day. Here's the all important credit flow - how much $ banks pump into the economy - net of repayments.
We'll start with the biggie: mortgages. The monthly data has leapt into the neutral/positive range as interest rates drop and folks 'buy the bottom'. [🧵 1/n]
We'll start with the biggie: mortgages. The monthly data has leapt into the neutral/positive range as interest rates drop and folks 'buy the bottom'. [🧵 1/n]
December 23, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Big banking data day. Here's the all important credit flow - how much $ banks pump into the economy - net of repayments.
We'll start with the biggie: mortgages. The monthly data has leapt into the neutral/positive range as interest rates drop and folks 'buy the bottom'. [🧵 1/n]
We'll start with the biggie: mortgages. The monthly data has leapt into the neutral/positive range as interest rates drop and folks 'buy the bottom'. [🧵 1/n]
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Bad Santa - in today’s NZ Herald
December 23, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Bad Santa - in today’s NZ Herald
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Tax revenue is sagging badly, and Govt is throwing money into mostly low value capital projects as it attempts to get the economy moving... while, you know, appearing to be frugal. Govt deficit spend is well above 2nd cvid lockdown levels. Funny that. [2/2]
December 22, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Tax revenue is sagging badly, and Govt is throwing money into mostly low value capital projects as it attempts to get the economy moving... while, you know, appearing to be frugal. Govt deficit spend is well above 2nd cvid lockdown levels. Funny that. [2/2]
Housing market with bits tacked on.
So, comparing year to Sept 25 with the preceding 12 months (to Sept 24). What industries are powering our recovery (as measured by silly GDP)? NB graph only shows industries with positive change.
Well, we're buying more houses again - so estate agents are back in the money. Great work guys. [🧵 1/n]
Well, we're buying more houses again - so estate agents are back in the money. Great work guys. [🧵 1/n]
December 18, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Housing market with bits tacked on.
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
We are so back. In other words, we have stopped falling. It is truly remarkable that NZ almost uniquely plunged its economy into a sustained recession in response to a global inflation shock that other countries just rode out. And, now we are celebrating ending our self-flaggelation. [1/2]
December 17, 2025 at 11:41 PM
We are so back. In other words, we have stopped falling. It is truly remarkable that NZ almost uniquely plunged its economy into a sustained recession in response to a global inflation shock that other countries just rode out. And, now we are celebrating ending our self-flaggelation. [1/2]
FYI
Our full report on how to clean up manufacturing through electrification is available at: www.2035initiative.com/clean-manufa...
You can also explore data on facilities in your state and community using our webtool: www.2035initiative.com/clean-manufa...
You can also explore data on facilities in your state and community using our webtool: www.2035initiative.com/clean-manufa...
December 17, 2025 at 5:21 AM
FYI
This is how the Government’s finances actually work.
Quick explainer. If Govt create and spend $190bn into existence (as they do) and they then collect revenue of $170bn, and destroy it, that leaves $20bn of what Treasury call 'residual cash' in the econony. (🧵 1/n)
December 17, 2025 at 5:20 AM
This is how the Government’s finances actually work.
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Wednesday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/peter-brooke...
December 16, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Wednesday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/peter-brooke...
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Breaking news: President Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, a dramatic escalation in his months-long pressure campaign against the government of President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump announces ‘complete blockade’ of sanctioned oil tankers to Venezuela
In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump also declared the government of President Nicolás Maduro a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Breaking news: President Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, a dramatic escalation in his months-long pressure campaign against the government of President Nicolás Maduro.