New Zealand Media Commentators,& Retirement Income books and useful websites. 2021
BOOKS:
- Rich enough: A laid back Guide for every Kiwi, Mary Holm, 2018. Excellent.
- A Richer You, How to Make most of your Money, Mary Holm , 2021. All from Mary’s Q/A column from the Weekend Herald. Magic!
- The Great NZ Work, Money and Retirement Puzzle and how to solve it. A Practical Guide for everyone 19-91 yrs. Alan Clarke, (2014). Unusual style but easy to read.
- The No Regrets Guide to Retirement: Patricia Howard, 2021, John Whiley, Publisher, Aussie with many references to Australian Aged Pension and their compulsory Super savings, but easy to read and sound advice.
- The Essential Retirement Guide, A Contrarian’s Perspective Frederick Vettese, John Wiley& sons (2016)* American but suitable and applicable to NZ. Excellent, good examples. On the button!
- Retire Richer; a practical guide for everyone aged 25-85. Alan Clarke. 2010. Large font, easy to read. Very sound.
- The New Retirement: Smart Tips for Boomers. Bill Jamieson Shoal Bay 2007. Chatty.
- NZ Retirement Guide, (2013), Twenty Good Summer Martin Hawes: A prolific writer, (over 20 books) always provides good reading and common-sense recommendations.
- How to retire with enough money and how to know what enough is. Teresa Ghilarduccci, (2015). Also, American, but suitable for NZ readers. 100 pages. Excellent.
- Your 60’s by Peter Dunn, (2015) Centage Learning. again, an American book, but applicable to NZ scene.
- The New Zealand Tax System, NZ Taxes in comparative perspective Rob Salmond, 2011. Want to know about the NZ Tax system? Easy to follow.
MEDIA COMMENTATORS? Who is worth listening too?
The comments are brief, editor opinion only, and the names mentioned are those that provide or give opinions or articles on either retirement income issues, and or New Zealand Superannuation and Kiwi Saver. I have used the generic label of conservative, liberal or neutral to describe my perception of their objectivity, readers should always make their own mind up on commentator bias and balance.
- Martin Hawes: Calm, considered, common sense covering superannuation, trusts, retirement savings etc. Published Author. Neutral.
- Mary Holm: Sound and succinct. Good simple business and personal financial comment, on many of the current retirement issues. Excellent plus NZ Herald column each Sunday-compulsory reading! Published author . Neutral.
- Rob Stock: Leans towards the senior’s market, writes regularly in an easy-to-follow manner, on topical retirement income. Sound approach. Neutral.
- Janine Starks. Financial commentator, generally sound on a range of retirement income issues. Neutral.
- Amanda Morrell. Newstalk ZB guest on Smart Money, her comments on New Zealand Superannuation lack depth, but financially informative overall. Neutral.
- Cameron Bagrie: Independent Economist. Previous Chief economist ANZ bank , now out on his own. A 2017 piece on New Zealand superannuation was poorly done, containing the usual myths and generalizations, but he is visible, and wide ranging. Believes NZ Super is fiscally unsustainable, and age of eligibility must be raised. Conservative.
- Brad Olsen: Up and comer, precise in his comments. Experience will add further substance to his skill set , too early to asses his retirement income knowledge, needs to specifically research NZ Superannuation policy and impacts over time. Neutral.
- Helen Twose. For a long period, personal finance and Kiwi Saver columnist. Her Kiwi Saver Question and Answers column was always a must read. Neutral
- Shamubeel Eaqub: Independent economist. Always interesting, has a view on everything, maturing in his overall approach. Neutral.
- Matthew Hooton: A commentator, strong National party-political links. Well-connected, don’t ignore him but take him with a grain of salt, and he gets too much air time . Conservative
- Fran O’Sullivan: Writes some good stuff, on radio frequently and been around a long time. Always proclaiming NZ Superannuation fiscal costs are too high and age of entitlement needs to be raised. Conservative.
- Brian Fallow. Experienced economic editor e.g., the NZ Herald. Always interesting. Like Fran automatically asserts NZ Superannuation and fiscal costs are unsustainable , both leaning towards crisis rhetoric on Superannuation issues. Needs to allow for adjustment factor long-term trend analysis, but he writes on lots of financial topics. Conservative.
- Brian Easton. Long-time commentator on all elements of retirement income. Conservative
- Ralph Stewart: Experienced business background, common sense approach, currently CEO Life time Income, annuities expert, surrounds himself with quality retirement income advisors. Neutral.
- Brian Gaynor. Experienced and considered opinions particularly investment analysis, an active fund manager, with a wealth of knowledge. Conservative
- Susan St John, Retirement Policy and Research Centre, Auckland Business School. A leading academic Susan’s substantial knowledge of the Retirement Income sector makes her a “must read”. Liberal.
- Dr Dale Clair. Research Fellow, colleague of Susan St John. Well informed and research strong point. Liberal.
- Michael Littlewood. His papers on NZ Superannuation are seminal resource papers, easy to read, clarifies the issues in a simple manner. NZ Guru on New Zealand Superannuation. Neutral.
- Liz Koh, currently less visible but sincere , balanced approach and well researched. Neutral.
- Tony Alexander. No direct commentary on retirement income, but visible and sound economic analysis on a regular basis. Easy to read, explains things simply and logically. Impressive! Neutral.
- Paul Henry: Full of opinions. Like him or hate him, he provides a view. Pops up now and then, and never dismiss. Conservative.
- Brent Shearer. Sound on investment issues, always gives an opinion. Neutral
- Associate Professor Claire Matthews, Massey University. Pops up frequently with comment on Tax and retirement income issues. On NZ Superannuation always defaults to fiscal sustainability and wants to raise the age of entitlement. Neutral.
- Bernard Hickey: Diverse background. Can be provocative but well researched. Firm opinion and views. Liberal .
- David Farrer. Kiwi Blog, co-founder of the Tax Payer Union, strong National party links. Firm opinions and views. Pollster but note his background. Conservative.
- Alec Waugh. Chairman consumer group, Kaspanz (retirement income issues ). Public Policy and History qualifications, Police career background, also period of time CEO Business Information Service. Supports NZ Superannuation model, disputes those contesting fiscal sustainability. Liberal.
- John Gascoigne. Visible on NZ Superannuation, defender of the model and current fiscal sustainability. Conservative.
- Jane Wrightson, Retirement Commissioner. interesting and sound, wants to get on with things. Neutral .
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TALK BACK
This medium is the radio social media platform equivalent, dominated by the Newstalk ZB group. Newstalk ZB is a nationwide New Zealand talk-radio network operated by NZME Radio .
This is a conservative platform, most hosts have a strong conservative approach, elements of Trump, libertarian and National/Act party cheerleaders, barely concealed. Elements of retirement income emerge every so often , including NZ Superannuation comment, usually from a perceptions viewpoint, rather than any informed knowledge, or evidence based. Be cautious of the many opinions provided.
- Mike Hosking. Newstalk ZB radio talkback host. Rapid speaking, intelligent, zany, opinionated, privileged, right leaning/libertarian. Strong bias in all his comments, needs to improve his knowledge on NZ Superannuation etc. Mike tries to be NZ version of Aussie Alan Jones. Conservative
- Kate Hawksbury, wife of the above, does the early show segment, both are alter ego of each other. Conservative
- Heather du Plessis-Allan. Newstalk host. Can be over confident, needs to develop further her knowledge on NZ Superannuation etc., similar approach to Hosking. Her husband is Barry Soper ZB Political editor, who often appears on her show. Conservative
- Leighton Smith. Great survivor of Radio Talkback. Conservative, knows his way around the subjects, but his twist on issues while often sounding knowledgeable, merely confirms here is an orthodox conservative. Describes himself as somewhat libertarian.
- Marcus Lush. Now Invercargill City Councillor, more liberal than most of his colleagues. His alternative style makes for good listening, have not heard much on retirement income. Liberal
- Kerre McIvor. Perceptions, rather than facts, often drives her. Has a nice common touch rapport with listeners, needs to improve her knowledge on NZ Superannuation
- Nick Mills. entrepreneur, ( Saints basketball franchise). Lacks depth, full of one line rhetoric, what little I have heard from him on retirement income, has been unhelpful. Conservative.
- Mike Yardley: Fills in when required. Conservative commentator. Retirement income knowledge limited, be cautious of his opinion!
- Jamie Mackey, Rural radio Host. National Party supporter, nice common touch about him. Conservative.
- Tim Beveridge and Tim Roxborough, the Weekend Collective do a Sunday Money show. Nice and chatty, their own knowledge on NZ Superannuation and Kiwi Saver, is light, but they have good guests, and they target average Kiwis. Good stuff. Neutral
- RETIREMENT INCOME WEBSITES OF VALUE
MAGAZINES/JOURNALS OF VALUE
- The Headliner. Investment advice sheet and comment. headliner.co.http://headliner.co.nz
- The National Business Review. http://www.nbr.co.nz/.New Zealand weekly business review and analysis magazine. On- line only
- The Economist com. Concise world view.
The information in this newsletter is of a general nature only, and is not professional advice. Kaspanz accepts no liability for its accuracy. The newsletter is principally the work of the current chairman of Kaspanz, and articles and views are not to be regarded as Kaspanz policy. The intent of the newsletter is to provide information only, to assist the reader in their own various view points, and is not paid content, it is compiled on a voluntary basis, in an attempt to be helpful to readers with retirement income matters. No liability is assumed by Kaspanz for losses suffered by any person or organisation relying directly or indirectly on information published on this site. Views expressed in any article are the views of the authors individually, and or the editor and do not necessarily reflect the view of Kaspanz .
Posted by Alec Waugh, reviewed November 2021