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Finance minister intervenes on house prices

Grant Robertson
Tuesday 24th of November 2020

The move from the Finance Minister comes as critics round on the Reserve Bank for its part in record house price growth since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Record low interest rates, and the Funding for Lending Programme, have resulting in higher asset prices, boosting property valuations. The removal of loan to value ratio restrictions earlier this year is also widely believed to have contributed to price rises.

With meteoric prices raising concerns about affordability, Robertson has taken the unusual step of asking the independent Reserve Bank to watch valuations. 

Robertson said in a statement: “I have written to the Reserve Bank governor to seek his advice on possible ways the Reserve Bank can support the government to meet its economic objectives, in particular with relation to house prices. One proposal I am seeking advice from the Reserve Bank on is whether to include stability in house prices as a factor for consideration in the remit when formulating monetary policy.

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