The New Zealand housing market is at the whim of multiple cross currents, with conditions quiet in Auckland but pressure building in other key markets. According to the latest ASB review, the national market can expect increased house price inflation in 2020, with falling interest rates and renewed population growth likely to increase the heat. Westpac economists offered a similar view in their latest assessment, with national prices rising and Auckland likely to return to flat growth after a year out in the cold.

As the US-China trade war continues to intensify, New Zealand is left wondering how it will be affected. As the first member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to sign a free-trade agreement with China in 2008, New Zealand has become somewhat dependent on the Asian giant. From dairy and agricultural products through to timber and tourism, roughly 20% of New Zealand's exports head to China.

Everyone knows about the positive impacts of exercise, with cardio and strength routines able to improve your health and upgrade your quality of life. Getting regular exercise is not always easy, however, with lifestyle constraints and existing physical problems often getting in the way. It's important to work through these problems, however, with arthritis, painful joints and stiffness responding well to the right exercises.

In order to deal with climate change, corporate greed and political inertia, a multitude of new energy solutions are required. While renewable solar and wind power is an important piece of the puzzle, scientists are also developing clever ways to capture existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turn it into usable fuel. This transformative process almost sounds too good to be true, with “direct air capture” technology able to clean up the environment and produce eco-friendly liquid fuel at the same time.

Unlike their cousins across the Tasman, New Zealand workers have seen strong wage growth, with the biggest pay rise in a decade recently recorded. According to Statistics New Zealand, average hourly earnings have increased 4% over the past year to $32.37 an hour, which is the biggest annual percentage increase since June 2009. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also fell in the June quarter from 4.2% to 3.9%, with the under-utilisation rate also dropping from 11.3% to 11%.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) recently cut the official cash rate (OCR) to a historic low of 1% in an effort to stimulate the economy. The domestic economy is slowing down, with the RBNZ doing what it can to inspire people to spend money or invest in more productive investments. As the benchmark for all interest rates charged by banks and other lenders, the OCR is undeniably significant. Despite the historic nature of the current lows, however, homeowners and potential first-home buyers should only expect modest savings.

The world is becoming increasingly allergic to common foods, with children in particular likely to develop new allergies. When analysed on a global basis, the spread of allergies is far from even, with Western nations increasing at a much faster rate and specific countries much worse than others. While no-one knows for sure why allergy rates are increasing, a number of theories are being examined to explain the rising allergy crisis.

The world of work is changing all the time, with long careers less likely in the modern world and microwork opportunities coming to the foreground. Microwork is a series of small tasks that combine together to create a single unified project. Microworkers are normally employed in the technology sector, as a kind of virtual assembly line that flows between skill sets and across continents. While microworking can lead to a number of opportunities, what it offers in agility and flexibility it often lacks in stability and job security. 

Everyone wants to live in a location where life is easy to manage and stress levels are as low as possible. With most people in the Western world living in cities, politicians and town planners are constantly striving to create the most liveable conditions possible.  From transportation and accommodation through to work and school opportunities, there are lots of things to take into consideration when measuring liveability. Let's take a look at two leading ways to measure quality of life and see what it means for the future of city life.