logo
When the Facts Change: Warmer, drier – and cheaper in the long run

When the Facts Change: Warmer, drier – and cheaper in the long run

The Spinoff08-05-2025

Infometrics CEO Brad Olsen joins Bernard Hickey to discuss how the NZ Green Building Council's Homestar scheme is making homeownership better for the planet and for the back pocket.
In 2010, the NZ Green Building Council introduced the Homestar sustainability certification, a framework that aims to allow designers, architects and builders to build better, more environmentally friendly, energy efficient housing. The upfront costs of building to the Homestar certification can be higher, but the potential savings over time – not to mention the quality of life improvements – are significant.
Brad Olsen from Infometrics, an economic consultancy that has just published a detailed report on the Homestar certification, joins Bernard Hickey on this week's episode to dig into the broad range of benefits of Homestar-rated housing, for both the planet and the back pocket.
Follow When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Leading Economist Delivers Positive Outlook For Hurunui
Leading Economist Delivers Positive Outlook For Hurunui

Scoop

time20 hours ago

  • Scoop

Leading Economist Delivers Positive Outlook For Hurunui

Press Release – Hurunui District Council Key insights presented at the meeting for the year to March 2024 showed agriculture, forestry and fishing made up over 30% of local jobsmore than six times the national average. With NZs strong reliance on primary industries as key contributors to … New data shows Hurunui's employment landscape remains firmly grounded in its rural roots. Infometrics economist and CEO Brad Olsen visited Hurunui District last week, speaking at a public meeting in the Omihi Hall on Tuesday and visiting Hurunui businesses on Wednesday. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black said the visit, which was organised by the Hurunui Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programme, aimed to offer valuable insights into the district's economic landscape, along with national and global trends, and to highlight innovation within Hurunui businesses in adapting to an evolving business environment. 'The public meeting represented a broad cross-section of our community, from accountants to wineries, the farming sector and cottage businesses.' Key insights presented at the meeting for the year to March 2024 showed agriculture, forestry and fishing made up over 30% of local jobs—more than six times the national average. Tourism also played a strong supporting role, with accommodation and food services employing a larger share in Hurunui, at just under 10%, than the national average at around 6.5%. With New Zealand's strong reliance on primary industries as key contributors to GDP, Hurunui is well positioned for growth. 'It was really positive to hear that in terms of jobs activity, Hurunui is currently ranking as the 7th fastest growing district for employment across New Zealand,' Mayor Black said. Over the last quarter to the year March 2024, filled jobs increased by 0.5%, with a continued positive increase over the last decade. From about 4,750 filled positions in 2013, the number has steadily climbed to over 6,100 jobs by 2025, a growth of nearly 30%. Olsen noted youth employment continues to be under-represented, both locally and nationally, representing a tougher climate for young New Zealanders. Hurunui MTFJ Employment Coordinator Chris Sutherland said: 'It was encouraging to hear Brad advocate for businesses to embrace the fresh perspectives that our young people can offer to an organisation, while also promoting the advantages of succession planning in light of our aging population demographic.' Hurunui MTFJ has successfully placed 55 young people into jobs, exceeding its target of 20 placements. 'Hurunui MTFJ has been truly effective in supporting our young people, creating opportunities through our strong community networks,' Mayor Black said. On Wednesday, Mayor Black and the Hurunui MTFJ team took Olsen on a visit to some of those businesses backing Hurunui youth, including Proseed and Arthur Burke, as well as to Heartland Homes with Vicki Foster, chair of Amberley NZ, offering a local business perspective, a visit to residents at Amberley Country Estate, and to Amberley Trader as a newly established business in the town. 'Brad commented that he learnt so much by being on the ground and speaking with our community, which adds value to his national and global perspective,' Mayor Black said.

Leading Economist Delivers Positive Outlook For Hurunui
Leading Economist Delivers Positive Outlook For Hurunui

Scoop

time21 hours ago

  • Scoop

Leading Economist Delivers Positive Outlook For Hurunui

New data shows Hurunui's employment landscape remains firmly grounded in its rural roots. Infometrics economist and CEO Brad Olsen visited Hurunui District last week, speaking at a public meeting in the Omihi Hall on Tuesday and visiting Hurunui businesses on Wednesday. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black said the visit, which was organised by the Hurunui Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programme, aimed to offer valuable insights into the district's economic landscape, along with national and global trends, and to highlight innovation within Hurunui businesses in adapting to an evolving business environment. 'The public meeting represented a broad cross-section of our community, from accountants to wineries, the farming sector and cottage businesses.' Key insights presented at the meeting for the year to March 2024 showed agriculture, forestry and fishing made up over 30% of local jobs—more than six times the national average. Tourism also played a strong supporting role, with accommodation and food services employing a larger share in Hurunui, at just under 10%, than the national average at around 6.5%. With New Zealand's strong reliance on primary industries as key contributors to GDP, Hurunui is well positioned for growth. 'It was really positive to hear that in terms of jobs activity, Hurunui is currently ranking as the 7th fastest growing district for employment across New Zealand,' Mayor Black said. Over the last quarter to the year March 2024, filled jobs increased by 0.5%, with a continued positive increase over the last decade. From about 4,750 filled positions in 2013, the number has steadily climbed to over 6,100 jobs by 2025, a growth of nearly 30%. Olsen noted youth employment continues to be under-represented, both locally and nationally, representing a tougher climate for young New Zealanders. Hurunui MTFJ Employment Coordinator Chris Sutherland said: 'It was encouraging to hear Brad advocate for businesses to embrace the fresh perspectives that our young people can offer to an organisation, while also promoting the advantages of succession planning in light of our aging population demographic.' Hurunui MTFJ has successfully placed 55 young people into jobs, exceeding its target of 20 placements. 'Hurunui MTFJ has been truly effective in supporting our young people, creating opportunities through our strong community networks,' Mayor Black said. On Wednesday, Mayor Black and the Hurunui MTFJ team took Olsen on a visit to some of those businesses backing Hurunui youth, including Proseed and Arthur Burke, as well as to Heartland Homes with Vicki Foster, chair of Amberley NZ, offering a local business perspective, a visit to residents at Amberley Country Estate, and to Amberley Trader as a newly established business in the town. 'Brad commented that he learnt so much by being on the ground and speaking with our community, which adds value to his national and global perspective,' Mayor Black said.

Joint CCO best water option: Infometrics
Joint CCO best water option: Infometrics

Otago Daily Times

time2 days ago

  • Otago Daily Times

Joint CCO best water option: Infometrics

A leading economist has voiced strong support for Southern Water Done Well's preferred water services delivery model, saying it offers the best pathway to safe, reliable water services and long-term financial benefits for the southern region. At a recent meeting of Southern Water Done Well (SWDW), political leaders and senior staff heard from Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen and his views on water reforms. Southern Water Done Well project leader Andrew Strahan said Infometrics was provided with documents to review. Those included the latest Morrison Low report, which included work last year for the group of eight Southland and Otago councils, a peer review of the benefits, briefings for elected members and consultation documents. SWDW's four partner councils — Waitaki, Gore, Central Otago and Clutha district councils — are consulting on three options for the future delivery of water services to meet the government's Local Water Done Well legislation. Their preferred delivery model is a jointly owned council-controlled organisation (CCO). The Infometrics chief executive and principal economist agreed, saying it provided a strategic, carefully considered approach to meeting future water services challenges. "Status quo is just not going to cut it any more. And if it does, it'll become so expensive that the community won't tolerate it ... the government clearly isn't tolerating it already. "So, effectively, things needs to change." One of the most compelling advantages of SWDW's preferred model was the leap in bargaining power it delivered. Individually, the four councils each represented just 1% to 2% of the South Island's population, placing them 13th to 18th out of 23 South Island councils, in terms of scale. By forming a jointly owned CCO, they collectively moved into the fourth-largest position, representing 6.6% of the South Island's population. "That shift in scale is transformative," said Mr Olsen. "It gives councils and their communities far greater influence when negotiating with contractors, accessing skilled staff and securing funding. In a tight infrastructure market, scale gives you options and leverage." Even greater efficiencies would be gained if other councils were accepted into a jointly owned CCO at some point in the future. Mr Olsen noted SWDW's deliberately conservative approach to financial modelling for the jointly owned CCO and emphasised the importance of looking long-term. While short-term financial gains might be modest, water assets were long-term (20 years+) and by year 20, modelling for other joint water services delivery entities had shown potential savings of up to 20% compared to going it alone, he said. Just as significantly, the joint approach improved resilience, attracted talent and helped councils meet more demanding compliance standards without overburdening local ratepayers. Mr Olsen believed there was potential for even greater gains beyond initial projections. "We've reviewed the assumptions, and they're conservative. That's appropriate, given the significant changes that have to happen, but even under these conservative assumptions, the numbers still stack up." The conservative modelling still projected 15%-16% operating and capital efficiencies being achieved over "roughly a decade", which was "a similar timeframe to achieve efficiencies as seen in other spaces". Morrison Low's modelling of the benefits of a jointly owned CCO shows SWDW consumers would save $44 million by 2033-34 compared to where costs would otherwise increase to. In its first 10 years, the jointly owned CCO would deliver $82 million in savings to consumers. Olsen also highlighted that the proposed model retained community ownership while delivering greater long-term benefits through scale and co-ordination. Southern Water Done Well's preferred delivery model gave councils the scale, flexibility and financial sustainability they simply could not get on their own while retaining community ownership and voice, Mr Olsen said. Southern Water Done Well consultation closes this Friday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store