
Australia's age assurance trial shows path for NZ online safety
KEY FACTS
Australia has just delivered what could be a game changer in the conversation around online child safety.
Following an independent, government-sponsored trial, the Age Assurance Technology Trial (AATT) has released preliminary findings showing that digital age assurance systems can be implemented effectively, privately and securely.
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NZ Herald
6 days ago
- NZ Herald
Property v Bitcoin: Exploring which is best for Kiwi investors
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After a bit more research, I concluded there's far more crime committed at the end of a rolled-up $20 bill than there is with Bitcoin. If you're buying something dodgy, cash is way better than a public blockchain that displays your transactions 24/7. A bit more research later, I reluctantly realised this was engineered digital scarcity, money that could exist outside a bank and beyond national state control. Could this become a type of money useful for a digital world? I went on to discover that most cryptocurrencies are more like digital start-ups, each trying to solve different problems, but Bitcoin was different. It was born amid the fallout of the Global Financial Crisis and it carried with it a mission: 'Fix the money, to fix the world.' I'll have a bit of that, thank you very much. Property v Bitcoin: which is the 'better' investment? Everyone takes their own sweet time, but eventually, the question pops up: 'Which is better?' I have to be honest: the real question shouldn't be about the investment, it should be about the investor. How long are you willing to invest? How much volatility can you stomach? Are you chasing capital gains or cashflow? Once you know what you're building, only then should you choose the tools. Property has traditionally been a go-to investment for building wealth, thanks to leverage and possible tax-free gains. Photo / 123RF Some of us should consider Bitcoin, some should consider property and some should do both. If you're able to save a deposit, property's still a great way to take a pile of money and watch it grow. Banks have a great business model here. They provide leverage, tenants help with cashflow and, for now, your capital gains might even be tax-free. What's not to like? Well ... the Sunday call about a rat infestation that turns out to be three-week-old raw chicken in the pantry? The stained carpets, the missed rent, rising interest rates, and council taxes? Meanwhile, Bitcoin just sits there. No cashflow – just cryptographically secured digital scarcity. That's it. The dirty secret Property's tough to beat on a good day, don't get me wrong, but there's a secret bank economists dare not declare: New Zealand's housing market thrives because of inflation … of the money supply. Every time the Government, businesses and everyday people need to borrow, banks create new money from nothing and inflate the economy with more units of currency. More money chases the same amount of stuff for sale, and prices naturally climb. Yes, immigration, a tight labour market and limited supply all play a part in growing house prices, but it's nothing compared to the truth. Property wealth is the side effect of exploiting the 'credit creation process'. Choosing between property and Bitcoin comes down to how you want to grow and protect your money. Photo / 123rf Wonder why a duplex can double in value every decade? 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If you want the stability and options property gives you, stick with the asset you can live in. Personally, I use both. For me, it's not about the tools; it's what I'm trying to build. Make your own decision, but I can't help but suggest maybe buying a little, just in case it catches on.


NZ Herald
7 days ago
- NZ Herald
Australia's age assurance trial shows path for NZ online safety
Australia is now halfway through the year-long build-up to implementing its under-16 social media ban. Photo / 123rf KEY FACTS Australia has just delivered what could be a game changer in the conversation around online child safety. Following an independent, government-sponsored trial, the Age Assurance Technology Trial (AATT) has released preliminary findings showing that digital age assurance systems can be implemented effectively, privately and securely. It's


NZ Herald
20-06-2025
- NZ Herald
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