Vaccine and Housing Affordability

Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink

Vaccine and Housing Affordability

Monday 16th November, 2020

COVID19 Vaccine

There was plenty of flutter and excitement last week with Pfizer and Biontech’s announcement of successful vaccine trials. Here is the detail in case you missed it.

“Today is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent COVID-19,” said Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO. “We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen. With today’s news, we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis”.

Housing Affordability

Last week house prices in NZ was a common theme every day on TV1 news bulletins. I found myself saying several times, “it feels completely out-of-control”. And in many ways it is but when you look at housing affordability it doesn’t seem as grim. Here is Corelogic’s report.

“It must be acknowledged that the national house price to income ratio is still high – 6.4 versus the 2004-20 average of 5.6 – and it takes an average of more than 8.5 years to save the deposit for a house. Historically, the average time to save a deposit has been a year less, at 7.5. For renters, the market isn’t noticeably less affordable than in the past – average rents currently absorb 20% of household income, bang in line with historical norms.”

A Tenner Please

LeadershipWorx (LW) is nearly three years old now. As both the founder and director of this ministry it has been my immense privilege to write to some 550 pastors twice a week from all around NZ and from many denominational backgrounds. Additionally, I have convened a number of seminars and roundtable conversations around important issues. More recently I have hosted and convened a number of Zoom briefings. I have simply loved meeting and working with a growing group of Christian leaders around NZ and a few from overseas.

Since we started I was (and am) determined to keep costs down. To that end we run a lean machine with very few overheads. We have some of the normal costs all organisations have. Expenses like a website, small office expenses and a little travel. I also pay for some administrative support as and when needed. Liz, Karyn and I work from home offices. Total expenses each year about $8000 - $10,000. Jeanette and I decided early on that my time (about 20 hours a week) would be on an unpaid basis as I have some alternative business income.

The income LW receives is from just one source and that is donations. Though I run some events (very few this year due to COVID19) these events normally breakeven. Sometimes they make a small loss unfortunately.

To that end I am asking today if you could make a small one-off donation to LW of a ‘Tenner’………i.e. $10.00 (or perhaps 2 x’s a Tenner). This will enable us to keep the ‘doors open’ so to speak.

LeadershipWorx is a registered Charitable Trust and so we can issue you a tax receipt if you would like one. Our bank account number is 06-0459-0987857-000. If you would like a receipt please email Liz Dobbs at liz.dobbs@leadershipworx.org.nz with your name or organisations name and amount you donated.

There are NO copyright restrictions on this email update. Got some feedback about this Update, or anything in the news? Would you like us to cover a story then drop me a note at alan.vink@leadershipworx.org.nz Alan is Executive Director of LeadershipWorx and blogs here.

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.