John Key is back from holiday and one of the first things media asked him about was Labour’s attack on Chinese property speculators. Key suggested Labour was “desperate”, “knew it was misleading” and “it’s very different from the Labour Party I always knew”. That sounds like a well researched response, they are common views.

Stuff reported: Auckland housing data using surnames a ‘desperate’ measure – John Key

Auckland housing data using Chinese-sounding surnames released by the Labour Party was “desperate” and out of character for the Opposition, says the Prime Minister.

“It’s desperate in my view, they know the information is wrong and they know the information is misleading and they can claim whatever they want…it’s very different from the Labour Party I always knew,” John Key said

On Radio NZ: PM dismisses Labour’s housing claims

Prime Minister John Key says most of those with Chinese-sounding names investing in the Auckland housing market will be people with a genuine connection to New Zealand.

He doubted the figures were an accurate reflection of the level of Chinese interest in New Zealand housing.

“Not that many people get up in the morning who live in Guangzhou, and say randomly ‘I’m going to buy a house in Auckland’, with no connection to the country at all.

“There’ll be some, some people on that list will definitely be, in my view, as mere speculation, will have no connection to New Zealand but not very many.”

On Labour’s use of data to blame Chinese:

“They will know that people on that list, the vast bulk of them, who have Chinese surnames will be the residents or citizens, many of whom Labour will have welcomed to this country.”

See Who’s buying Auckland property?

And Key on what may help and what isn’t helping elsewhere:

The Government was compiling information on non-resident investment in the housing market, he said.

“I have always said, if the data shows that there’s a real problem and we need to consider further steps then the Government will consider those further steps.”

He said Australia’s move to stop foreigners buying anything other than new properties had not been effective in curbing rapid house price rises.

Audio: Listen to John Key on Morning Report ( 5 min 43 sec )

And then from later in the day Stuff reported in John Key tells Kiwis to look on the bright side for dairy exports and economy:

Meanwhile, Key indicated he was not concerned about the potential flood of cash from mainland China – despite Labour highlighting the level of Chinese buying in the Auckland property market.

He said capital investment from China was much lower than from Australia, the United States or the United Kingdom.

“China hasn’t been a massive investor here, so rather than be worried in some instances we’d welcome that.”