News

Property

New online checklist aims to help renters choose safer homes

Renters checking out properties on Trade Me can now get guidance on how to choose a safe and healthy home, thanks to a new ‘Renter’s Healthy Home Checklist’.

Builder welcomes relaxed policy on loan-to-value houses (10 December 2013)
Lifting LVR restrictions 'tremendous early Christmas present' (10 December 2013)
RMBF pleased with LVR exemption (10 December 2013)
Reserve Bank exempts lending for new construction (10 December 2013)

The education sector union NZEI TE Riu Roa is calling on the government to come clean about how increased employer contributions to Kiwisaver and other retirement schemes will be funded for the education sector.

Key --- for mandate read mockery (25 May 2011)
KiwiSaver cuts put further pressure on Health budget (24 May 2011)
Public mandates one of four major Budget policy proposals (22 May 2011)
English takes Budget message to investors (20 May 2011)

Home Loans

Kiwibank cuts rate for new construction loans

Kiwibank has reacted immediately to the decision by the Reserve Bank to exempt new residential construction from the lending "speed limits" that restrict low equity lending.

New statistics show fall in high-LVR lending (28 November 2013)
ASB offering two year home loan rate of 5.99% (8 November 2013)
New LVRs 'mean home buyers should seek professional advice' (30 September 2013)
Borrowers urged to talk to their bank as lending limits loom (27 September 2013)

Employment

Paid parental leave extension back on table

After an 11th hour request, Labour has agreed to delay the reporting back of Sue Moroney’s Member’s Bill to extend paid parental leave to enable the Government to reconsider its position.

Gen Y not as different as you think (3 December 2013)
Medium-long term employment outlook released (29 November 2013)
Job vacancies increase for the second month in a row (20 November 2013)
Federated Farmers' simplify hiring migrants (20 November 2013)

Tax

Tax Bill gives greater clarity to tax rules

An omnibus tax bill introduced today by Revenue Minister Todd McClay proposes changes to bring greater clarity to the tax rules and make them easier for businesses and other taxpayers to understand and comply with.

Draft minimum requirements 'give taxpayers more certainty' (13 November 2013)
'English doesn't know' what sales are hit by tax on traders (12 November 2013)
Changes to tax treatment of employee and accommodation (12 November 2013)
Labour will simplify small business tax - Cunliffe (8 November 2013)

Prices & Spending

Discretionary spending increases

Figures released today by Paymark, which processes around 75% of all electronic transactions in New Zealand, show that Kiwis spent a total of just over $4.6 billion in December via Paymark's network, pushing the annual growth rate up slightly to 3.4 per cent.

Electronic card spending up again in October (9 November 2011)
Oily Rag by numbers (16 September 2011)
Tomatoes and green vegetables lift food prices (25 August 2011)
Core retail card spending up (9 August 2011)

Investing

Kiwibank switches home loan promotion

Kiwibank has switched its headline home loan rate from two years to one year. The one-year rate has been dropped from 5.25% p.a. to 4.89% p.a. The two-year rate has been changed back from the special promotion rate of 4.99% p.a. to 5.25% p.a.

Akaroa Gallery to reopen once earthquake repairs completed (5 April 2013)
Motorcyclist killed in Marlborough crash named (3 April 2013)
Social housing is Chch Council's shame - Brownlee (14 March 2013)
Sharples praises Taradale initiative to bring history alive (30 October 2012)

Business

Cooks appoints Norah Barlow to board

Cooks Global Foods (NZX:CGF) announces the appointment of Norah Barlow as an independent director effective January 1, 2014.

Regulatory decisions 'should not be a blood sport' (11 December 2013)
Auckland needs to step up - Property Council (11 December 2013)
2.15m people sign up as KiwiSaver continues to grow (11 December 2013)
Winter Games NZ posts record economic benefit results (11 December 2013)

News Feature: Plenty more to do on home insulation - Green PartyGo ››

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