News

Property

Nationwide surge in house price expectations

Housing confidence remained on an even keel while house price expectations surged nationwide during the three months to April, according to the latest ASB NZ Housing Confidence Survey.

Nationwide property values resume gradual climb (10 May 2012)
House prices in Auckland hold on to March values (3 May 2012)
Auckland property asking prices hit record (1 May 2012)
DIY homebuyers shift focus to the city (30 April 2012)

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 rates; holds special

Kiwibank has today cut fixed home loan rates from one to five years plus announced it is keeping its one-year fixed rate "special" of 4.99 per cent p.a. open , but for a limited time.

ASB cuts fixed home loan rates (14 May 2012)
BNZ announces 18 month home loan rate of 5.10% (13 May 2012)
ANZ commits $500m loans for Christchurch rebuild (11 May 2012)
ANZ announces 5.25% one-year mortgage (9 May 2012)

Employment

Research examines earnings of migrants

New Department of Labour research out today looks at the success of migrants in the job market in New Zealand three years after they gain permanent residence.

Job ads fall 2% in April (17 May 2012)
Fall in skilled vacancies in April (16 May 2012)
One in two seeking new jobs (16 May 2012)
New salary checker app launched (9 May 2012)

Tax

Simplifying the taxation of small business

The New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) has today released the second instalment of its thought leadership paper on ways to simplify taxation for New Zealand's thousands of small businesses.

Dunne launches new IRD app (4 May 2012)
NZ Tax Refunds debuts with top 30 ranking (2 December 2011)
Speech: Peter Dunne to NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants (11 November 2011)
NZ-Hong Kong tax agreement in force (10 November 2011)

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

Investment in Hamilton showing strong signs

A new survey showing reduced vacancy rates for central city retail sites is a positive economic sign for Hamilton, says Mayor Julie Hardaker.

IFA announces appointment of independent director (20 January 2012)
Getting a better investment return - easy as PIE (19 January 2012)
Global deleveraging backdrop for modest growth (22 December 2011)
Long-term investment benefits niche super fund (5 December 2011)

Business

New CEO for GSFA

Simon Tyler, currently Head of Financial Markets at the Reserve Bank, is to be the new Chief Executive of both the Government Superannuation Fund Authority (GSFA) and the Board of Trustees of the National Provident Fund (NPF) from 1 July 2012.

Working party meets on common ground (16 May 2012)
AWF Group revenue rises to $119m (16 May 2012)
Lodges of New Zealand announces new executive team (16 May 2012)
Fujitsu NZ appoints GM Enterprise Sales (16 May 2012)

News Feature: Housing market strengthensGo ››

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