Property

• Positive economy 'drives interest in rental investment' (5 March 2014)
• Residential building activity growth continues (5 March 2014)
• Dwelling consents trend rising (28 February 2014)
• 16% of NZers consume more than five soft drinks a week (25 February 2014)

KiwiSaver & Saving

Concern increased retirement contributions could result in backdoor education cuts

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

• Announcement to accept Syrian refugees welcomed (4 February 2014)
• Christmas job advertisement scammers recruit money mules (18 December 2013)
• Kiwibank cuts rate for new construction loans (10 December 2013)
• New statistics show fall in high-LVR lending (28 November 2013)

Employment

• Creative, marketing and digital salaries tipped to rise (24 February 2014)
• Recovery in unemployment and wages 'painfully slow' (5 February 2014)
• Job numbers grow; unemployment down - Joyce (5 February 2014)
• Labour market strengthens (5 February 2014)

Tax

• 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

• 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

• Wholesale trade up in December quarter (7 March 2014)
• Harcourts to commence global hashtag marketing campaign (7 March 2014)
• Exporters feeling better but cautious - NZMEA (7 March 2014)
• Lassoo forms strategic alliance with Havas Media Group (7 March 2014)