Wellington, March 5 NZPA - Finance Minister Bill English is still warning of belt tightening in the upcoming budget, despite the Government's books turning up better than expected results for the first seven months of the financial year.

Wellington, March 3 NZPA - The New Zealand dollar clawed its way off nine and a half year lows against the Australian dollar today on demand from exporters.

Wellington, Feb 19 NZPA - Getting the Government books into shape in the long-term remains a tough challenge despite improvements in the Crown accounts out today, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Wellington, Feb 18 NZPA - AMP Financial Services New Zealand managing director Jack Regan can see value in the idea of trying to turn New Zealand into a financial service hub, even though AMP sold its back office business in 2002.

Wellington, Jan 29 NZPA - A slight improvement in the Crown accounts is good news but Finance Minister Bill English says ongoing restraint is still vital. Labour finance spokesman David Cunliffe said his party had played a role in the recovery.

Wellington, Jan 29 NZPA - A slight improvement in the Crown accounts is good news but Finance Minister Bill English says ongoing restraint is still vital. Treasury today released figures for November that were better than forecast.

Wellington, Dec 24 NZPA - The New Zealand dollar's dip below US70c on weaker than expected gross domestic product data was short-lived as it gained overnight against a softer US dollar and other major currencies.

Wellington, Dec 23 NZPA - The New Zealand dollar fell on news the economy is crawling its way out of recession.

Wellington, Dec 10 NZPA - The nation's gross domestic product (GDP) is recovering but it may be late next year "before we see the ground made up that we lost during the global financial crisis," says Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard.

Wellington, Dec 1 NZPA - A report advocating slashing taxes and government spending is too radical to be implemented fully, Finance Minister Bill English says.