Wellington, Sept 14 NZPA - Subdued data today, including a dip in retail sales, weighed on the New Zealand dollar as the market further discounted an imminent interest rate rise.

Wellington, Jan 29 NZPA - With local authority rates rising last year at three times the rate of inflation, a business-oriented lobby group says ratepayers expect more frugality from councils this year.

Wellington, Oct 29 NZPA - Currency markets awaited the Reserve Bank's announcement of the official cash rate (OCR), with analysts expecting a change to the key final paragraph.

Wellington, Sept 2 NZPA - Farmers fear that tighter rules around bad debts might lead to more hard times in the rural sector, MPs were told today.

Wellington, Sept 2 NZPA - Farmers fear that tighter rules around bad debts might lead to more hard times in the rural sector, MPs were told today.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, Sept 2 NZPA - New Zealand is "using the credit card to pay the mortgage" and if it continues we will lose our sovereignty to Australia, politicians were told today.

Wellington, Sept 2 NZPA - Most banks are only interested in making as much money as possible out of their current customers, Kiwibank chief executive Sam Knowles says. But Kiwibank was focused on recruiting new customers, he told an inquiry into bank prices set up by opposition MPs.

If Winston Peters really wants to get back into politics, now would be a good time. Halfway through its first full year in office, the Government has issues in front of it which are tailor-made for New Zealand First -- the foreshore and seabed, and bank interest rates.