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News

Property

Labour to work with Queenstown to build more houses

Labour will work with Queenstown-Lakes District Council, iwi, and the Community Housing Trust to build the modern, affordable housing Queenstown desperately needs, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little.

Bill tackles meth, damage and unlawful tenancies (4 July 2017)
Tommy's says Wellington housing market remains robust (3 July 2017)
NZPIF 'very pleased' to see the release of new meth contamination standard (29 June 2017)
First National sees waterfront development boom if ETNZ wins Americas Cup (22 June 2017)

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

LVR start date deferred until 1 October 2016

The Reserve Bank is deferring the start of the proposed changes to investor loan-to-value restrictions (LVRs) nationwide from 1 September to 1 October 2016, based on feedback from the banking industry from its recent consultation on the proposals.

Kiwibank cuts variable home loan rates (11 August 2016)
BNZ cuts interest rates (10 December 2015)
Kiwibank cuts floating interest rates (10 December 2015)
ASB lowers 3-year fixed home loan rate (6 November 2015)

Employment

Govt has listened to tourism industry concerns about work visa changes

New Zealand’s fast growing tourism industry is pleased the Government has listened to its concerns about the proposed changes to temporary work visas.

Unions ratify landmark pay equity agreement (24 July 2017)
Careerforce to kick off Workforce Development Conference (4 July 2017)
Innovative RSE scheme 10 years young (4 July 2017)
$15 million boost for Pacific labour mobility (4 July 2017)

Tax

Tax law change needed to help rebuild and preserve buildings - NZ First

An amendment to the Income Tax Act 2007 is urgently needed to help businesses rebuild and get back on their feet after earthquakes, says New Zealand First Building and Housing Spokesperson, Ron Mark.

NZ among easiest countries for paying taxes - PwC and The World Bank Group (19 November 2016)
Survey shows businesses spending less time on tax (16 November 2016)
Inland Revenue considers updating farmhouse expenses rules (14 October 2016)
Government to adopt Shewan recommendations (13 July 2016)

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

Antarctica comes to Auckland Museum this August

Step ‘inside’ the historic huts of Antarctic explorers Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton to relive a time of extraordinary polar exploration in a new exhibition based around the work of New Zealand photographer Jane Ussher.