Wellington, Aug 25 NZPA - The Government retail deposit guarantee scheme will be extended until December 31 2011.

The current scheme ends on October 12 next year and Finance Minister Bill English said today the extended scheme would include some changes.

Mr English said the planned extension would help maintain confidence in New Zealand financial institutions while achieving an orderly exit from the scheme.

The deposit guarantee scheme was put in place last year to give New Zealand depositors confidence that their money would be secure in the event an approved financial institution failed.

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