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Understanding KiwiSaver: A Complete Guide for 2026
Everything you need to know about KiwiSaver - how it works, choosing funds, and maximizing your returns for retirement.
24 Feb 20263 min read
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Fat Pocket Blog
Financial education and insights for New Zealand investors.
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Personal Finance
New Zealand's insurance crisis: the decade of critical risk and who should pay
Insurance industry leaders at the ICNZ conference in Auckland warned New Zealand faces a decade of critical natural hazard risk, and that current funding mechanisms are not fit for purpose. A proposal to replace the Fire and Emergency levy with a broader Community Protection Levy is raising questions about who should pay for national resilience.
7 Jun 20264 min read
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Markets
New Zealand housing market's chilly start to winter as auction volumes drop
The number of residential properties offered at auction in New Zealand fell to its lowest weekly level of the year last week, with fewer than a third selling under the hammer and prices softening across the country.
6 Jun 20262 min read
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Investing
Over half of eligible KiwiSaver members still missing out on free government money
More than half of eligible KiwiSaver members have not contributed enough to receive the full $260 government tax credit this year, according to Westpac. The proportion missing out has risen for three consecutive years, and is highest among 16 and 17-year-olds, women aged 18 to 24, and self-employed workers.
5 Jun 20263 min read
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Markets
Why banks are raising mortgage rates even when wholesale costs aren't rising
New analysis from interest.co.nz finds that New Zealand's biggest banks have been raising fixed mortgage rates in 2026 despite wholesale funding costs remaining flat. The gap between what banks pay to fund themselves and what they charge borrowers has narrowed — creating internal pressure on bank boards to restore margins.
5 Jun 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
Commerce Commission moves to cap commercial credit card fees, saving businesses $40m a year
The Commerce Commission has released a draft decision to cap interchange fees on Mastercard and Visa commercial credit cards. The move could reduce business costs by $40 million annually — costs that businesses say flow through into retail prices paid by all consumers.
4 Jun 20262 min read
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Economy
New Zealand's non-bank deposit takers can call themselves banks from 2028
The Reserve Bank has confirmed that from December 2028, all licensed deposit takers — including building societies, credit unions, and finance companies — will be able to use the words 'bank', 'banker', and 'banking'. The change follows the introduction of the Deposit Takers Act and a new depositor compensation scheme.
4 Jun 20262 min read
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Markets
From peak to now: how New Zealand's real house prices lost 31 percent
When adjusted for inflation, New Zealand house prices are down roughly 31 percent from their 2022 peak — returning to mid-2016 levels in real terms. Auckland and Wellington have experienced larger falls at 37 and 39 percent respectively. The picture contrasts sharply with nominal price declines of 17 percent.
4 Jun 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
134,000 New Zealanders now owe more than $1m on their home loan
The number of New Zealanders with a mortgage over $1 million has grown 15 percent in a year, reaching 134,000. At current interest rates, a $1m mortgage costs roughly $5,754 per month to service. The rise reflects larger loans taken during periods of low rates and high property values.
3 Jun 20263 min read
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Markets
ANZ lifts all fixed mortgage rates to highest of any major bank
ANZ has raised all its fixed mortgage rates, putting its rate card above every other major bank. The increases of 10 to 20 basis points bring the six-month rate to 4.69 percent, the one-year to 4.79 percent, and the five-year to 6.49 percent. Markets are pricing an almost certain OCR rise at the July review.
3 Jun 20262 min read
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Markets
New home building makes a three-year comeback as consents jump 17%
Residential building consents rose 17 percent in the year to April 2026, with 39,087 new dwellings approved. The increase follows three consecutive years of April declines, suggesting the construction sector is in an upward cycle after a prolonged downturn.
3 Jun 20262 min read
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Markets
For sale signs multiply: New Zealand housing stock hits 12-year high for May
Realestate.co.nz had more properties listed for sale in May than any May in 12 years, with asking prices falling for the third month in a row. Auckland alone has an 18-year high of available stock, shifting the negotiating edge further toward buyers.
3 Jun 20262 min read
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Investing
KiwiSaver giants lag the pack: the performance gap behind the big providers
Morningstar data to December 2025 shows some of New Zealand's largest KiwiSaver providers delivering below-median returns across multiple time horizons. ANZ, AMP, and Fisher Funds each spent periods near or at the bottom of their categories, with differences partly attributed to portfolio construction philosophy rather than manager skill alone.
3 Jun 20264 min read
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Economy
Credit reform bill passes: FMA takes over consumer lending oversight from Commerce Commission
The CCCFA amendment bill has passed its third reading, transferring oversight of consumer credit laws to the Financial Markets Authority. The government says the changes make rules simpler and more workable; Labour says they weaken consumer protections.
2 Jun 20263 min read
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Economy
Heartland proposes $620 million acquisition of TSB, merger to create challenger bank
Heartland Group Holdings has signed a deal to buy TSB Bank from the Toi Foundation for $620 million, merging the two regional banks to form TSB Heartland Bank. The combined entity would have material synergies of $34 million per year and is described as a challenger bank of scale.
2 Jun 20263 min read
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Economy
ANZ to appeal High Court decision in 150,000-customer CCCFA class action
ANZ is appealing a High Court decision that found the bank breached consumer credit disclosure rules affecting around 150,000 customers between 2015 and 2019. The bank puts its maximum potential liability at $125 million and says the court's interpretation of the law was incorrect.
1 Jun 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
Budget 2026's FBT tweak for EVs: what it means for the second-hand electric car market
From April next year, electric vehicles will attract a lower fringe-benefit tax rate than petrol or diesel cars. Advocates say the change will push more EVs into business fleets, improving second-hand supply for everyday buyers within 3-5 years.
1 Jun 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
Electric vehicles cost more to insure — here's why the gap exists and when it might close
EV insurance premiums run 6 to 38 percent higher than equivalent petrol cars, according to a new analysis. The gap reflects higher repair costs, specialist technicians, and the relative immaturity of New Zealand's EV repair network.
1 Jun 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
Using AI for money advice: what experts say can go wrong
More New Zealanders are turning to AI tools for help with money decisions, but experts warn the technology comes with significant risks around accuracy, bias, data privacy, and what happens when things go wrong.
29 May 20263 min read
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Economy
ANZ casts doubt on Treasury's surplus forecast as Willis keeps further bank tax on the table
The Government returned to surplus a year earlier than previously forecast in Budget 2026 — but ANZ's chief economist says the surplus is not a foregone conclusion, and Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she is still actively considering further tax measures on banks.
29 May 20263 min read
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Economy
Auckland's building industry shows early signs of recovery as completions rise
New home completions in Auckland rose steadily through the March quarter — 1327 in March alone, up 5.7% on the same month last year. The 12-month total is still well down on prior years, but the sequential monthly lift is the clearest positive signal in over a year.
29 May 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
Will banks pass the new levy cost on to customers? The Government says don't, but ACT says they will
The Government has introduced a new prudential levy on banks expected to raise $209 million over four years. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she'd be 'very disappointed' if banks used it to hike charges — but ACT leader David Seymour is not convinced.
29 May 20263 min read
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KiwiSaver
KiwiSaver member contributions hit record $11bn but fund returns were meagre
New data shows New Zealanders contributed a record $11.1bn to KiwiSaver in the year to March — yet the industry delivered just 1.9% in net returns. In the March quarter alone, members added $2.7bn but fund managers lost $3.5bn in market value.
29 May 20263 min read
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Economy
Budget 2026 at a glance: where the Government's record health spend fits in
Health has claimed the biggest single increase in Budget 2026, rising 10 percent to $34.2 billion — but the overall picture is one of fiscal restraint, with the Government betting on a return to surplus by 2028.
28 May 20264 min read
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Economy
Reserve Bank takes Co-operative Bank to court over AML compliance failures
The Reserve Bank has filed civil proceedings against The Co-operative Bank for three breaches of anti-money laundering requirements dating back to at least 2020, with both parties agreeing to a $1.425 million penalty.
28 May 20262 min read
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Personal Finance
Kiwibank beats big four to open banking rollout for business customers
Kiwibank has gone live with open banking for its business customers two days ahead of its original schedule, becoming the first of the major banks to offer the standardised API connections that allow third-party fintechs to build services on top of its systems.
28 May 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
Kiwibank lifts term deposit rates as market pricing shifts after RBNZ split
Kiwibank has raised its nine-month term deposit rate to 3.55 percent and its one-year rate to 3.9 percent — the first significant move by any bank since the RBNZ's split OCR decision on May 27.
28 May 20262 min read
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Economy
Business insolvencies ease from record high but sectors remain under pressure
New Zealand recorded 772 business insolvencies in Q1 2026, down 17 percent from the end of last year but still 14 percent higher than the same quarter in 2025, with construction accounting for the most cases.
27 May 20262 min read
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Personal Finance
Mortgage rate turning point: how the market is shifting for NZ borrowers
Property data firm Cotality says New Zealand mortgage holders are at a turning point, with shorter-term fixed rates no longer delivering the savings they once did as market rates push higher ahead of any OCR moves.
27 May 20263 min read
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Economy
RBNZ holds OCR but vote split shows growing division on rate path
The Reserve Bank kept the official cash rate at 2.25 percent on May 27, but the vote split 5-4 with only the governor's casting vote preventing a hike — a signal that rate increases are coming sooner than previously expected.
27 May 20263 min read
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Economy
Youth unemployment: the districts where NEET rates almost doubled in a year
In the 12 months to March 2026, youth unemployment in some of New Zealand's poorest districts surged by more than a third, with NEET rates in Ōpōtiki reaching 42.8 percent — nearly three times the national average.
27 May 20263 min read
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Markets
First home buyers get brief relief as lower quartile prices fall faster than mortgage rates rise
Mortgage payments on a lower quartile-priced home fell $12 a week in April as house prices dropped to $592,000, reversing a $59/week increase seen in the first quarter. The relief was small and may be short-lived if interest rates continue climbing.
26 May 20262 min read
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Economy
New competition rules for big gentailers: what the electricity market changes mean
From July, Contact Energy, Genesis Energy, Mercury NZ and Meridian Energy must supply hedging contracts on even-handed terms to all buyers, under new non-discrimination obligations introduced by the Electricity Authority.
26 May 20262 min read
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KiwiSaver
What the average KiwiSaver balance looks like by age
The average KiwiSaver balance across all members is now $41,286, up 11.3 percent from 2024, according to Retirement Commission data. Balances range from $3,512 for under-17s to $194,276 for those aged 86-plus, with a persistent gender gap of around $9,000.
26 May 20263 min read
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KiwiSaver
How your KiwiSaver balance compares by age — and what the gender gap means
The average KiwiSaver balance across all members hit $41,286 last year, up 11.3 percent. But a 36 percent gap between men and women in the 56-65 age group, and new Retirement Commission data showing balances by age band, give a more nuanced picture of how retirement savings are distributed.
26 May 20264 min read
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Markets
NZ median rent flat at $600/week for two years as tenant activity hits record
Rental bond data shows 48,645 new tenancies in Q1 2026, up 10.2 percent from a year earlier and the highest quarterly figure since 2021. Despite the surge in activity, national median rent held at $600 a week for the second consecutive year.
25 May 20263 min read
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Economy
Strait of Hormuz closure exposes a quarter of NZ economy to supply chain shock
ASB analysis shows more than a quarter of New Zealand's economy has high or very high exposure to disruption from the Strait of Hormuz closure, with effects spreading from fuel and freight into fertiliser, plastics, and food manufacturing.
25 May 20263 min read
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Economy
Bank economists expect RBNZ to hold the OCR — but the inflation debate is far from over
All five major bank economists broadly agree the Reserve Bank will keep the OCR on hold at 2.25 percent on Wednesday, despite inflation sitting above the 1-3 percent target band at 3.1 percent. The timing of future hikes remains the central question.
24 May 20263 min read
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Investing
What Nvidia's record quarter means for New Zealand KiwiSaver investors
Nvidia posted record first-quarter earnings of more than NZ$136 billion — up 85 percent on a year ago. Because most New Zealand KiwiSaver funds have significant exposure to US equities, the average saver has a substantial indirect holding in one company whether they know it or not.
22 May 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
New Zealand's payment system is being reviewed — what the MBIE consultation is asking
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has opened a consultation on whether New Zealand's payment services regulation is fit for purpose in a world where digital wallets, app-based transfers, and stablecoins did not exist when the rules were written.
22 May 20263 min read
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Economy
The $5,000 per household claim — a closer look at where Budget 2024 and 2025 money actually went
The Prime Minister said the Government's savings were equivalent to $5,000 per household. The maths checks out. But where the money actually went tells a more complicated story about priorities, borrowing, and what was cut to make room.
21 May 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
Insurance affordability in New Zealand — what's actually driving up your premium
Tower Insurance says Government levies and taxes now make up 43 cents of every dollar in a home insurance premium — and are calling for a root-cause conversation about what is making insurance unaffordable for many New Zealand households.
21 May 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
Social housing rent changes are coming — what the Kāinga Ora reform means in practice
From April 2027, about 84,000 Kāinga Ora tenants will see their rent contribution rise from 25 to 30 percent of income — an average increase of $31 a week. The Government says the savings will be redirected to the Accommodation Supplement for people in private rentals, and that social housing tenants on benefits still end up with more weekly net income than comparable private renters.
21 May 20263 min read
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Markets
Nearly one in five New Zealand townhouses is selling for less than its owner paid
Almost 20 percent of townhouses changed hands in Q1 2026 for less than their purchase price, according to Cotality data. The median loss was $49,500, and Auckland agents say new developments with incentives are squeezing second-hand townhouse owners trying to resell.
21 May 20263 min read
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Markets
Westpac raises most mortgage terms — and the 18-month rate just broke 5 percent
Westpac has raised rates on every mortgage term except six months and two years, effective Friday. The standout move is the 18-month rate breaking above 5 percent for the first time in this cycle, while the two-year rate stays competitive against BNZ.
21 May 20262 min read
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Personal Finance
No New Zealand bank made Consumer NZ's People's Choice Award this year — here's why
For the first time in a decade, no New Zealand bank qualified for Consumer NZ's People's Choice Award. The reason is not a single bad score but a broad pattern of customer dissatisfaction with banking value, pricing, and trust — with lower-income New Zealanders the most critical.
20 May 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
Fiscal drag is quietly pushing average New Zealand earners into higher tax brackets
New Zealanders on average incomes are paying a larger share of their earnings in tax than at any point since 1984, not because tax rates changed but because wage increases have pushed them into higher brackets while thresholds stayed fixed.
20 May 20264 min read
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Economy
New Zealand's hiring market in seven charts — what Seek's latest data shows
Seek's April employment report shows New Zealand's job ad numbers are still rising, with 13.1 percent more ads than a year ago — but the number of applications per ad has been falling for seven months, as candidate activity declines from the peak reached in August 2025.
20 May 20263 min read
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Economy
The mortgage rate trade-off right now — what ANZ's economists are watching
ANZ's economists have laid out the structural tension facing New Zealand mortgage borrowers: short-term rates are cheaper, but longer terms offer certainty in an environment where the Reserve Bank is expected to raise the OCR three times before the end of the year.
20 May 20264 min read
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Economy
Global bond markets are selloff-ing again — what it means for New Zealand rates
The US 30-year Treasury yield hit its highest level since 2007 overnight, as global bond markets resumed a selloff that has pushed long-term rates in Germany, the UK, and Japan to multi-decade highs. The implications for New Zealand fixed mortgage rates are direct.
19 May 20264 min read
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KiwiSaver
KiwiSaver hits a record $11.1 billion in annual contributions — where the money is actually going
New IRD data shows $11.1 billion in KiwiSaver contributions flowed to fund managers over the year to March — a new record. But the return figures for many funds have been modest, raising questions about whether the volume of flows is matching quality of outcomes.
19 May 20263 min read
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Economy
New Zealand's dry year power risk is dropping — here's why
Contact Energy's CEO says the risk of New Zealand running out of power in winter has fallen significantly, thanks to new solar and geothermal capacity that wasn't available three years ago. But the question of what replaces dwindling gas supplies remains unresolved.
19 May 20264 min read
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Personal Finance
Where term deposit rates stand right now — a snapshot of the market
Term deposit rates have been rising more slowly than mortgage rates, but they are moving. A new rate change from BNZ this week has shifted where the best available rates are on offer across different term lengths.
19 May 20263 min read
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Markets
Mortgage brokers rank the lenders — and the big banks don't all fare equally
A new survey of 224 mortgage brokers ranked ANZ top among the major banks, with flexible credit policy named the most important factor — and non-bank lenders scoring notably well for overall performance.
18 May 20264 min read
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Investing
NZ Super Fund stays the world's best-performing sovereign wealth fund — the numbers behind the ranking
The NZ Super Fund has retained its position as the world's best-performing sovereign wealth fund over 20 years, according to GlobalSWF rankings, with average annual returns of 9.93% before tax versus a 6.2% average for sovereign funds globally.
18 May 20264 min read
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Investing
Venture capital hits a record in New Zealand — even as overall private capital falls
Venture and early-stage investment in New Zealand reached a record $687 million last year, up 17% from 2024, even as total private capital investment fell 35% as large deal activity slowed.
18 May 20264 min read
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Personal Finance
Afterpay's $20 million late fee bill — what the BNPL reforms missed
New Zealanders paid nearly $20 million in Afterpay late fees last year. Consumer advocates say regulatory changes introduced in late 2024 weakened fee protections and created a structure where BNPL providers can charge amounts that don't reflect the actual cost of a missed payment.
17 May 20264 min read
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Economy
Winston Peters wants to buy BNZ and merge it with Kiwibank — what the proposal actually says
NZ First has announced a policy to buy BNZ from its Australian parent and merge it with Kiwibank, creating a Crown-owned bank with the scale to compete with the four Australian-owned majors. The proposal comes with a specific funding structure and ahead of the November election.
17 May 20264 min read
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Economy
Petrol up 34%, diesel up 95% in two months — the fuel inflation picture
Statistics NZ's monthly price index shows petrol prices surged 33.6% and diesel 94.9% from February to April, with the Middle East conflict identified as the primary driver of what the IEA called historic supply disruption.
15 May 20264 min read
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Economy
Air New Zealand's fuel shock: $240m over budget and no easy way out
Jet fuel prices have jumped from US$85 to over $200 a barrel in ten weeks. For Air New Zealand, that means a $240m cost overrun in the second half — and a forecast full-year loss of up to $390m.
14 May 20264 min read
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Economy
New Zealand's population surge is back — but this time it's different
Net migration added 12,178 people in the first quarter — the biggest quarterly gain in two years. Fewer New Zealanders are leaving and more foreign nationals are arriving, particularly on student and work visas.
14 May 20264 min read
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Economy
Why your mortgage rate is heading higher — and what the wholesale market is already pricing in
Wholesale money markets are pricing the OCR to rise from 2.25% to 3.75% over the next year. The mechanics of how that flows through to your fixed mortgage rate aren't as simple as matching the OCR move — and the international benchmarks matter as much as the local one.
14 May 20264 min read
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Markets
Xero's record revenue comes with a trade-off — what the numbers show
Xero posted record revenue of $2.75bn, up 31%, but statutory net profit fell 27% as the Melio acquisition pushed the company into net debt. The gross margin also compressed as the payments business scales.
14 May 20263 min read
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Economy
Kiwibank's partial sell-off is back on the agenda — what the government is saying
The government has asked Kiwibank's parent to revisit options for raising capital, including partial privatisation. It's a reversal of last year's $500m capital raise that was scrapped, and it has political implications heading into the election.
13 May 20263 min read
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Markets
Nearly half of apartment resales sold at a loss in Q1 — the numbers behind the trend
New data from Cotality shows 41% of apartments resold in Q1 fetched less than the previous purchase price. For Auckland investors, the median loss hit $77,000 — and the trend has been building since late 2021.
13 May 20263 min read
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KiwiSaver
The number of kids in KiwiSaver has halved — what changed in a decade
The $1000 kickstart was removed in 2015 and child enrolment has fallen sharply since. Providers say the compounding clock starts too late for too many young New Zealanders.
13 May 20264 min read
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Economy
Westpac forecasts flat year for NZ growth, no recession — but OCR now expected to rise
Westpac has revised its NZ growth forecast down to 1.5% for 2026, sees unemployment rising to 5.6%, and expects the RBNZ to start lifting the OCR again as the Iran conflict drives fuel prices higher.
13 May 20264 min read
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Economy
New home consents up 14.6% — but building costs remain stubbornly high
Q1 new home consents rose 14.6% year-on-year, the third consecutive quarterly increase. But the average cost to build has barely moved — remaining well above $3000 per square metre for the third year running.
12 May 20264 min read
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Personal Finance
A tax change most New Zealanders will never notice — and why that's a problem
IRD has quietly doubled the thresholds for 'cash basis person' status — the first update in 30 years. If you have term deposits or foreign currency accounts, you may have been doing unnecessary tax calculations.
12 May 20264 min read
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Markets
NZ housing market 'in a holding pattern' as values flatline
QV's latest house price index shows national average values barely moving — up 0.3% from January, down 0.2% year-on-year. The picture varies sharply by region, with the South Island outperforming the North.
12 May 20263 min read
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KiwiSaver
KiwiSaver tax tweak could lift balances — here's the mechanism
The OECD says New Zealand is one of only three countries that tax retirement savings twice and let withdrawals slide tax-free. Its proposed fix is gaining attention from providers — but the detail matters.
11 May 20264 min read
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Economy
Are banks recession-proof? What the latest results tell us
ANZ, Westpac and BNZ all posted strong half-year profits. But the narrative that banks make money in any environment is more complicated than it looks — and the latest results contain some important nuances.
11 May 20264 min read
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Economy
RBNZ flags AI could amplify mortgage default risk and cyber threats
The Reserve Bank's latest Financial Stability Report warns that widespread AI adoption could hit borrowers' ability to repay loans and heighten cyber risks — and names Anthropic's Mythos model as a specific concern.
10 May 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
The illiquidity question inside KiwiSaver that most people skip over
KiwiSaver locks your money away until 65, yet the assets inside are highly liquid. Outside KiwiSaver, investors typically get paid more for accepting illiquidity. Inside, you don't. A commentator has been asking why that premium doesn't exist.
8 May 20263 min read
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Investing
Rocket Lab hits record revenue as it eyes a share of Trump's 'Golden Dome' push
The listed space company posted record quarterly revenue and says it is well positioned to tap into a wave of US defence spending following the announcement of a new missile defence architecture.
8 May 20263 min read
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Economy
RBNZ calls for better data sharing between banks and insurers on home cover
The Reserve Bank is pushing for banks to track home insurance coverage across the full life of a mortgage, not just at settlement. The concern: affordability pressures and climate-driven insurance retreat could create hidden pockets of risk in bank loan books. [The Bank released its latest Financial Stability Report this week.](https://www.interest.co.nz/insurance/138373/reserve-bank-says-it-wants-banks-have-much-broader-sense-insurance-coverage-across)
7 May 20263 min read
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Economy
RBNZ flags slower recovery as financial stability risks remain elevated
The Reserve Bank's six-monthly Financial Stability Report warns that global uncertainty and subdued domestic growth mean risks to the financial system remain higher than in recent years, even as banks and farmers show resilience.
6 May 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
NZ passes solar tipping point — what the numbers mean for households
Research from Rewiring Aotearoa suggests New Zealand has crossed the threshold where most households installing solar now save more than they spend. But accessing those savings depends heavily on financing arrangements.
5 May 20263 min read
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Economy
Two-thirds of retailers expect to miss quarterly targets as fuel crisis bites
A Retail NZ survey finds most retailers have shifted from optimism at the start of the year to deep pessimism, with the Middle East fuel crisis now weighing on consumer spending and foot traffic.
4 May 20263 min read
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Economy
Rental market at nine-year high for new tenancies — but rents edge slightly lower
February saw the most new residential tenancy agreements in nine years, with Auckland CBD apartments hitting a record high. Yet median rents dipped slightly, suggesting tenants have more choice than a year ago.
4 May 20263 min read
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Economy
NZ vs Australia: who got the better deal from their EU trade agreements
New Zealand's EU trade deal has been running since May 2024, delivering an extra $3 billion in exports. With Australia's own EU agreement nearly finalised, the details of how the two deals compare are now public.
3 May 20264 min read
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Personal Finance
New free tool: calculate your FIF tax liability under all three IRD methods
A new browser-based calculator lets New Zealand investors compare their FIF tax bill under FDR, CV, and RAM methods — and see which approach is likely to produce the lowest liability for their situation.
2 May 20263 min read
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Economy
NZ building consents rise for first time in three years — what's driving the uptick
The total value of building work consented rose 7.2% to $28.4 billion in the year to March — the first annual increase in three years. But the headline number doesn't tell the whole story about the sector's health.
1 May 20264 min read
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Economy
ANZ business confidence tumbles as firms face a 'wall of worry'
ANZ's April business outlook survey showed a sharp swing from optimism to pessimism, with inflation expectations rising and firms warning hiring and investment decisions may be paused.
30 Apr 20264 min read
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Markets
ANZ forecasts small house price decline as mortgage rates keep rising
ANZ New Zealand's economists are sticking with a 2% house price fall this year, citing OCR hikes starting in July and persistent inflation pressure from oil prices as the main drags.
29 Apr 20263 min read
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Markets
Mum and dad investors pull back: what shrinking landlord activity means for the housing market
A record share of small investors plan to sell, with few looking to buy. The forces behind that shift — and what it means for market dynamics — go beyond sentiment.
28 Apr 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
NZ's savings rate: bottom of the world — but is the comparison fair?
A widely shared graphic ranks New Zealand last among OECD nations for household savings. The picture is more complicated than the ranking suggests — and the long-term trend matters more than the snapshot.
27 Apr 20263 min read
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Investing
NZ business sales hit record — who's buying and what's changed
A record 514 small and medium-sized businesses sold in the year to March 2026, up 21% on the prior year. The buyer profile is shifting, and AI anxiety is now showing up as a purchase driver.
26 Apr 20263 min read
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Personal Finance
FMA tracks bank OCR pass-through — but has no power to force changes
The FMA publishes how much of the OCR cuts banks pass through to mortgage borrowers, but acknowledges it has no legal power to make them pass on any particular amount.
25 Apr 20263 min read
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Economy
India-NZ free trade deal passes: what the $20 billion investment clause means
Labour's backing has given the India-New Zealand free trade agreement the numbers it needed to pass. One contested clause — a commitment to promote $20 billion of NZ private investment in India — has become the defining fight.
24 Apr 20263 min read
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Economy
Moody's downgrades NZ outlook: what the credit rating change means
Moody's has shifted New Zealand's credit outlook to negative from stable, while keeping its top AAA rating. Here's what that distinction means and why it matters.
23 Apr 20264 min read
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Economy
How CPI Inflation Is Measured in New Zealand
How Stats NZ compiles the Consumers Price Index, what the basket actually contains, and how the CPI feeds into Reserve Bank policy decisions.
21 Apr 20262 min read
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Investing
Understanding Imputation Credits on NZX Dividends
Imputation credits are a key feature of the New Zealand tax system for shareholders. This article explains how these credits work to prevent double taxation on company profits distributed as dividends.
21 Apr 20263 min read
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Economy
How the Official Cash Rate (OCR) Is Set in New Zealand
A short explainer on how New Zealand's Official Cash Rate is decided, who decides it, and the mechanical path from an OCR change to commercial interest rates.
21 Apr 20262 min read
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KiwiSaver
Understanding KiwiSaver: A Complete Guide for 2026
Everything you need to know about KiwiSaver - how it works, choosing funds, and maximizing your returns for retirement.
24 Feb 20263 min read
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Property
First Home Buyer Guide: Everything You Need to Know in NZ
Navigate the NZ property market as a first home buyer. Learn about deposits, grants, KiwiSaver withdrawals, and getting mortgage-ready.
20 Feb 20264 min read
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Investing
ETFs vs Index Funds: Which is Right for NZ Investors?
Understand the differences between ETFs and index funds, and learn which investment vehicle suits your goals.
15 Feb 20264 min read
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