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Latest FromTamsyn Parker

False hope? Kiwibuild's marketing under fire.

BUSINESS

Kiwibuild marketing giving 'false hope' to first home buyers

13 Jun, 2019 6:45pm
4 minutes to read

KiwiBuild accused of giving "false hope" to first home buyers.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford denied through a spokesman the Government was encouraging people to borrow $500k. Photo / Jason Oxenham

BUSINESS

KiwiBuild grilled over questionable mortgage marketing

13 Jun, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

Is KiwiBuild encouraging people to take on too much debt?

The Government was warned a year ago about the over-taxing of KiwiSaver members. Photo / Kenny Rodger

BUSINESS

IRD says it will take action to stop KiwiSaver over-taxing

11 Jun, 2019 7:31am
6 minutes to read

The Government was warned about the over-taxing of KiwiSaver members last year.

Just one in five people have thought about protecting their income should they have an illness or accident. Photo / Supplied

BUSINESS

Why we insure our cars but not our income

10 Jun, 2019 8:00pm
3 minutes to read

Kiwis insure their cars and homes but not their income.

Bank of New Zealand says it won't make any regional branch closures for next three years. Photo/Lin Ferguson.

BUSINESS

Bank puts hold on regional branch closures until 2022

10 Jun, 2019 9:00am
2 minutes to read

BNZ has made a promise not to close regional branches for the next three years.

The Insurance Council claims Wellington's insurance market is not broken despite the rising cost of premiums. Photo / NZPA

BUSINESS

Is Wellington's insurance market broken?

10 Jun, 2019 8:46am
5 minutes to read

Insurance body says Wellington market is cheaper than other quake-risk cities overseas.

KiwiSaver providers are divided over investing in privately-owned New Zealand companies. Photo/Steven McNicholl.

BUSINESS

The 'massive issue with very lazy KiwiSaver managers'

4 Jun, 2019 11:34am
5 minutes to read

KiwiSaver providers are divided over the value of investing directly into NZ inc.

Diane Maxwell will finish as Retirement Commissioner at the end of the month.

BUSINESS

Diane Maxwell's exit heralds new Retirement Commissioner

4 Jun, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Retirement Commissioner Diane Maxwell will finish up her job at the end of June.

BUSINESS

How venture capital boost could help 100 start-ups

31 May, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

Venture capital boost welcomed but the devil will be in the detail.

People are already questioning what they can insure, for how much and how long, says Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr.

BUSINESS

Reserve Bank warns of insurance risk to house values

30 May, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

Reserve Bank's insurance warning to high-risk property owners.

Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr says risks to the financial system remain elevated. Photo/Mark Mitchell.

BUSINESS

Reserve Bank warning: household debts too high

29 May, 2019 8:12am
4 minutes to read

The Reserve Bank has released it latest report on the banking and finance sector.

The Auckland property market is flat to falling but experts don't expert the Reserve Bank to ease lending restrictions this week. Photo / Chris Loufte

BUSINESS

Could securing a mortgage get easier?

28 May, 2019 7:00pm
6 minutes to read

New data shows bank lending is well below the cap.

Retirement Commissioner Diane Maxwell has been cleared of bullying allegations. Photo/ Supplied

BUSINESS

Retirement Commissioner investigation handled 'shockingly'

27 May, 2019 3:10pm
5 minutes to read

Maxwell considers her next step as cost of bullying investigation revealed.

Hop Revolution's hop garden at Tapawera. Photo / Supplied

BUSINESS

New fund to invest in horticulture land

27 May, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

A new fund will invest in a range of horticultural land opportunities.

Capital proposals will add $6000 a year to the cost of an average Auckland mortgage. Photo / Doug Sherring

BUSINESS

Westpac warning: Changes to add $6K a year to mortgages

24 May, 2019 7:30am
5 minutes to read

Westpac Bank says capital proposals will hit mortgage holders in the pocket.

TSB Bank has joined with three other NZ-owned banks in warning Reserve Bank capital proposals could make it harder for the smaller banks to compete. Photo/Supplied.

BUSINESS

NZ-owned banks speak out: proposals will make it harder to compete

23 May, 2019 6:20pm
4 minutes to read

Smaller Kiwi-owned banks warn capital proposals will make it harder to compete.

Medical Cannabis researchers (from left) Mark Lucas, Nic Foreman and PhD student Daniel Reason of Cannasouth Plant Research in their Hamilton research laboratory. Photo / File

BUSINESS

Green light on first sharemarket listing in two years

18 May, 2019 10:24am
6 minutes to read

A cannabis research company is hoping to raise up to $10 million to list on the NZX.

Should the worst performing KiwiSaver funds have the money taken off them? Photo / 123RF

BUSINESS

Should we weed out the worst performing KiwiSaver funds?

17 May, 2019 6:00pm
6 minutes to read

Should the worst performing KiwiSaver funds have the money taken off them?

Analysts have given Westpac shares a sell rating. Photo/Stuart Munro.

BUSINESS

Continuous Disclosure: Analysts take knife to Westpac, auditor cries foul over Tegel accounts, Vodafone's missing link

17 May, 2019 5:40pm
8 minutes to read

Market news and opinion.

Kiwibank will stop accepting cheques by February 28, 2020. Photo / 123RF

BUSINESS

Kiwibank to ditch cheques by 2020

16 May, 2019 2:00pm
4 minutes to read

Bank says the cheque won't be in the mail.

AMI Porirua is one of seven branches which may be closed by the insurer. Photo/Supplied.

BUSINESS

Insurer plans to cut AMI branch numbers

15 May, 2019 12:31pm
2 minutes to read

Insurer to cut branches in rural areas.

KiwiSaver fund not doing so well? Photo / 123RF

BUSINESS

What to do if your KiwiSaver fund is a poor performer

14 May, 2019 6:58pm
4 minutes to read

KiwiSaver fund not doing so well? Here's what you should do.

Top performing funds in the conservative and balanced categories are much smaller. Photo / Kenny Rodger.

BUSINESS

KiwiSaver: The best and worst performers

13 May, 2019 11:00am
6 minutes to read

AMP has poor performing fund in the conservative and balanced categories.

Borrowers have never had it better when it comes to record low home loan rates. Photo/Michael Craig.

BUSINESS

Which bank is winning the mortgage war?

10 May, 2019 5:58pm
6 minutes to read

Mortgage rates have been dropping but who has won the most business?

Bank's mortgage rates remain higher in New Zealand despite the cash rate being the same. Photo/File.

BUSINESS

Mortgage rates higher here than Oz: are we being ripped off?

10 May, 2019 5:47pm
5 minutes to read

Mortgage rates remain lower in Australia even though the cash rate is the same.

Two banks will cut home loan rates in the wake of the official cash rate cut. Photo/Michael Craig.

BUSINESS

Banks cut mortgage and deposit rates after OCR decision

8 May, 2019 6:20pm
3 minutes to read

Two banks have already announced cuts to home loan rates.

Many renters, younger people and those in the regions have been left struggling to make ends meet. Photo / File

BUSINESS

The losers in the 'Rockstar economy'

7 May, 2019 2:07pm
3 minutes to read

NZ's economy has been booming for the last 10 years, but some groups have missed out.

KiwiSaver members are being warned to be wary of forecasts made by online calculators. Photo/Supplied.

BUSINESS

Why you can't trust KiwiSaver calculators

7 May, 2019 5:00am
2 minutes to read

There is a vast difference between calculators on KiwiSaver provider's websites.

Westpac boss David McLean is worried about deposit rates. Photo/Supplied.

BUSINESS

Why Westpac boss is worried about deposit rates

6 May, 2019 3:20pm
3 minutes to read

Why the boss of Westpac is worried about deposit rates.

Westpac New Zealand chief executive David McLean. Photo/Brett Phibbs.

BUSINESS

Westpac profit rises to $555 million

6 May, 2019 8:44am
3 minutes to read

Westpac's half year profit has hit $555 million.

Who has the lowest KiwiSaver fees? Photo/Getty Images.

BUSINESS

Battle heats up to become cheapest KiwiSaver provider

6 May, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

KiwiSaver: Focus on who has lowest fees after BNZ cuts its charges.

BNZ profits rose 12.2 per cent. Photo/File.

BUSINESS

BNZ makes half billion dollars in six months

2 May, 2019 6:00pm
4 minutes to read

Strong home and business lending growth has boosted profits at the BNZ.

An accountant is warning people to be wary of any accidental tax refunds they may have received over the Easter holiday break. Photo / 123rf

BUSINESS

Warning over 'tax refunds' appearing in Kiwi accounts

29 Apr, 2019 5:41pm
3 minutes to read

Did you receive a "tax refund" over Easter? It may need to be paid back.

IAG, New Zealand's largest home insurer, will take natural disaster and weather related risk into account in its premiums. Photo / File

BUSINESS

Biggest home insurer to charge more for natural disaster risk

29 Apr, 2019 5:40pm
4 minutes to read

Insurer says it will charge more to insure properties in high risk areas.

Technology has long been used in the fight against forgery. Photo/RBNZ.

BUSINESS

The high tech fight against NZ banknote forging

21 Apr, 2019 12:00am
5 minutes to read

The technology behind the shimmer in our notes and passports.

People who have life insurance with AIA New Zealand will be able to join its Vitality programme from June. Photo / Getty Images

BUSINESS

$4000 reward: Insurer cuts rates for 'healthy' lifestyles

20 Apr, 2019 8:40am
6 minutes to read

NZ's largest life insurer is hoping to shake-up the market with a new health programme.

AIG has been a major sponsor of the All Blacks and it uses Richie McCaw in its marketing material Photo/Norrie Montgomery.

BUSINESS

Insurer's parent hoovers up higher dividend

17 Apr, 2019 11:06am
2 minutes to read

The local arm of insurer AIG paid a higher dividend to its parent last year.

Kiwis are among some of the worst savers in the developed world. Photo/file.

BUSINESS

Kiwis among world's worst savers

17 Apr, 2019 9:52am
3 minutes to read

Kiwis are among some of the worst savers in the developed world.

The Inland Revenue has cut 770 full time equivalent roles since 2016. Photo/Janna Dixon.

BUSINESS

IRD half way through 1500 job cull

15 Apr, 2019 11:08am
2 minutes to read

The tax department will cut 1500 jobs by 2021.

More than 1.5 million Kiwis are due a tax refund this year while 240,000 people are likely to owe money to Inland Revenue. Photo / 123rf

BUSINESS

1.6 million Kiwis set for tax refunds: Are you one of them?

15 Apr, 2019 7:43am
5 minutes to read

The Inland Revenue is shutting down its online services from Thursday for a week.

Cindy Hook, Asia Pacific chief executive for Deloitte, says men need to push for more women at the top. Photo/Supplied.

BUSINESS

Men need to take the lead on gender equality: top accounting boss

14 Apr, 2019 4:17pm
4 minutes to read

A top boss at Deloitte says men need to push for gender equality, not just women.

Chorus chief executive Kate McKenzie says it needed to do more to mitigate the risks around breaches in employment law for sub-contracted migrant workers. Photo/Peter Meecham.

BUSINESS

Chorus black-lists 22 companies from UFB work

13 Apr, 2019 8:30am
5 minutes to read

Chorus implement new measures aimed at stopping migrant worker exploitation.

An independent report on Chorus and its subcontractors has found more could have been done to prevent worker exploitation. Photo/Peter de Graaf.

BUSINESS

Chorus should have done more to mitigate worker exploitation risk: report

12 Apr, 2019 8:58am
4 minutes to read

A report into Chorus and its subcontractors has been released.

Kiwibank and NZ Post are ditching their co-location model. Photo / Sadie Beckman

BUSINESS

Kiwibank to close two Auckland branches as shake-up continues

11 Apr, 2019 8:12am
4 minutes to read

Kiwibank is to close two branches in Ellerslie and Otahuhu as it splits from NZ Post.

Saving 10pc of an average salary and investing in growth fund could add up to $1.5m. Photo / 123RF

BUSINESS

How the average earner could save $1.5m in KiwiSaver

11 Apr, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

Saving 10pc of an average salary and investing in growth fund could add up to $1.5m.

Gina Dellabarca, head of human resources and corporate affairs at Westpac New Zealand. Photo/Phil Walter.

BUSINESS

Why flexible working doesn't work in practice

8 Apr, 2019 12:30pm
3 minutes to read

Flexible working sounds good but many still aren't comfortable leaving the office loudly.

ANZ says it will resume advertising on Facebook in the coming weeks. Photo/Dean Purcell.

BUSINESS

NZ's biggest bank set to return to social media advertising

8 Apr, 2019 10:18am
4 minutes to read

The return of the bank will bring the industry-wide stand-off to an end.

Sir Stephen Tindall's investment arm K1W1 is supporting KiwiSaver provider Simplicity, set up by Sam Stubbs, through a $1.5m loan.

BUSINESS

Sir Stephen Tindall's K1W1 to back KiwiSaver start-up Simplicity

8 Apr, 2019 6:53am
2 minutes to read

Sir Stephen Tindall's investment fund has given a loan to Simplicity.

ASB and BNZ have launched three year fixed term mortgage rates of 3.95 per cent. Photo/Michael Craig.

BUSINESS

Mortgage wars: 3 year rates now below 4%

6 Apr, 2019 9:20am
5 minutes to read

Two major banks are now offering sub-4 per cent rates over three years.

Susan Taylor, chief executive of Financial Services Complaints, says it is the first time it has terminated a membership because a company didn't pay an award.

BUSINESS

Finance company blocked from offering consumer loans after dispute

5 Apr, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

Finance company had its membership of dispute scheme cancelled after it didn't pay award.

AMP New Zealand saw its funds under management drop last year, according to figures from Strategic Insight. Photo/Scott Barbour.

BUSINESS

AMP NZ loses funds under management while rivals gain

4 Apr, 2019 9:08am
2 minutes to read

AMP's funds under management have fallen while other major providers gained.

Ian Narev, a Kiwi and former chief executive of Commonwealth Bank of Australia has resurfaced in a new role at recruitment firm Seek. Photo/Supplied.

BUSINESS

CBA's former Kiwi boss recruited by Seek

2 Apr, 2019 2:19pm
2 minutes to read

Kiwi Ian Narev is to take up a role at Seek a year after leaving Commonwealth Bank.

Tax Working Group chairman Sir Michael Cullen has been paid more than $84k for his work so far. Photo/Mark Mitchell.

BUSINESS

Tax windfall: Michael Cullen paid $84,000 for 'part-time' role

2 Apr, 2019 9:44am
2 minutes to read

Sir Michael Cullen has earned more than $84k as chair of the Tax Working Group.

Inland Revenue says payday filing is designed to make the tax system more accurate. Photo/Supplied.

BUSINESS

Up to half of SME employers not ready for biggest payday change in 20 years - MYOB research

1 Apr, 2019 10:43am
3 minutes to read

Many employers still aren't ready for the changes that come into effect today.

People can increase their KiwiSaver contributions easily now but experts say it should be a considered decision. Photo / File

BUSINESS

KiwiSaver: Should you increase your contribution rate?

1 Apr, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

KiwiSaver members now have the option to contribute at 6pc and 10pc but should they?

BUSINESS

Employers brace for big tax shake-up

30 Mar, 2019 8:19am
5 minutes to read

Some business owners are worried payday filing will add time and increase payroll costs.

Administration and legal costs are adding up for investors in failed companies Halifax and CBL Corporation. Photo/Duncan Brown.

BUSINESS

$576 an hour for administration work on failed Halifax

29 Mar, 2019 2:10pm
2 minutes to read

Administration and legal costs are taking a hefty toll on two failed companies.

All current retirees are spending more than what they get in NZ Super. Photo / Getty Images

BUSINESS

The magic amount you need for a comfortable retirement

28 Mar, 2019 11:10am
4 minutes to read

All current retirees are spending more than what they get in NZ Super.

One problem is the proposals do not treat all investors the same. Photo / 123RF

BUSINESS

Capital Gains Tax: What it means for KiwiSaver

27 Mar, 2019 5:00am
8 minutes to read

One problem is the proposals do not treat all investors the same.

Arms and ammunition continue to feature on some investment portfolios. Photo/Getty Images.

BUSINESS

Does your KiwiSaver invest in guns?

25 Mar, 2019 8:44am
6 minutes to read

What KiwiSaver providers are doing about gun-related investments.

Kiwi investors confront the online giants. Photo / 123RF

BUSINESS

Guns, Facebook and Google - fund managers' dilemma

23 Mar, 2019 5:00am
8 minutes to read

KiwiSaver providers say they are talking to Facebook about concerns over the terror video.

A woman has been compensated by ASB after discovering the bank did not claim for her KiwiSaver government contributions. Photo/Richard Robinson.

BUSINESS

Woman shocked by funding error from Kiwisaver provider

21 Mar, 2019 3:20pm
5 minutes to read

A KiwiSaver provider didn't apply for a woman's government contributions.