Finance News & Articles
Government to Monetise Chorus Debt, Funding New Infrastructure Projects in 2026
1 week ago | 83 viewsThe Government will monetise its debt in Chorus, recovering funds earlier than the original 2036 repayment schedule to invest in capital projects like schools, hospitals, and roads. This decision follows the completion of the fibre broadband rollout, funded by $1.336 billion in interest-free loans to Chorus between 2012 and 2023, with $170 million repaid in 2025. The monetisation process will begin in early 2026, with proceeds ring-fenced for Budget 2026 infrastructure needs, and will not affect Chorus’s ownership or services.
Tags: Nicola Willis Chris Bishop Government Chorus telecommunications fibre broadband New Zealand monetisation infrastructure Budget 2026Reserve Bank Eases Capital Requirements to Boost NZ Bank Competition and Lending
1 week ago | 85 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed the Reserve Bank’s decision to ease some capital requirements imposed on banks in 2019, including adjustments to risk weights. These changes aim to enhance competition, particularly benefiting smaller banks and increasing lending to key sectors like agriculture. The revised requirements maintain prudence while promoting a more balanced approach between risk management and fostering competition, with gradual implementation planned.
Tags: Nicola Willis Reserve Bank Finance Minister New Zealand banking sector capital requirements risk weights competition lending agriculture sectorNZ Government Commits to Fiscal Discipline with Surplus Target by 2029
1 week ago | 119 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis emphasizes the need for continued fiscal discipline to restore New Zealand’s budget surplus and reduce debt, despite Treasury’s forecast of a strong economic recovery with 3% growth and low inflation. The government aims for a surplus by 2028/29 through a medium-term fiscal consolidation strategy, maintaining tight control over discretionary spending and limiting operating allowances to $2.4 billion next year. Priorities include health, education, defence, and law and order, with new funding to come from savings and reprioritisation, ensuring the country remains fiscally responsible compared to other advanced economies.
Tags: Nicola Willis New Zealand Treasury Budget OBEGALx fiscal discipline economic recovery debt inflation governmentNew Overseas Investment Law Speeds Approvals and Boosts NZ Economic Growth
1 week ago | 116 viewsAssociate Finance Minister David Seymour welcomes the Overseas Investment Amendment Act, which accelerates overseas investment decisions to 15 working days for most sectors, aiming to boost New Zealand business growth, productivity, and wages. The law simplifies the screening process with a modified national interest test, maintains stricter rules for sensitive assets like farmland and residential land, and allows overseas investors with a New Zealand investor resident visa to purchase high-value homes to encourage investment. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford highlights that attracting international investors brings capital, skills, and connections vital for economic development and growth.
Tags: David Seymour Erica Stanford Overseas Investment Act New Zealand LINZ Active Investor Plus immigration foreign investment economic growth productivity38 New Appointments Strengthen New Zealand’s 12 Community Trusts
3 weeks ago | 130 viewsAssociate Finance Minister Shane Jones announced 38 appointments and reappointments to New Zealand's 12 community trusts, which collectively manage over $3.5 billion in investments and grant around $100 million annually to local organizations. The appointees bring diverse expertise across sectors such as education, healthcare, governance, and environmental protection, supporting the trusts' role in building strong, empowered communities nationwide. These trusts, governed by the Community Trusts Act 1999, serve their regions by managing investments and distributing grants for charitable and community development purposes, with terms lasting up to four years.
Tags: Shane Jones Tevita Funaki Philip Crump Aryana Nafissi Martin Cleave Natalie Bridges Robert Dol Stu Husband Deserae Frisk Rangimahora ReddyGovernment to Introduce Rates Cap Limiting Council Increases to 4% from 2027
3 weeks ago | 129 viewsThe Government will introduce a rates cap limiting annual council rates increases to between 2 and 4 percent per capita, aiming to control rising household costs while ensuring councils can maintain essential services. The cap will apply from January 2027 with a transition period for councils to adapt, and a regulator will oversee exceptions for extreme circumstances or justified revenue needs. Legislation will be finalized by early 2026, with the full regulatory framework implemented by mid-2029, including ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements for councils.
Tags: Simon Watts Government Local Government Minister councils rates cap rates increases household budgets Local Government Act Department of Internal Affairs regulatorOpen Banking Launches in New Zealand: Faster Loans, Easier Budgeting & Secure Data Sharing
3 weeks ago | 162 viewsOpen banking officially launched in New Zealand on 1 December 2025, enabling faster loan approvals, easier bill management, and personalized budgeting through secure, regulated sharing of financial data with customer consent. The new system, regulated under the Customer and Product Data Act 2025, requires major banks to implement open banking capabilities and mandates accreditation for third-party data requestors to ensure security and trust. This initiative aims to boost innovation and competition in the banking sector, benefiting consumers, small businesses, and fintech companies by providing enhanced financial tools and services.
Tags: Scott Simpson Open Banking New Zealand MBIE Customer and Product Data Act 2025 ANZ ASB BNZ Westpac KiwibankRodger Finlay Appointed Reserve Bank Chair and Rhiannon McKinnon Joins Board
4 weeks ago | 151 viewsRodger Finlay has been appointed Chair of the Reserve Bank, continuing his leadership since August 2023, while Rhiannon McKinnon joins the Bank’s Board for a five-year term. These appointments are part of a broader refresh of the Reserve Bank, which includes new leadership, committees, and a focus on increased accountability, transparency, and banking competition. Both appointees bring extensive experience in governance and financial management, supporting the Bank's statutory responsibilities and government expectations.
Tags: Rodger Finlay Rhiannon McKinnon Nicola Willis Reserve Bank Kiwi Wealth NZ Post Kiwi Group Holdings NZ Oil and Gas PGG Wrightson NZ Film CommissionReserve Bank Cuts OCR Again to 2.25%, Boosting Kiwi Economy in 2026
4 weeks ago | 170 viewsThe Reserve Bank has lowered the Official Cash Rate to 2.25%, marking the ninth reduction since July 2024, which is boosting economic activity and supporting forecasts of falling inflation and rising growth. This easing of rates is benefiting households by increasing mortgage renewal opportunities and enabling more Kiwis to purchase their first homes, with 23,600 first-time buyers in the past year. Finance Minister Nicola Willis highlights that these positive economic trends offer hope and improved financial choices for New Zealand families and businesses.
Tags: Nicola Willis Reserve Bank Official Cash Rate OCR New Zealand inflation economic growth mortgage lending first home buyers Kiwi familiesNew Zealand Simplifies AML Rules to Ease Financial Transactions and Cut Red Tape
1 month ago | 164 viewsNew Zealand's Parliament has passed the first of several Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulatory reforms aimed at simplifying financial transactions by reducing red tape. The Statutes Amendment Bill introduces key changes, including eliminating the need to verify a customer's address for standard due diligence, easing processes like opening basic bank accounts. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee emphasizes that these reforms will create a more risk-based, efficient AML system that reduces unnecessary paperwork while better targeting real crime.
Tags: Nicole McKee AML Statutes Amendment Bill New Zealand Associate Justice Minister customer verification financial transactions ParliamentNZ Banks Gain Freedom to Share Fraud Data, Cutting Red Tape and Boosting Security
1 month ago | 150 viewsAssociate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has introduced a ministerial exemption to the AML/CFT Act 2009, allowing banks to share anti-money laundering information to better prevent fraud and scams. This reduction in red tape enables banks to act faster and collaborate more effectively to freeze scam transfers before funds are lost overseas. The government aims to create more agile regulatory settings by freeing businesses from excessive compliance burdens while targeting actual financial criminals through wider AML/CFT reforms.
Tags: Nicole McKee Associate Justice Minister New Zealand fraud prevention scams banks regulatory reform financial crimeReserve Bank Eases Lending Rules to Boost First-Home Buyers from December
1 month ago | 210 viewsThe Reserve Bank is easing Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR) restrictions, allowing commercial banks to increase lending to home buyers with smaller deposits from 20% to 25%, benefiting mainly first-home buyers. Additionally, lending to property investors with deposits under 30% will rise from 5% to 10%, reflecting increased banking system resilience due to prior debt-to-income restrictions. Finance Minister Nicola Willis welcomes these changes, which take effect on December 1, as they improve opportunities for young families to enter the housing market.
Tags: Nicola Willis Reserve Bank LVR restrictions commercial banks DTI restrictions property investors home loansFamilyBoost Scheme Expands, Thousands of Households Benefit with $150+ Payments - Finance Minister Nicola Willis
1 month ago | 244 viewsThe FamilyBoost scheme has expanded, with over 11,500 households now receiving at least $150 a fortnight in payments. Families can claim larger rebates on early childhood education fees, leading to over 78,000 households benefiting from the program. The average payment for the September quarter is nearly $100 per fortnight, encouraging eligible households to apply through the IRD website.
Tags: FamilyBoost payments households scheme Finance Minister Nicola Willis rebates early childhood education New Zealanders young familiesGovernment Accepts Banking Competition Recommendations for Increased Innovation and Consumer Benefits
1 month ago | 158 viewsThe Government has accepted or partially accepted all recommendations from the Finance and Expenditure Committee's inquiry into banking competition, focusing on business, rural banking, and lending to Māori entities. The findings highlighted concerns about high banking profitability, market concentration, barriers to entry, and regulatory settings, aligning with the Commerce Commission's report. Actions include allowing Kiwibank's parent company to raise capital, emphasizing banking competition in policies, encouraging standardization of financial information, disclosing account profitability, expanding regulatory sandbox trials, developing a licensing model for innovation, and coordinating monitoring through the Treasury.
Tags: Government Finance and Expenditure Committee Nicola Willis Commerce Commission Kiwibank Reserve Bank Scott Simpson Financial Markets Authority Treasury Māori.New Zealand Government Boosts Crown Liquidity Facility for Local Government Financing
1 month ago | 334 viewsThe Government is increasing and extending the Crown Liquidity Facility (CLF) for the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Limited (LGFA) to support local government borrowing. The CLF helps LGFA secure competitively priced financing for local authorities during exceptional circumstances. The facility, established in 2011 and never used, is being raised to $3 billion and extended to June 2037 to assist in financing critical infrastructure and public services.
Tags: Government Crown Liquidity Facility New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Limited Finance Minister Nicola Willis financing infrastructure public services Global Financial Crisis councils