Finance News & Articles
Showing 15 of 2394 articles
KiwiSaver Average Balance Hits $40,000 as Membership and Contributions Grow
09 Sep 2026 | 2 weeks ago | 218 viewsThe average KiwiSaver balance has surpassed $40,000 for the first time, with total investments reaching $138.8 billion and strong growth in member contributions and new enrollments. Increased competition in the KiwiSaver market is evident, with 460,000 fund switches and $7.4 billion moved between providers last year, encouraging members to review and choose better options. Additionally, the government introduced a bill allowing workers in service tenancies to use KiwiSaver for home purchases, supporting first-home buyers and enhancing savings accessibility.
Tags: KiwiSaver Cameron Brewer Financial Markets Authority New Zealand Commerce and Consumer Affairs KiwiSaver Annual Report Government property ladder KiwiSaver (First Home or Farm) Amendment Bill first homesDavid McClatchy Reappointed to Guardians of NZ Superannuation Board for 3 Years
09 Sep 2026 | 2 weeks ago | 257 viewsDavid McClatchy has been reappointed for three years as a member of the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation Board, which manages the NZ Superannuation Fund and Elevate NZ Venture Capital Fund valued at $94.4 billion. His extensive experience in investment management and governance contributes to the board’s stability, leadership, and expertise during a period of economic uncertainty. The reappointment reflects the Government’s commitment to strong governance and robust investment performance to grow New Zealand’s sovereign wealth funds for future generations.
Tags: David McClatchy Nicola Willis Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation Board NZ Superannuation Fund Elevate NZ Venture Capital Fund New Zealand Finance Minister sovereign wealth funds investment governance business leaderWills Month: How Kiwis Can Leave a Charitable Legacy for Future Generations
08 Sep 2026 | 2 weeks ago | 224 viewsWills Month encourages New Zealanders to consider leaving charitable bequests as part of the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in the country’s history, estimated at $1.6 trillion by 2050. Research shows many Kiwis value generosity but few receive professional advice on charitable giving, highlighting an opportunity for collaboration between financial advisors and the charitable sector. Minister Louise Upston urges individuals to discuss charitable bequests with advisors to create lasting community legacies and emphasizes New Zealand’s strong tradition of giving, with charities receiving $5.16 billion in 2024/2025.
Tags: Wills Month Louise Upston New Zealand charitable legacy intergenerational wealth transfer Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ bequests professional financial advice Community Law Citizen’s Advice Bureau25 Appointments Made to Nine New Zealand Community Trusts to Boost Local Support
02 Sep 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 294 viewsAssociate Finance Minister Shane Jones announced 25 appointments and reappointments to nine of New Zealand's 12 community trusts, which manage over $3.5 billion in investments and grant about $100 million annually to various organizations. The appointees bring diverse expertise across sectors such as education, healthcare, business, and community development to support the trusts' mission of strengthening communities. These trusts, governed by the Community Trusts Act 1999, serve charitable, cultural, philanthropic, and recreational purposes within their regions, with terms lasting up to four years.
Tags: Shane Jones Blair Currie Christine Hall Andrew Peckham Chris Williams Catriona McKay Jared Pullar Ryan Eagar Bali Haque Chris UssherKiwiSaver Changes Help Farm Workers Buy First Homes and Farms in NZ
01 Sep 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 267 viewsNew legislation will allow farm workers to use their KiwiSaver savings to buy their first home, addressing rules that previously excluded rural workers from first-home withdrawals. The bill also permits first-time farm buyers to use KiwiSaver funds for farms owned through companies, trusts, or partnerships they control, reflecting how farm ownership typically operates. These changes aim to make homeownership fairer and reduce debt for rural workers, enabling them to own property alongside their work.
Tags: Nicola Willis Cameron Brewer Suze Redmayne KiwiSaver Farm workers First home New Zealand Rangitīkei Commerce and Consumer Affairs Finance MinisterFarm Workers Can Now Use KiwiSaver Savings to Buy Their First Home
01 Sep 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 309 viewsNew legislation allows farm workers to use their KiwiSaver savings to buy their first home, addressing previous rules that excluded rural workers required to live on-site. The KiwiSaver (First Home or Farm) Amendment Bill also permits first-time farm buyers to use their savings when purchasing a farm through a majority-owned company, trust, or partnership, reflecting how farm ownership typically operates. This change aims to make farm ownership more accessible, reducing debt for new owners and recognizing the contributions of rural workers.
Tags: Nicola Willis Cameron Brewer Suze Redmayne KiwiSaver Farm workers First Home New Zealand Rangitīkei Commerce and Consumer Affairs Finance MinisterS&P Affirms New Zealand’s AA+ Rating with Stable Outlook and Growth Forecast
31 Aug 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 295 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis welcomed S&P’s affirmation of New Zealand’s AA+ credit rating with a stable outlook, highlighting the agency’s confidence in the economy and government fiscal management. S&P forecasts 2.5% economic growth by June next year and praises New Zealand’s monetary policy flexibility, low net debt, and strong institutions, despite some external imbalances and fiscal deficits. The agency also acknowledges government actions like tax reductions and investment incentives aimed at reducing the deficit and revitalizing the economy, supporting a positive outlook for job creation and fiscal surplus.
Tags: Nicola Willis S&P New Zealand Finance Minister credit rating economy government fiscal policy economic growth monetary policyGovernment Caps Council Rates Increases at 4% to Keep Costs Affordable
25 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 365 viewsThe Government will cap council rates increases at 4 percent to keep rates affordable and ease cost-of-living pressures, requiring councils to limit annual increases within a 2-4 percent target range starting from July 2027 and fully effective by July 2029. Exemptions to the cap will be allowed only in exceptional circumstances, such as natural disasters or justified financial management needs, with councils required to consult their communities before setting rates. An independent regulator will oversee compliance, assess exemptions, advise on target ranges, and support councils during implementation, while water services remain regulated separately.
Tags: Simon Watts Local Government Council rates Rates capping New Zealand Cost of living Fiscal discipline Natural disasters Independent regulatorNew Zealand Government Monetises $702M Chorus Debt to Fund Key Infrastructure Projects
06 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 493 viewsThe New Zealand Government has entered binding agreements to monetise $642 million of interest-free loans provided to Chorus for fibre broadband rollout, generating net proceeds of approximately $702 million. This early monetisation enables reinvestment in critical infrastructure projects such as roads, hospitals, and schools, supporting economic growth and addressing the country's infrastructure deficit. The transaction does not affect Chorus ownership or services and reflects the Government’s commitment to disciplined public finances and strategic infrastructure investment.
Tags: Nicola Willis Chris Bishop Chorus The Crown New Zealand NIFFCo Finance Minister Infrastructure Minister Budget 2026James Miller Appointed Chair of New Zealand's Financial Markets Authority
05 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 474 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis and Commerce Minister Cameron Brewer announced James Miller as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) for a five-year term starting August 6, highlighting his extensive experience in capital markets and governance. The government aims to reform New Zealand's capital markets by reducing costs and complexity to encourage local listings and strengthen KiwiSaver balances, with the FMA now overseeing consumer credit regulation as a single financial markets conduct regulator. Additionally, Trevor Janes was appointed to the FMA board for two years, both bringing significant expertise to support the FMA's role in promoting fair, efficient, and transparent financial markets.
Tags: Nicola Willis Cameron Brewer James Miller Trevor Janes Steven Bardy Financial Markets Authority NZX KiwiSaver New Zealand Order of Merit NZ RegCoFamilyBoost Payments Support Over 97,500 NZ Families with Childcare Costs
27 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 446 viewsOver 97,500 New Zealand families have received FamilyBoost payments, which were expanded last year to increase the rebate from 25% to 40%, raise the maximum weekly payment to $120, and extend eligibility to households earning up to $229,000 annually. These changes have resulted in a 70% increase in average payments, helping over 12,000 families each quarter to better manage early childhood education costs and balance work and family life. The government encourages eligible families to register for FamilyBoost, emphasizing its role in supporting working parents and strengthening the economy by easing childcare cost pressures.
Tags: FamilyBoost Nicola Willis New Zealand early childhood education childcare costs working parents Finance Minister government support Inland Revenue family paymentsNew Zealand's RDTI Hits $10 Billion Supporting Business Innovation and Growth
20 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 527 viewsThe Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) in New Zealand has supported over $10 billion in business R&D investment, demonstrating growing confidence and rapid uptake, especially among small businesses. An independent evaluation in 2025 showed the scheme generates significant economic benefits, with each dollar of support leading to an additional $1.40 invested in R&D, contributing to productivity, innovation, and high-value job creation. To further enhance its impact, the government plans to introduce in-year payments for tax credits in Budget 2026, aiming to improve cash flow and encourage more businesses to invest in R&D.
Tags: Penny Simmonds Callaghan Innovation MBIE New Zealand RDTI Budget 2026 Science Technology Innovation R&D businesses governmentGovernment Seeks Feedback on Capital Market Reforms to Boost Kiwi Business Growth
14 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 488 viewsThe Government is seeking feedback on the next phase of capital market reforms aimed at lowering the cost of raising capital for Kiwi businesses and improving returns for investors, with a focus on modernizing rules to keep pace with innovation and maintain investor protections. This phase follows last year’s reforms that reduced compliance costs and barriers to listing on the NZX, and now targets eight specific areas including product disclosure, director liability, crowdfunding limits, and broker activity. The consultation, open for six weeks, invites input from businesses, investors, and financial advisers to help create dynamic, competitive markets that support economic growth.
Tags: Cameron Brewer Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister KiwiSaver MBIE NZX New Zealand Government capital market reforms economic growth crowdfundingNew NZ Guidelines Boost Overseas Investment in Supermarkets for Lower Prices
13 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 564 viewsAssociate Finance Minister David Seymour has welcomed new Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) guidelines designed to simplify the Overseas Investment Act for international investors, particularly in the supermarket and grocery sector, aiming to attract credible investors and increase market competition. The government has also reformed application processing, significantly reducing average assessment times from 71 to 23 working days and meeting targets of five or fewer days for most investments, thereby streamlining approval processes. These changes are intended to boost international investment, which is vital for New Zealand’s economic growth, productivity, and job creation.
Tags: David Seymour Land Information New Zealand LINZ Overseas Investment Act New Zealand international investors supermarket sector grocery retail investment guidelines economic growthNZ Government Accounts Show Stronger Economy with Higher Revenue and Lower Deficit
01 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 683 viewsThe latest government accounts reveal stronger-than-expected core Crown revenue and lower expenses, indicating an improving economy. Corporate tax revenue rose by $700 million, reflecting increased business profitability, and the deficit was $3 billion lower than forecast. Despite recent challenges like the Middle East conflict, economic indicators such as falling oil prices, rising business confidence, and increased exports suggest the economy is regaining momentum.
Tags: Nicola Willis Finance Minister New Zealand government accounts economy Crown revenue corporate tax OBEGALx Middle East conflict inflation expectations