1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025   Inland Revenue (IR) in New Zealand has significantly intensified tax compliance efforts over the past year. According to a report published in April 2025, automated screening systems analysed over three million tax returns in New Zealand, leading to 30,000 reviews. Combined with…

The report results suggest Kiwis are gradually regaining faith in the economic outlook. However, concerns over inflation and broader economic uncertainty continue to linger. The consumer confidence index reflected a notable improvement in sentiment, and the future conditions index rose by four points to 105.2. Meanwhile, the current conditions index…

Despite the increase, inflation remains within the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s (RBNZ) target range of 1 to 3 per cent. According to newly released figures from Stats NZ, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.9 per cent in the March quarter. The annual inflation rate climbed from 2.2 per…

The trigger for the latest surge in market confidence was Trump’s announcement of a 90-day pause on implementing additional tariffs. The pause applied to non-retaliating countries. While the 10 per cent baseline tariff remains in place, this temporary suspension excludes China. Beijing instead saw its tariff rate increase to 125…

Recent data reveals property values rose by 0.5 per cent in March, following smaller gains in preceding months. Declining interest rates and improved affordability have driven this increase. Despite the recent upturn, average property values remain significantly lower than their peak in early 2022. While cities like Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch,…

Data from Dot Loves Data, based on ANZ card transactions, showed that spending priorities changed significantly in the final quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Essentials took precedence, and many Kiwis struggled to manage debt. Payments to debt collection agencies surged by 117 per cent, highlighting…

Confidence rose by 0.6 points, According to the ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Index, reaching 96.6 for the month. Despite the small uptick, many consumers are still not feeling the full effects of an improving economy. One of the key indicators for retail activity measures the number of households that believe…

According to Finance Minister Nicola Willis, New Zealand’s trade ties with the U.S. are unique in their balance and complementarity, positioning the two nations in a strong trade partnership. She highlighted that the U.S. imports significant amounts of New Zealand’s meat and wine, while New Zealand also imports a variety…

This rate cut prompted a wave of lower interest rates on home loans. Some economists are debating whether the central bank’s actions go too far. ANZ has cut its floating home loan rate to 6.89 per cent for new loans. The bank has also lowered its fixed rates by 10…

The latest quarterly Survey of Expectations reveals inflation is projected to be 2.06% in two years, a slight decline from the previous 2.12% forecast. This aligns with the RBNZ’s inflation target of between 1% and 3%, with a preferred midpoint of 2%. Inflation expectations play a critical role in shaping…