Category: economy
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FMA Urges Focus on Financial Reporting Quality Amid Global Uncertainty
The Financial Markets Authority – Te Mana Tātai Hokohoko (FMA) is calling on directors, preparers, and auditors to prioritize the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting amidst ongoing global uncertainty. This directive follows the release of the FMA's Financial…
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Wellington Rates Affordability Compared to 10 NZ Cities
Wellington City Council has released a new report, "Wellington City Rates Affordability Research," which was prepared by Infometrics. The study offers a comparative analysis of rates affordability in Wellington against a selection of ten other cities across New Zealand. The…
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New Zealand Parliament Approves Fuel Price Relief for Low-Income Working Parents
The New Zealand Parliament has passed the Taxation (Annual Rates 2025-26, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Bill. An amendment approved by lawmakers will boost an existing tax credit by NZ$50 (approximately US$29) per week. This increase is specifically for working…
Politics and GovernmentEconomyState Governments ParliamentTax CreditWorking ParentsFuel PricesLegislationEconomic ReliefU.S. Library of Congress
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ACT Party Leader David Seymour to Host Public Meeting in Napier
ACT Leader David Seymour and ACT MP Andrew Hoggard will host a public meeting at the Napier War Memorial Centre next Thursday, April 9, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The meeting, held at 48 Marine Parade, Napier, aims to…
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ACT Leaders Host Public Meeting in Napier
ACT Party leader David Seymour and MP Andrew Hoggard are hosting a public meeting at the Napier War Memorial Centre on April 9, 2026. The event, scheduled from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, offers constituents an opportunity to engage directly…
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Media Monitor: RNZ reports on NZ First speech, Oscars, and Warriors win
RNZ is reporting that New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is set to deliver his State of the Nation address in Tauranga on Sunday. The speech is intentionally scheduled after the release of quarterly GDP figures. RNZ also noted that…
Politics and GovernmentSportEntertainmentMediaWeatherEconomy
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Wellington City Council Proposes 7.4% Rates Increase
Wellington City Council has announced a proposed 7.4 percent rates increase for the 2026/27 financial year. This figure represents a substantial reduction from the 12.7 percent increase that was originally planned. The revised forecast follows an extensive review of the…
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Media Monitor: BBC reports on escalating Israel-Iran conflict and New Zealand's 'brain drain'
The BBC is reporting that Israel has been conducting strikes in Iran's capital, Tehran, and in Lebanon's capital, Beirut. According to the Iranian Red Crescent, the death toll in Iran has reached 787 since the strikes began on February 28.…
WorldPolitics and GovernmentMediaMiddle EastAsiaEuropeGeneral PoliticsFederal GovernmentMilitaryDisastersLaw EnforcementSocial IssuesFilm and TVDigital and Print PublishingEconomyEmployment and Labor IsraelIranTehranLebanonBeirutbrain drainBBC
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New Zealand Business Prices Show Mixed Movements in December Quarter
New Zealand's business prices experienced mixed movements in the December 2025 quarter. The output producers price index (PPI) saw a modest increase of 0.1 percent compared to the previous quarter. Conversely, the input PPI recorded a decrease of 0.5 percent.…
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Births to Under-25s Hit Record Low in New Zealand
The proportion of births to mothers aged under 25 in Aotearoa New Zealand has reached a record low of 14 percent in 2025, Stats NZ reported today. This figure is half of what it was a generation ago and represents…
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Annual Food Prices Rise 4.6 Percent
Food prices have risen by 4.6 percent in the 12 months leading up to January 2026, an increase from the 4.0 percent rise recorded in the previous year. Stats NZ reported that the grocery food group, up 4.0 percent annually,…
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New Zealand Population Reaches Over 5.3 Million
The estimated resident population of New Zealand was 5,342,000 as of December 31, 2025. The population comprised 2,689,500 females and 2,652,500 males. The median age for females was 39.2 years, while for males it was 37.6 years. These national population…
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New Zealand Retail Spending Declines in January
New Zealand experienced a decrease in electronic card transactions for retail spending in January 2026. Overall retail industries saw a 1.1 percent ($78 million) decline compared to December 2025. Core retail industries also decreased by 0.9 percent ($60 million). These…
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WOW Show Delivers Record Economic Boost to Wellington
The World of WearableArt (WOW) Show has achieved its highest-ever economic benefit for Wellington, contributing a record $32.6 million. This significant boost to the creative capital was detailed in an evaluation report commissioned by WellingtonNZ, the city's economic development agency.…
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Media Monitor: Christchurch terrorist appeals conviction in NZ court
ABC News is reporting that the convicted Christchurch terrorist is appealing his conviction in New Zealand's Court of Appeal. The terrorist, who murdered 51 people in a 2019 attack on two mosques, is testifying in court as he seeks to…
Politics and GovernmentMediaWorldGeneral PoliticsEconomyFinancial MarketsFilm and TVLaw Enforcement Christchurch terroristCourt of Appealappealconvictionguilty pleasmosque attackABC News
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New Zealand Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.4 Percent
New Zealand’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate reached 5.4 percent in the December 2025 quarter, up from 5.3 percent in the previous quarter, Stats NZ reported on February 4, 2026. This marks the highest unemployment rate since the September 2015 quarter,…
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New Home Consents Rise 9% Nationally, Auckland Leads Growth
Aotearoa New Zealand experienced a 9.0 percent rise in new home consents in the year ending December 2025, reaching a total of 36,619. Auckland was the primary driver of this national increase, accounting for more than half of the growth.…
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New Zealand Household Living Costs Rise 2.2 Percent
The cost of living for the average New Zealand household rose by 2.2 percent in the 12 months to the December 2025 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ. This follows a 2.4 percent increase for the 12 months…
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Auckland Motorway Maintenance Scheduled for Early February
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is set to conduct essential maintenance on Auckland's state highway network, specifically on State Highway 20 (SH20). The work will take place between Hillsborough Road and Queenstown Road from Sunday, February 1, to Wednesday, February…
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New Zealand Exports Surpass $80 Billion Milestone
New Zealand's annual exports have reached a record $80.7 billion for the year ended December 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ. This marks the first time the country's annual exports have surpassed the $80 billion threshold. The total…
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New Zealand Employment Holds Steady in December 2025
New Zealand's employment indicators for December 2025 reveal a flat overall trend in filled jobs, with a net decrease of 709 positions, bringing the total to 2.35 million. While primary industries saw a 0.2 percent drop and goods-producing industries decreased…
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New Zealand Inflation Rises to 3.1% in December 2025
Aotearoa New Zealand’s annual inflation rate stood at 3.1 percent for the 12 months ending December 2025, according to data released by Stats NZ. This figure represents an increase from the 3.0 percent inflation recorded in the previous quarter, ending…
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New Zealand Sees Significant Drop in Net Migration
Provisional estimates for the year ending November 2025 indicate a significant shift in New Zealand's international migration landscape. Migrant arrivals decreased by 9 percent to 132,600, while migrant departures rose by 4 percent to 121,900. This resulted in an annual…
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New Zealand Retail Spending Sees Slight Dip in December 2025
New Zealand's electronic card transactions (ECT) data for December 2025 indicates a slight decrease in consumer spending within the retail sector. Spending in the retail industries fell by 0.1 percent, equating to $7.6 million, when compared to November 2025. The…
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ACT Party Launches 2026 Election Campaign, Citing Need for Stronger Voice
The ACT Party has officially launched its campaign for the upcoming November 7 election, with party leader David Seymour calling on supporters to help the party "aim higher." Seymour stated that the election presents New Zealanders with a choice: to…
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Stats NZ Updates Child Poverty Material Hardship Measure
Stats NZ is updating its methodology for measuring material hardship in child poverty statistics. This change is being made to ensure continuity between the new Household Income and Living Survey (HILS), which replaced the Household Economic Survey (HES) in 2024,…
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Stats NZ Updates Price Index Methods
Stats NZ has published methodological updates for its price indexes for the December 2025 quarter. These updates are detailed in a comprehensive methods paper. The Government Statistician authorizes all statistics and data published by Stats NZ. The full paper is…
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Māori Business Sales Dip Slightly in September Quarter
In the September 2025 quarter, approximately 1,500 Māori authorities and related businesses were part of the Tatauranga umanga Māori population. These entities are defined as businesses that manage or administer assets held in common ownership by iwi and Māori, primarily…
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Food Prices Rose 4.0 Percent Annually by December 2025
Food prices in New Zealand increased by 4.0 percent in the 12 months leading up to December 2025. This follows a 4.4 percent rise recorded in the 12 months to November 2025, as reported by Stats NZ. The grocery food…
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Business Improvement Districts Transforming Wellington Suburbs
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are emerging as a significant force in reshaping Wellington's suburbs, fostering vibrant and future-ready commercial hubs. This initiative sees shopkeepers and businesses collaborating to enhance their local areas. The collective efforts are aimed at revitalizing the…