Financial Services Auckland & Waikato - Tips/Trends For Financial Planning

07/05/2026

Wondering about Green Loans? Learn more about how you could benefit from a Green loan. Main bank 1% loans available. Upgrades can include: home insulation, ventilation, double glazing, heating and sustainable water. Can also be used for Clean Transportation: upgrading to an electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), or hybrid electric vehicle. Renewable energy: solar panels or batteries. www.fsal.co.nz

15/04/2026

Wondering about a kitchen upgrade? Banks now offering special low-interest kitchen renovation loans. Applies to residential properties with minimum LVRs.

10/04/2026

08/04/2026

RESERVE BANK LEAVES OCR UNCHANGED TODAY !!

The Monetary Policy Committee today agreed to hold the OCR at 2.25%. Events in the Middle East have materially altered the outlook and the balance of risks for inflation and economic growth in New Zealand.

In the near term, inflation is expected to increase and the economic recovery to weaken.

The Middle East conflict has disrupted global supply chains, leading to significantly higher prices for oil and refined petroleum products. As a result, near-term inflation is increasing and economic growth is weakening in many countries. Global financial markets have been volatile and market interest rates have increased.

The current economic situation is different to 2022 when Covid-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted global supply chains and increased energy prices. Back then, demand was growing strongly, adding to inflation pressure.

The Committee’s decision to hold the OCR balances the potential benefits of responding pre-emptively to the risk of higher medium-term inflation against the cost of unnecessarily stifling the economic recovery.

26/11/2025

OCR LOWERED TO 2.25%

Annual consumers price inflation increased to 3 percent in the September quarter. However, with spare capacity in the economy, inflation is expected to fall to around 2 percent by mid-2026.

Economic activity was weak over mid-2025 but is picking up. Lower interest rates are encouraging household spending, and the labour market is stabilising. The exchange rate has fallen, supporting exporters’ incomes.

Global economic growth has benefited from strong AI-related investment but is expected to slow in 2026 as trade barriers weigh on activity.

Risks to the inflation outlook are balanced. Greater caution on the part of households and businesses could slow the pace of New Zealand’s economic recovery. Alternatively, the recovery could be faster and stronger than expected if domestic demand proves more responsive to lower interest rates.

The Committee voted to reduce the OCR by 25 basis points to 2.25 percent. Future moves in the OCR will depend on how the outlook for medium-term inflation and the economy evolve.
Source: rbnz.govt.nz

08/10/2025

RBNZ Reduce OCR!!!

Annual consumers price index inflation is currently around the top of the Monetary Policy Committee’s 1 to 3 percent target band. However, with spare capacity in the economy, inflation is expected to return to around the 2 percent target mid-point over the first half of 2026.

Economic activity through the middle of 2025 was weak. In part, this reflects domestic constraints on the supply of goods and services in some industries, and the impact of global economic policy uncertainty. Household consumption is recovering, partly because of lower interest rates, and elevated commodity prices continue to support the primary sector. House prices are flat, and residential and business investment remain weak.

Economic growth in New Zealand’s trading partners is proving resilient, partly because of strong investment in AI-related activity, but is expected to slow in 2026.

There are upside and downside risks to the inflation outlook in New Zealand. Cautious behaviour by households and businesses could slow the economic recovery, reducing medium-term inflation pressure. Alternatively, higher near-term inflation could prove to be more persistent.

On balance, the Committee reached consensus to reduce the OCR by 50 basis points to 2.5 percent. The Committee remains open to further reductions in the OCR as required for inflation to settle sustainably near the 2 percent target mid-point in the medium term.
Source:www.rbnz.govt.nz

24/09/2025

The Reserve Bank has appointed a new Governor effective 1 December 2025 for a 5 year period - Dr Anna Breman.
Deputy Chair of the Reserve Bank, Rodger Finlay said: : “Anna’s experience spans central banking, academia and financial markets. She has strong technical knowledge within monetary policy, financial stability and payments systems after several years at the Executive Board at the Riksbank and an extensive international experience.”

20/08/2025

Annual consumers price index inflation is currently around the top of the Monetary Policy Committee’s 1 to 3 percent target band. However, with spare capacity in the economy and declining domestic inflation pressure, headline inflation is expected to return to around the 2 percent target midpoint by mid-2026.

New Zealand’s economic recovery stalled in the second quarter of this year. Spending by households and businesses has been constrained by global economic policy uncertainty, falling employment, higher prices for some essentials, and declining house prices.

There are upside and downside risks to the economic outlook. Cautious behaviour by households and businesses could further dampen economic growth. Alternatively, the economic recovery could accelerate as the full effects of interest rate reductions flow through the economy.

The Monetary Policy Committee today voted to decrease the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 3 percent. Further data on the speed of New Zealand’s economic recovery will influence the future path of the OCR. If medium-term inflation pressures continue to ease as expected, there is scope to lower the OCR further.
Source: rbnz.govt.co.nz

09/07/2025

RBNZ ANNOUNCE - OCR UNCHANGED !!

The Monetary Policy Committee today agreed to hold the Official Cash Rate at 3.25 percent.

Annual consumers price inflation will likely increase towards the top of the Monetary Policy Committee’s 1 to 3 percent target band over mid-2025. However, with spare productive capacity in the economy and declining domestic inflation pressures, headline inflation is expected to remain in the band and return to around 2 percent by early 2026.

Elevated export prices and lower interest rates are supporting a recovery in the New Zealand economy. However, heightened global policy uncertainty and tariffs are expected to reduce global economic growth. This will likely slow the pace of New Zealand’s economic recovery, reducing inflation pressures.

The economic outlook remains highly uncertain. Further data on the speed of New Zealand’s economic recovery, the persistence of inflation, and the impacts of tariffs will influence the future path of the Official Cash Rate.

If medium-term inflation pressures continue to ease as projected, the Committee expects to lower the Official Cash Rate further.
Source: RBNZ

28/05/2025

The Monetary Policy Committee today voted to lower the OCR by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent.

Annual consumers price index inflation increased to 2.5 percent in the first quarter of 2025. Inflation expectations across firms and households have also risen. However, core inflation is declining and there is spare productive capacity in the economy. These conditions are consistent with inflation returning to the mid-point of the 1 to 3 percent target band over the medium term.

The New Zealand economy is recovering after a period of contraction. High commodity prices and lower interest rates are supporting overall economic activity.

Recent developments in the international economy are expected to reduce global economic growth. Both tariffs and increased policy uncertainty overseas are expected to moderate New Zealand’s economic recovery and reduce medium-term inflation pressures. However, there remains considerable uncertainty around these judgements.

Inflation is within the target band, and the Committee is well placed to respond to domestic and international developments to maintain price stability over the medium term.