Articles tagged with Ban
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Reserve Bank Eases Lending Rules to Boost First-Home Buyers from December
18 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 1059 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 loansNew Zealand Introduces Safe Harbour Laws to Combat Online Scams Faster
17 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 978 viewsThe New Zealand Government is introducing safe harbour legal protections to enable banks, telecommunications providers, and digital platforms to act swiftly and confidently in blocking suspected online scams without fear of prosecution. These protections require reasonable grounds for suspicion, proportional action, and correction of any unintended disruption, supporting a prevention-first approach against scams that caused $265 million in losses last year. Complementing this, the New Zealand Anti Scam Alliance is developing a trusted flagger system and new fraud intelligence tools to identify and freeze suspicious accounts, enhancing cross-sector collaboration to combat evolving scam threats.
Tags: Scott Simpson New Zealand Anti Scam Alliance Payments NZ New Zealand Banking Association Commerce and Consumer Affairs safe harbour fraud intelligence tool mule accounts online scams trusted flagger systemRegulatory Standards Bill: Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in New Zealand Law
13 Nov 2025 | 10 months ago | 1027 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour celebrates the passing of the Regulatory Standards Bill, emphasizing its importance in revealing the true costs of regulations to the public and reducing regulatory burdens through political pressure. The bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in legislation by establishing a Regulatory Standards Board to assess consistency with principles of responsible regulation. By promoting evidence-based policy and providing recourse for individuals affected by overreaching regulations, the bill ultimately seeks to improve New Zealand's productivity and empower citizens to hold decision-makers accountable.
Tags: Regulation Minister David Seymour Regulatory Standards Bill Kiwis’ rights Public Finance Act Reserve Bank Act Bill of Rights Act Regulatory Standards Board Regulatory Impact Statements Earthquake Prone Buildings lawGovernment Accepts Banking Competition Recommendations for Increased Innovation and Consumer Benefits
12 Nov 2025 | 10 months ago | 941 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.Christchurch City Council Achieves Housing Growth Target, Withdraws Plan Change 14: Minister
10 Nov 2025 | 10 months ago | 919 viewsThe Christchurch City Council has achieved its Housing Growth Target, allowing it to withdraw part of Plan Change 14, which aimed to update planning rules to facilitate more housing. The Council demonstrated sufficient feasible housing capacity for at least 30 years, exceeding statutory requirements. Ministerial decisions are pending on heritage sites and a special character area, with a focus on removing planning barriers to increase housing supply in the fast-growing city of Christchurch.
Tags: Christchurch City Council Housing Growth Target Plan Change 14 RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop Medium Density Residential Standards National Policy Statement on Urban Development Urbanomics Sense Partners Te Kaha stadium210+ New Social Homes to Address Housing Needs in Waikato
22 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1047 viewsMore than 210 new social homes will be provided in Waikato by Community Housing Providers, supported by Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. The Government's commitment to delivering social housing includes funding for over 2,000 additional homes nationwide, with Waikato benefiting from this initiative. The allocation of social homes in Waikato is based on regional need, with a focus on addressing the demand for one- and two-bedroom properties to better match the needs of individuals and families seeking affordable housing.
Tags: Chris Bishop Tama Potaka Waikato social homes Community Housing Providers Kāinga Ora Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa The Salvation Army Emerge AotearoaFinance Minister Pleased with Inflation Remaining in Reserve Bank's Target Range
19 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 969 viewsActing Finance Minister Chris Bishop welcomes latest figures showing inflation within Reserve Bank's target range, with annual CPI inflation rising from 2.7% to 3% in the year to September 2025. Expectations are for inflation to decline towards 2% in the first half of next year, easing pressure on households and businesses. Top contributors to the annual increase were electricity (up 11.3%) and local authority rates and payments (up 8.8%), emphasizing the need for increased electricity supply and competition and the impact of local government rates on New Zealanders' finances.
Tags: Chris Bishop Stats NZ Reserve Bank inflation CPI government households businesses electricity local authorityAndrew Wilson Joins Board of Guardians of NZ Super Fund
16 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1091 viewsAndrew Wilson, a former investment banker with extensive experience in global markets, has been appointed to the Board of the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, overseeing the $85 billion Superannuation Fund. Prior to this role, Wilson held key positions at institutions like the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Bank of England, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop highlighted Wilson's valuable expertise in investment management and global markets, emphasizing his potential to make a significant impact on the Guardians' work. Wilson's official appointment to the Board is scheduled to commence on 20 October.
Tags: Andrew Wilson Chris Bishop Investment banker Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bank of England Rothschild Asset Management Goldman Sachs Asset Management Fixed Income Currency & Money MarketsNorthland to Receive 70+ New Social Homes: Government's Commitment to Address Housing Needs
15 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 997 viewsMore than 70 new social homes will be built in Northland by Community Housing Providers (CHPs), with a focus on addressing severe housing deprivation in the region. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has allocated these homes based on regional need, including factors like the housing register and emergency housing use. These new homes, primarily one or two-bedroom units, aim to meet the high demand for such properties in Northland and are part of the government's broader efforts to improve the social housing system and deliver the right homes to those in need.
Tags: Chris Bishop Northland Community Housing Providers social homes Kāinga Ora Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Otangarei Papakāinga Limited Ngāti Rēhia Habitat for Humanity Whangarei99 New Social Homes in Nelson, Marlborough & Tasman by CHPs: Housing Minister's Commitment
14 Oct 2025 | 10 months ago | 1057 viewsHousing Minister Chris Bishop announced that 99 new social homes will be built in Nelson, Marlborough, and Tasman by Community Housing Providers (CHPs). The Government has committed funding for over 2,000 additional homes to be delivered by CHPs nationwide, including in these regions. The homes will primarily consist of one to two-bedroom units to address the high demand for such housing in the area, with a focus on providing suitable homes for those most in need.
Tags: Chris Bishop Nelson Marlborough Tasman Community Housing Providers Kāinga Ora Ministry of Housing and Urban Development The Salvation Army Nelson City BlenheimReserve Bank Eases Lending Restrictions for First Home Buyers, Finance Minister Welcomes Move
13 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1130 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis has praised the Reserve Bank's plan to relax lending restrictions, aiming to assist first home buyers in achieving home ownership. The Reserve Bank is considering increasing the limit on new lending to owner-occupiers with less than a 20% deposit to 25%, potentially aiding more first-time buyers. Additionally, the proposal includes raising the amount banks can lend to residential property investors with deposits under 30% from 5% to 10%, following the introduction of debt-to-income restrictions to enhance banking system resilience.
Tags: Finance Minister Nicola Willis Reserve Bank lending restrictions first home buyers property ladder Kiwis loan to value DTI restrictions banking systemCanterbury to Receive 65+ New Social Homes from Community Housing Providers, Housing Minister Announces
09 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1067 viewsThe Housing Minister announced that more than 65 new social homes will be built in Canterbury by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) as part of the government's commitment to social housing. These homes are part of over 6,800 net new social homes delivered nationwide since November 2023, with 837 in Canterbury, and funding for an additional 2,000 homes over the next two years. The homes in Canterbury will be located in various suburbs and will primarily consist of one- and two-bedroom units to address the high demand for such properties in the region.
Tags: social homes Canterbury Community Housing Providers Housing Minister Chris Bishop Kāinga Ora Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Christchurch Methodist Mission Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust housing register emergency housing.New Zealand Government's Growth-Focused Plan for Q4: Boosting Opportunities and Cutting Red Tape
06 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 979 viewsPrime Minister Christopher Luxon highlights the Government's focus on growth and pragmatic solutions in its upcoming work programme. The Q4 plan aims to streamline construction processes, facilitate finance for social housing projects, promote competition in key sectors, and support innovative projects to boost job opportunities and incomes. Progress on the Q3 plan shows 26 out of 28 actions completed, with the remaining two, including regulations for open banking and the Crimes Amendment Bill, in progress.
Tags: Government Growth Pragmatic solutions New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon Construction Social housing developments Competition Urban growthBoosting Trade and Investment: NZ and Australia Strengthen Economic Partnership in CER Meeting
02 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1094 viewsTrade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will meet Australian Trade Minister Senator Don Farrell in Adelaide for the CER Trade Ministers’ Meeting to enhance the Single Economic Market and strengthen the economic partnership between New Zealand and Australia. The meeting aims to boost trade, investment, and business growth across the Tasman amidst global trade uncertainties. Discussions will focus on elevating the partnership, addressing trade barriers, enhancing regulatory coherence, and coordinating on international trade initiatives to benefit businesses on both sides of the Tasman and align government actions with business needs.
Tags: Todd McClay Don Farrell Single Economic Market CER Trade Agreement WTO CPTPP Prime Ministers Luxon Albanese Australia New Zealand Leadership ForumGovernment Backs Community Housing Providers with New Loan Guarantee Scheme to Boost Social Homes
01 Oct 2025 | 11 months ago | 1138 viewsThe Government has introduced a new loan guarantee scheme to support community housing providers in delivering more social homes at a lower cost, with banks providing debt financing at reduced rates. This initiative aims to remove obstacles and inefficiencies in social housing delivery, with the Crown guaranteeing 80% of loans to eligible providers. The scheme, available until 2027, supports up to $900 million in new lending and refinancing, empowering community housing providers to expand and improve housing accessibility for those in need.
Tags: Government community housing providers loan guarantee scheme Nicola Willis Chris Bishop ANZ ASB BNZ Kiwibank Westpac