Despite the disruptions in recent times, caused by both local and international natural disasters, New Zealand managers still view equity markets as the place to be with international equities holding favour.

Allied Farmers managing director Rob Alloway has resigned as a director of the company and all its subsidiaries with immediate effect but will remain chief executive until his contract expires on June 30.

Strongly performing shares helped offset natural disasters and economic uncertainty enabling KiwiSaver funds to post strong returns for the March quarter, according to the Morningstar KiwiSaver Performance Survey.

KiwiSaver's ability to raise overall savings and deepen capital markets is being hampered by "unfocused Government subsidies," according to the OECD Economic Survey of New Zealand.

Floating mortgage rates won't be rising any time soon with Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard holding interest rates steady and emphasising the uncertain economic outlook means they will stay there for some time.

The Reserve Bank today left the Official Cash Rate (OCR) unchanged at 2.50%.

Perpetual has added two more advisers to its nationwide adviser team.

The majority of people that use financial advisers rate their relationship positively, with 31% considering it to be ‘excellent’ and 42% ‘good’, according to the latest RaboDirect Financial Confidence Index.

NZ Funds is setting up its own financial advisory business, NZ Funds Private Wealth, and started acquiring planning firms.

Tony Vidler has resigned from Fidelity Life.

Former AXA New Zealand chief executive Ralph Stewart has been appointed to the role of non-executive director on the boards of AMP Services NZ and AMP Superannuation NZ, the main AMP operating entities in New Zealand.