Westpac says its New Zealand mortgage portfolio grew 1% to $35.4 billion in the six months ended March compared to the 0.7% growth in mortgages held by New Zealand banks overall.

Credit growth growth ticked up marginally in March and the popularity of floating rate mortgages showed no sign of waning, the latest Reserve Bank figures show.

NZF Group's assets remain frozen after the receivers of its former finance company convinced the High Court they have an arguable case against NZF and there is a serious risk of NZF's assets being dissipated.

Hot on the heels of Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard opening the door to a possible interest rate cut, government-owned Kiwibank has slashed its one-year fixed mortgage rate to just 4.99%.

The chances of floating mortgage rates rising this year remain remote and they might even fall if the New Zealand dollar remains so strong.

The chances of floating mortgage rates rising this year remain remote and they might even fall if the New Zealand dollar remains so strong.

Weaker than expected inflation and economic growth figures, falling commodity prices and a likely tight government budget mean Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard is likely to leave interest rates unchanged for an extended period.

The legal action against NZF Group is unlikely to affect Australian non-bank lender Resimac which bought 80% of the former's subsidiary, NZF Homeloans, late last year, other than by association.

Heartland New Zealand has edged closer to meeting its annual profit forecast after posting a $5.3 million operating net profit for the three months ended March.

The High Court has temporarily frozen NZF Group's assets at the request of the receivers of its former finance company.

NZF Money's receivers are taking legal action against NZF Group and an unspecified number of its past and present directors alleging an insolvent transaction and are seeking to freeze its assets.

The smallest of New Zealand's home lending banks, HSBC, posted a $3.6 million loss for the December quarter due to ballooning charges for bad loan and its mortgage book shrank.

Depending on whether you can cope with some uncertainty, some of the NZX-listed bank debt issues look like raging buys at the moment.

The receivers of Allied Farmers's former finance company have granted it another year of life.

Credit growth remained minimal again in February with mortgage lending falling from January's levels, the latest Reserve Bank figures show.

Mortgage Link chief executive Rod Templeton is leaving the company in April after eight years at the helm and won't be replaced in what is clearly a cost-cutting measure.