Employer subsidies for a savings scheme - a kind of KiwiSaver on steroids – has been advocated by the New Zealand Institute in its latest report, Developing Kiwi Global Champions.

Life insurance might yet be included in the tax legislation currently before Parliament.

Government ministers seriously considered compulsory superannuation as part of the business tax review.

The government’s business tax review could open up more tax inconsistencies for savings vehicles.

Risk premiums in New Zealand’s finance company sector have been commensurate with the United States – but both the top and bottom end of the sector have been out of line, say Westpac Bank economists.

New Zealand’s life insurance market grew by 4.4% over the past year, according to the latest international survey of world insurance markets by global reinsurer Swiss Re.

The Maori Party is sticking to its pre-election line on superannuation – and will not be supporting the KiwiSaver Bill.

Fallout from recent finance company failures could include an even less diversified approach to savings, warns Arcus chief investment officer Mark Brighouse.

There’s a mixed reaction amongst the financial adviser industry to the government’s latest proposals for regulation.

The government’s underlying policy goals for changing the tax treatment of investments could be solved in a much less painful way than currently proposed.

Details of what financial advisers may have to disclose under pending law changes have been set out in a discussion document released by the government yesterday.

The Securities Commission has added a voice of caution to the current official discussion on new disclosure rules for financial advisers.

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says perceptions of a gap between him and Finance Minister Michael Cullen on the changes to the investment tax regime are wide of the mark.

The worst could be over for the New Zealand economy and an upswing in the New Zealand sharemarket is likely, says ING’s manager of New Zealand equities Amanda Smith.

Plans to revamp how life insurance policies are taxed are likely to follow the current reform of savings and investments tax changes.

The government’s oversight of finance companies has come under question after the failure of two – Provincial and National 2000 – and talk of more to come.