As expected Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard left his benchmark official cash rate (OCR) unchanged but warned of upside inflation risks and that there is no scope for easing interest rates in the foreseeable future.

The seasonally adjusted value of all building work put in place in the March quarter rose 7.3 per cent compared to the December quarter and 13.8 per cent on the year-earlier, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Fewer New Zealanders live in poverty but the gap between rich and poor continues to grow, data released today by the Ministry of Social Development shows.

"When you look down there," says Russell Wylie as he points to Howick village, "it does have a very serene look".

Lenders will help in a crisis, right? Don't bank on it, says an ex-debtor

Three factors are in play for home loan borrowers at the moment – falling long term rates, an impending official cash rate review and competition.

Investors are increasingly attracted to high-income products. But how big are the risks involved? In the third part of a series on investment, Kristina Greene looks at debenture bonds.

Inflation emained well under control in the bottom half of the Reserve Bank of Australia's target band last month, fuelling market expectations that the central bank will keep interest rates on hold for several more months at least.

The Reserve Bank is set to walk a fine line between controlling inflation and hastening economic slowdown when it releases its monetary policy statement on Thursday.

Australasian study shows experts are as affected as amateurs. Rob Stock reports.

Our poor cousins. Literally. New Zealand's booming economy may be outperforming Australia's, but New Zealanders are leading the world in "dissaving"; that's spending more than they earn. This year, New Zealand household savings will decline more sharply than in any other advanced economy, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development projections. Only New Zealand families have been consistently living beyond their means for more than a decade.

The continuing housing boom means households are still increasing their net worth at a strong rate, but also spending more than they gain.

Proposed changes to tax laws in the Budget could cost the rest-home industry millions of dollars and raise costs for rest-home occupants, a report by Deloitte partner Thomas Pippos says.

Nearly 1000 private baches are under threat as the Department of Conservation moves to free up public land.

In the next seven years, Brian Stanley could pay more in rates than his property is worth.

The Commerce Commission is warning people buying houses under rent-to-buy schemes to make sure they get the full protection of the new Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance (CCCF) Act.