Some Buller properties have leapt in value by more than 500 per cent in the latest district valuation.

The Reserve Bank is poised to tighten the interest rate screws for the sixth time this year - just as the major banks embark on a rate-cutting war for fixed-term mortgages.

For the first time a house price and spending boom is international - affecting New Zealand, Australia, the United States, Britain, Spain and other European countries at the same time.

The mortgage rates battle between the four major banks is being led by Bank of New Zealand, which is promising to beat any two-year fixed rate.

Many New Zealanders' trusts won't stand up in court, warn experts. Rob Stock reports.

Some homes in New Zealand are now part of the global property market - and overseas buyers willing to pay more are driving up prices.

The Reserve Bank is widely expected to increase interest rates by another 25 basis points to 6.5 per cent on Thursday as the economy continues to exceed expectations, economists say.

Fringe benefit tax rates high on employee and employer hit-lists but plans to update it have fallen short of expectations. Kristina Greene reports.

The New Zealand government's personal and corporate income tax take, as a percentage of gross domestic product, grew faster in the 2001 to 2002 year than in any other OECD country a report shows.

National Property Trust (NPT) has raised another $5.9 million to repay debt and boost cash reserves.

Press Release: Superbank

Q. Three years ago I leased out a commercial property. The values were based on a rental valuation supplied by a registered valuer. The lease allowed for a rent review every two years. One year ago I requested a review from the same valuation company. The company was so busy it took eight months and many phone requests before I received the new rental valuation. The valuation had increased

While we're enjoying life, we find it hard to face the facts of death, let alone the financial ramifications of dying.

Q. Three months ago my family and I moved to New Zealand and purchased a property which my real estate agent had found for me.

The agent recommended a lawyer to me and I had him do the necessary legal work. Shortly after purchase I discovered that the house had major problems: no permits for additions, leaking roof and chattels that did not work.

I went back to the

Early in the heady days of the 80s stock-market boom, enigmatic property developer Colin Reynolds had a grand vision - a New Zealand banking and finance powerhouse in the heart of Auckland.