Blame poor regulation not banks for lack of competition, experts say

A governance, culture and strategy change is needed at RBNZ, Andrew Body and Simon Jensen say. (Image: Getty)

Tue, 18 Feb 2025

Evidence from the finance and expenditure select committee's banking competition inquiry shows regulatory overreach and poor regulation as the main barriers to competition, two experts in public policy say.Last week Parliament’s finance and expenditure select committee (FEC) said it would call the chief executives of ASB, ANZ, BNZ and Westpac back to reappear at a public meeting to answer follow-up questions as part of its inquiry.But Andrew Body and Simon Jensen argue that the banks are simply playing the hand they have been dea...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Primary Sector

NZ businessman Graeme Clegg remains detained in Vietnam

He's been diagnosed with cancer in his colon.

Riley Kennedy 5:10pm

Law & Regulation

James Wallace is 'low risk, but not no risk' of reoffending

Why James Wallace remains under strict release conditions.

Garth Bray 1:00pm

James Wallace is 'low risk, but not no risk' of reoffending

Policy

NZ's space sector revenue grows over 50% in five years

Advanced aviation is also a growing sector, according to a new industry survey.

Greg Hurrell 12:45pm

NZ's space sector revenue grows over 50% in five years

Sponsored

Ready for the C-Suite leap?

Part-time programme. Full-time leadership transformation.

University of Auckland Business School

Sponsored

Active beats passive in tough times

Agile investing responds faster to market shocks and shifts.

Milford

More Economy

Economy

Westpac adds another rate cut to its forecasts

Westpac Bank now expects the official cash rate (OCR) to trough at 3% and has pushed back the timing of its forecast tightening cycle.“Downside risks from global growth suggest the RBNZ [Reserve Bank of New Zealand] may continue easing beyond May,” chief economist Kelly Eckhold s...

Rebecca Howard 9:10am