Covid kitty: we'll borrow more if we have to, Robertson says

Covid kitty: we'll borrow more if we have to, Robertson says
The wage subsidy is live once again and will help shuttered businesses pay their staff. (Source: Getty)
Andy Fyers
Finance minister Grant Robertson says there is plenty of covid relief funding available to cover wage subsidies in the current lockdown and the government would simply borrow more to cover a longer lockdown if it had to.“We have got more than enough money set aside to deal with the current lockdown,” he told BusinessDesk. The most up-to-date estimate has $4.7 billion left in the covid relief funding announced last year, which in total came to $62.5b of government support for businesses, wage and salary earners and a host of gov...

More Economy

Co-operative Bank remediates thousands of customers
Economy

Co-operative Bank remediates thousands of customers

Co-operative Bank has remediated a total of $7.2 million across almost 50,000 customers for charging higher fees than it should have and may yet have to pay a court-imposed fine.The Commerce Commission said the charging of higher fees breaches the Credit Contracts and Consumer Fi...

Kiwi Property Group's interim profit lower as write-downs bite
Economy

Kiwi Property Group's interim profit lower as write-downs bite

The property company reiterates its full-year dividend views.

Andy Macdonald 24 Nov 2025
Penk announces compulsory building warranties
Economy

Penk announces compulsory building warranties

Under the proposed change, those responsible pay their share only.

Staff reporters 24 Nov 2025
Westpac tips ‘Turneresque’ 25bp cut but says RBNZ could still channel McCullum
Economy

Westpac tips ‘Turneresque’ 25bp cut but says RBNZ could still channel McCullum

Westpac Bank is sticking to its view the central bank will cut rates by 25 basis points next week to 2.25% but says there’s a 25% chance it will opt to be more aggressive and cut by 50bps.The key question is whether the Reserve Bank's monetary policy committee thinks it will...

Rebecca Howard 19 Nov 2025