Mortgage arrears now at highest levels since March 2020

Mortgage arrears now at highest levels since March 2020
Arrears are now higher than before the covid pandemic. (Image: Bloomberg)
Brent Melville
Mortgage arrears rose to 1.32% last month, their highest level since March 2020, while late payments across all consumer loans were at 11.7%, ahead of pre-covid levels for the first time.Credit bureau Centrix said there were 19,500 mortgage accounts in the ‘late payment’ bracket, up more than a third on last June on the back of higher interest rates. Queenstown-Lakes borrowers remained as the most likely to be paying ‘interest only’ at 10.8% of mortgage holders, followed by Aucklanders at 8.25%. Their average o...

More Economy

US tariffs will ‘squeeze, not choke, growth’
Economy

US tariffs will ‘squeeze, not choke, growth’

Uncertainty and weak domestic demand delay NZ’s recovery

Rebecca Howard 26 Mar 2025
How US fees on Chinese vessels could impact NZ
Economy

How US fees on Chinese vessels could impact NZ

The plan aims to counter China's global shipbuilding dominance.

John Anthony 24 Mar 2025
NZ tradies take up $11,000 Aussie emigration offer
Economy

NZ tradies take up $11,000 Aussie emigration offer

Nearly 100 skilled NZers have submitted a claim since January.

Gregor Thompson 21 Mar 2025
NZ leaves recession behind as 4Q GDP lifts 0.7%
Economy

NZ leaves recession behind as 4Q GDP lifts 0.7%

GDP lifts slightly more than expected. 

Staff reporters 20 Mar 2025