Pay rises lift employment confidence; outlook weak

Pay rises lift employment confidence; outlook weak
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth June 25 (BusinessDesk) - Employment confidence recovered from a dip at the start of the year as more surveyed workers reported pay increases.  The Westpac McDermott Miller employment confidence index rose 2.7 points to 116.9 in the June quarter, reversing some of the gloomier outlook in the March period. Of that, the present conditions index rose 2.3 points to 122.4 and the employment expectations index was up 2.9 points at 113.2.  The greater optimism was attributed to the rise in past earnings growth, with a net 28.6 p...

More Economy

Willis teases new RBNZ governor after GDP drop
Economy

Willis teases new RBNZ governor after GDP drop

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says a new Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor will be announced “very shortly” as she comes under growing pressure to tackle NZ’s economic woes.Economists are calling on the RBNZ to cut the official cash rate (OCR) more aggressively after yesterda...

Dire economy opens door for 50bps cut in October
Economy

Dire economy opens door for 50bps cut in October

The New Zealand economy contracted 0.9% in the June quarter. 

Rebecca Howard 18 Sep 2025
Economy contracts 0.9% in June quarter
Economy

Economy contracts 0.9% in June quarter

GDP has now fallen in 3 of the last 5 quarters.

Rebecca Howard 18 Sep 2025
Life insurance market shrinks
Finance Risky Business

Life insurance market shrinks

Foreign firms dominate as affordability, tax and access barriers stymie growth.

Michael Neilson 18 Sep 2025