Screech! That's the sound of the credit brake

Screech! That's the sound of the credit brake
The ANZ Business Outlook Survey reports a net 65% of businesses expect it to be tougher to get credit over the year ahead. (Image: Getty)
Cameron Bagrie
Screech. That is the sound of the credit brakes being applied. Some of the deceleration is temporary and appropriate, but elsewhere, some facets need re-examining. Well-intended regulation to protect the vulnerable from loan sharks, stemming from the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA), is having ludicrous consequences.The availability of credit has tightened significantly for home and small-to-medium-sized (SME) business loans, with a friend describing the tightening as “insane”. It is one of many factors dr...

More Opinion

H&S reform back with a vengeance
Law & Regulation

Bronwyn Heenan: H&S reform back with a vengeance

With all these changes, let's watch this space and wait for the details.

Fixing the public service
Opinion

Deb Te Kawa: Fixing the public service

Public Sector Act reform rightly aims at results, rather than cuts.

Deb Te Kawa 03 Apr 2025
Off-the-shelf AI leading the way
Opinion

Peter Griffin: Off-the-shelf AI leading the way

Long-promised productivity gains from AI will soon be reflected in NZ's economy.

Peter Griffin 02 Apr 2025
Willis can do more to fix banking competition
Finance

Andrew Body: Willis can do more to fix banking competition

A competitive banking system needs more than lower capital adequacy ratios.

Andrew Body 02 Apr 2025