Mortgage wars should spark boost to lending

Mortgage wars should spark boost to lending
Brent Melville
Mortgage lending was slashed to about half of normal levels last month due to covid-19 restrictions but economists say the latest round of ‘rate wars’ should spark some renewed buyer and seller enthusiasm.  For those keen on picking up a sharp mortgage, record low wholesale rates have seen Kiwibank drop its one-year fixed rate to 2.65 percent, with both ASB Bank and AIA/Sovereign offering two-year fixed loan to value ratio options at 2.69 percent. HSBC’s premier two-year rate is as low as 2.60 percent. The lower-rate options could perk up...

More Property

Queenstown hostel sells for $31m to Hong Kong firm
Property

Queenstown hostel sells for $31m to Hong Kong firm

The hostel was sold by a rich-list family who abandoned plans to make it a luxury hotel.

John Anthony 16 Jan 2026
Fletcher warns regulation hindering decarbonisation efforts
Infrastructure Carbon Catch-Up

Fletcher warns regulation hindering decarbonisation efforts

The company has reduced coal in cement production by 65%.

Michael Neilson 16 Jan 2026
Property developer bankrupt for third time
Property

Property developer bankrupt for third time

Billionaire Graeme Hart is a secured creditor of David Williams' failed firm.

Maria Slade 13 Jan 2026
Big-five banks approach $10b combined bottom line
Finance

Big-five banks approach $10b combined bottom line

The till receipt is in for the five biggest banks in New Zealand.

Andy Macdonald 09 Jan 2026