Policy

Explore the latest government news by BusinessDesk. 
Govt accounts still in deficit as lumpy tax take persists
Economy

Govt accounts still in deficit as lumpy tax take persists

The government's accounts were still in deficit in the first four months of the fiscal year as the Inland Revenue Department's new systems saw some of the corporate tax take recognised in the previous year. The operating balance before gains and losses was a deficit of $1.08 bill...

Paul McBeth 29 Nov 2019
OPINION: Climate posturing wins over genuine action
Infrastructure Free

Gavin Evans: OPINION: Climate posturing wins over genuine action

Greenpeace’s occupation of the Skandi Atlantic this week is a discouraging reminder that after 20 years of debate on climate change, highly stage-managed climate posturing counts for more than action to actually reduce emissions.That members of our elected government still take a...

Gavin Evans 28 Nov 2019
ANALYSIS: Markets' steep learning curve on RBNZ decision-making
Economy

ANALYSIS: Markets' steep learning curve on RBNZ decision-making

One of the things financial markets got wrong about the Reserve Bank's latest monetary policy decision was how much weight the central bank puts on its own survey of inflation expectations."Historically, we used to place a lot of weight on the two-year measure but we haven't done...

Jenny Ruth 26 Nov 2019
RBNZ likely to highlight dairy, household debt in financial stability report
Finance

RBNZ likely to highlight dairy, household debt in financial stability report

Expect the Reserve Bank to again highlight key vulnerabilities of pockets of high dairy debt and financially stretched households when it hands down its latest financial stability report on Wednesday. “We've still got a highly leveraged dairy sector and we've still go a highly...

Jenny Ruth 25 Nov 2019