November brought another 25bp cut to the Official Cash Rate (OCR), nudging floating rates slightly lower. However, fixed mortgage rates have largely held steady. After the sharp 50bp drop of OCR in October, wholesale rates have reversed course, rising from 2.63% to around 2.82%. This suggests ...
December marks the beginning of summer in New Zealand, and the warmer days bring both opportunities and challenges for your health. Staying active and enjoying outdoor activities is easier with the sun and longer daylight hours, but dehydration and fatigue can quickly set in if you’re not careful. H...
As we enter the final quarter of 2025, the New Zealand property market is gradually emerging from its winter slowdown. Overall, the market shows signs of a moderate recovery, though conditions remain largely in favour of buyers.
Recent surveys suggest that first-home buyers continue to be the main so...
Your wallet affects your wellbeing
Money stress isn’t just about numbers — it’s one of the leading causes of anxiety and sleepless nights in New Zealand households. When financial worries build up, they affect every aspect of life: your relationships, career performance, and even physical health. On ...
AIA NZ is proud to launch AIA Living Specialist and Testing Support (STS), a new entry-level health insurance benefit designed to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for New Zealanders. From 1 October 2025, customers will be able to choose cover that supports faster diagnosis and treatmen...
Protecting your skin and health under Aotearoa’s strong sun
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. This is largely due to our strong UV radiation levels, which are much higher than in many other countries. What makes it tricky is that UV damage is invisible — you may no...
This month, the Official Cash Rate (OCR) was lowered to 3%, and all major banks cut the mortgage rates as well. The 6-month fixed rate has dropped to 4.99% p.a., and the 1-year fixed rate is now 4.72% p.a.. Notably, banks did not lower rates all at once but instead opted for multiple incremental red...
Regular physical activity is one of the most powerful tools for maintaining heart health and managing blood pressure. Whether you want to prevent hypertension or are already managing it, exercise offers both immediate and long-lasting benefits.
Scientific evidence consistently sho...
As conversations around smoking and vaping continue to evolve, it is important to understand the science, the health implications, and the public health considerations that surround both. While vaping is often marketed and perceived as a safer alternative to smoking, the reality is more complex.
Despite growing speculation, the Reserve Bank kept the Official Cash Rate (OCR) unchanged in July, and the property market continues to move cautiously. While overall sentiment remains subdued, mortgage activity is gradually picking up.
Due to increased demand, Westpac and BNZ are currently onl...
With the Official Cash Rate (OCR) continuing its gradual decline, New Zealand’s housing market is showing signs of a mild recovery. Yet price gains remain muted and overall activity is still range-bound. Below is our summary of June’s housing market and mortgage rate.
June Market summary
1...
We all love a good takeaway – whether it’s a Friday night pizza, spicy curry, or a juicy burger. But with food costs on the rise and health top of mind, more Kiwis are skipping the drive-thru and recreating their favourites at home. Enter the “fakeaway” – all the flavour, less of the salt, sugar, an...
You don’t need a new year or a special date to start making positive changes — any day is a good day to begin!
Small tweaks to your daily routine can add up to big improvements in your long-term health.
Remember: it’s not about one meal or one workout, it’s about building habits that stick.
On May 28, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand lowered the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points, from 3.5% to 3.25%. In response, the four major banks also reduced their lending rates.
As interest rates fall, the property market is gradually recovering. Buyer confidence has improved, and we’ve see...
We hope you had an enjoyable and restful break over the Easter and ANZAC Day holidays.
In April, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand lowered the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points as expected. All four major banks followed with rate cuts about a week later. Further rate reductions—possibly...
Summary
March was an active month across the board. We saw a notable rise in mortgage applications, particularly from investors preparing to re-enter the property market. At the same time, lending turnaround times at the major banks have slowed, reflecting a clear increase in buyer demand.
This uptick...
In recent weeks, global financial markets have been experiencing fluctuations due to a mix of economic and geopolitical factors. Many investors, including KiwiSaver account holders and managed fund participants, may feel concerned about the impact of th...
In February, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand lowered the OCR to 3.75%, mainly because inflation remains within the central bank’s target, currently at 2.2%.
The central bank aims to use this reduction in OCR to gradually support economic recovery. Although the unemployment rate is still high, i...
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