RBNZ chooses 'speed limits' to contain banks' high LVR loans rather than outright caps on high LVR lending; Says it has no mandate to improve housing affordability

Finance Minister Bill English says RBNZ Governor Graeme Wheeler will decide if, and when, to use new tools designed to dampen excessive growth in credit and asset prices

NZ Govt forecasts NZ$75 mln surplus in 2014/15; Macro-prudential tools deal signed; NZSF contributions delayed 2 yrs; Central govt may directly issue housing consents

Reserve Bank suggests it's not keen on exempting first home buyers from any LVR caps on home loans, nor on targeting LVR restrictions at regions such as Auckland

RBNZ to force big 4 banks to hold more capital to back high LVR mortgages from Sept 30; says will result in average increase in capital for housing of 12%

Latest combined core funding ratio for locally incorporated banks at 84.8% versus Reserve Bank mandated 75% minimum

CEO Peter Clare 'comfortable' with Westpac NZ's risk settings in housing market as 'volatility' increases

Kiwibank may raise money to bolster its capital position to meet potential new Reserve Bank capital requirements

Latest credit statistics show that New Zealanders are increasing their levels of borrowing again and the RBNZ will be watching

PwC paper commissioned by bank lobby group says RBNZ's use of macro-prudential tools would result in borrowers paying banks higher interest rates