Ella Somers
Latest articles
KiwiSaver funds under management reach $108.6 billion in March as top players narrow the gap, according to new Morningstar report
7th May 24, 2:40pm
by Ella Somers
2
KiwiSaver funds under management reach $108.6 billion in March as top players narrow the gap, according to new Morningstar report
Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island say proposed merger ‘isn’t capable’ of hindering grocery competition, others beg to differ
4th May 24, 9:01am
by Ella Somers
2
Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island say proposed merger ‘isn’t capable’ of hindering grocery competition, others beg to differ
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announces insurance law reform, wants to bring insurance law ‘into the 21st century’
2nd May 24, 7:36pm
by Ella Somers
10
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announces insurance law reform, wants to bring insurance law ‘into the 21st century’
Softer labour market data won’t be enough to make the RBNZ cut the OCR before late 2024 or 2025, bank economists say
1st May 24, 3:56pm
by Ella Somers
7
Softer labour market data won’t be enough to make the RBNZ cut the OCR before late 2024 or 2025, bank economists say
Unemployment rate climbed to 4.3% in the March quarter from 4%, just exceeding the Reserve Bank’s expectations
1st May 24, 10:56am
by Ella Somers
81
Unemployment rate climbed to 4.3% in the March quarter from 4%, just exceeding the Reserve Bank’s expectations
[updated]
KiwiSaver financial hardship withdrawals hit an all-time high of $29.3 million in March, while first home withdrawals jumped to $143.7 million
30th Apr 24, 12:31pm
by Ella Somers
15
KiwiSaver financial hardship withdrawals hit an all-time high of $29.3 million in March, while first home withdrawals jumped to $143.7 million
The RBNZ says dwelling insurance ‘is becoming more risk-based’ and owners of higher-risk properties may find insurance increasingly unaffordable
29th Apr 24, 3:56pm
by Ella Somers
20
The RBNZ says dwelling insurance ‘is becoming more risk-based’ and owners of higher-risk properties may find insurance increasingly unaffordable
Bank economists anticipate the unemployment rate will edge up when Statistics NZ releases March quarter labour market data
28th Apr 24, 6:01am
by Ella Somers
49
Bank economists anticipate the unemployment rate will edge up when Statistics NZ releases March quarter labour market data
Job portal Seek says the number of job ads was down 0.4% in March across NZ, but a much steeper 27% since March 2023
22nd Apr 24, 4:41pm
by Ella Somers
37
Job portal Seek says the number of job ads was down 0.4% in March across NZ, but a much steeper 27% since March 2023
Health insurer UniMed gets approval needed from the RBNZ to take on the portfolio of insurance co-op Accuro which plans to dissolve following the transfer process
18th Apr 24, 2:18pm
by Ella Somers
1
Health insurer UniMed gets approval needed from the RBNZ to take on the portfolio of insurance co-op Accuro which plans to dissolve following the transfer process
There weren't too many surprises in the new inflation figures out of Statistics NZ, but there’s enough in the data to keep the RBNZ nervous
17th Apr 24, 4:01pm
by Ella Somers
18
There weren't too many surprises in the new inflation figures out of Statistics NZ, but there’s enough in the data to keep the RBNZ nervous
[updated]
March annual inflation comes in higher than RBNZ expected while rent prices climb to highest rate since at least 1999
17th Apr 24, 10:57am
by Ella Somers
141
March annual inflation comes in higher than RBNZ expected while rent prices climb to highest rate since at least 1999
Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden says he wants to ‘level the playing field’ of the $25 billion grocery sector in a new letter to industry
16th Apr 24, 12:11pm
by Ella Somers
6
Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden says he wants to ‘level the playing field’ of the $25 billion grocery sector in a new letter to industry
Ahead of April 17’s much anticipated release of the March quarter CPI, Westpac, ANZ and Kiwibank cast their predictions with all three banks expecting annual inflation to be higher than the RBNZ has forecast
14th Apr 24, 8:07am
by Ella Somers
61
Ahead of April 17’s much anticipated release of the March quarter CPI, Westpac, ANZ and Kiwibank cast their predictions with all three banks expecting annual inflation to be higher than the RBNZ has forecast
[updated]
Statistics NZ says food prices rose 0.7% in March year while tobacco prices jumped over 10% and international airfares fell 15.1%
12th Apr 24, 11:30am
by Ella Somers
35
Statistics NZ says food prices rose 0.7% in March year while tobacco prices jumped over 10% and international airfares fell 15.1%
UniMed CEO Louise Zacest says health insurers are struggling with ‘surging claims inflation’ as new data from Financial Services Council shows 37% of NZ's population now have health insurance cover
11th Apr 24, 7:36am
by Ella Somers
34
UniMed CEO Louise Zacest says health insurers are struggling with ‘surging claims inflation’ as new data from Financial Services Council shows 37% of NZ's population now have health insurance cover
Sharesies experiences its most substantial trading month to date with $488 million traded as investors shift their focus to the US market and tech stocks
9th Apr 24, 1:30pm
by Ella Somers
7
Sharesies experiences its most substantial trading month to date with $488 million traded as investors shift their focus to the US market and tech stocks
Fintech startup Emerge wants to 'fix' banking in New Zealand, starting with SMEs before launching into consumer banking
9th Apr 24, 10:40am
by Ella Somers
1
Fintech startup Emerge wants to 'fix' banking in New Zealand, starting with SMEs before launching into consumer banking
Could insurers afford a Canterbury-sized earthquake in Wellington? ICNZ’s departing CEO Tim Grafton says it raises ‘some questions’ around reinsurance affordability
5th Apr 24, 7:42am
by Ella Somers
40
Could insurers afford a Canterbury-sized earthquake in Wellington? ICNZ’s departing CEO Tim Grafton says it raises ‘some questions’ around reinsurance affordability
Suncorp offloads life insurance arm Asteron Life for NZ$410 million, sale to see Suncorp NZ focus exclusively on general insurance
4th Apr 24, 11:34am
by Ella Somers
Suncorp offloads life insurance arm Asteron Life for NZ$410 million, sale to see Suncorp NZ focus exclusively on general insurance
Mind the gap: New research identifies gender pay inequality as primary cause behind 36% difference in KiwiSaver contributions for men and women
3rd Apr 24, 5:30am
by Ella Somers
30
Mind the gap: New research identifies gender pay inequality as primary cause behind 36% difference in KiwiSaver contributions for men and women
Insurance premiums on the rise for NZ's biggest councils as range of risks put pressure on Auckland Council and Christchurch City Council’s insurance costs
1st Apr 24, 6:00am
by Ella Somers
1
Insurance premiums on the rise for NZ's biggest councils as range of risks put pressure on Auckland Council and Christchurch City Council’s insurance costs
Statistics NZ reveals disproportionate erosion risk across the country with new 2022 data around highly erodible land and long-term soil erosion
27th Mar 24, 4:05pm
by Ella Somers
1
Statistics NZ reveals disproportionate erosion risk across the country with new 2022 data around highly erodible land and long-term soil erosion
RBNZ releases finalised guidance for financial institutions on evaluating and mitigating climate-related risks, says they should understand the compounding effect climate-related risks may have on other business risks
27th Mar 24, 5:00am
by Ella Somers
5
RBNZ releases finalised guidance for financial institutions on evaluating and mitigating climate-related risks, says they should understand the compounding effect climate-related risks may have on other business risks
The Financial Markets Authority cautions two Southern Cross entities for neglecting to apply advertised discounts on insurance products, causing almost $600,000 in overcharged premiums
26th Mar 24, 11:44am
by Ella Somers
3
The Financial Markets Authority cautions two Southern Cross entities for neglecting to apply advertised discounts on insurance products, causing almost $600,000 in overcharged premiums