Gareth Vaughan | interest.co.nz

About

Gareth is editor of interest.co.nz and has worked for more than 20 years as a financial journalist in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He has received awards in the EY Business Journalism Awards, Canon Media Awards, and Shareholders' Association Business Journalism Awards.

Member for

15 years 10 months

Latest articles

Will this election year be dominated by the economy, or could international events take centre stage?

Gareth Vaughan looks at early indicators of what the economy is doing in an election year, but notes international events may overshadow everything else

18th Jan 26, 6:02am

by Gareth Vaughan

Gareth Vaughan looks at early indicators of what the economy is doing in an election year, but notes international events may overshadow everything else

Electricity and gas prices jump, food price growth slows, Statistics NZ says. Did inflation end 2025 above 3%?

[updated]

ASB economist warns CPI inflation may have ended 2025 above 3% as food prices rise and strong electricity and gas price rises continue, according to Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes

16th Jan 26, 11:13am

by Gareth Vaughan

ASB economist warns CPI inflation may have ended 2025 above 3% as food prices rise and strong electricity and gas price rises continue, according to Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes

ANZ NZ and 2degrees pooling other companies in phishing fight

As cyber threat landscape evolves, ANZ and 2degrees talk up the benefits of working with an unnamed NZ tech company

15th Jan 26, 9:29am

by Gareth Vaughan

As cyber threat landscape evolves, ANZ and 2degrees talk up the benefits of working with an unnamed NZ tech company

Peters criticises RBNZ's Breman for joining other central bankers in backing Trump targeted US Fed Chairman

[updated]

Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman and other leading central bankers 'stand in full solidarity' with US Fed & its Chairman Jerome Powell against pressure from Donald Trump

14th Jan 26, 11:56am

by Gareth Vaughan

Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman and other leading central bankers 'stand in full solidarity' with US Fed & its Chairman Jerome Powell against pressure from Donald Trump

Glut of homes for sale restraining property value increases, QV says

[updated]

QV says residential property value rises becoming more widespread across NZ, but pace is modest

14th Jan 26, 11:01am

by Gareth Vaughan

QV says residential property value rises becoming more widespread across NZ, but pace is modest

RBNZ Financial Policy Committee members to include ex-APRA & Afterpay manager

Reserve Bank Financial Policy Committee to make financial stability decisions by consensus 'wherever possible'

13th Jan 26, 2:49pm

by Gareth Vaughan

Reserve Bank Financial Policy Committee to make financial stability decisions by consensus 'wherever possible'

QSBO shows business confidence at its highest level since March 2014

[updated]

NZIER says QSBO shows economic recovery starting to take shape with effects of lower interest rates flowing into broader economy. BNZ's Toplis sees 'clear signs' inflationary pressures are rising

13th Jan 26, 10:26am

by Gareth Vaughan

NZIER says QSBO shows economic recovery starting to take shape with effects of lower interest rates flowing into broader economy. BNZ's Toplis sees 'clear signs' inflationary pressures are rising

US Fed Chairman says political pressure and intimidation threatens Fed independence

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says Department of Justice subpoenas 'a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President'

12th Jan 26, 3:06pm

by Gareth Vaughan

Open banking style changes coming to electricity sector from September

'Open electricity' to offer greater competition and choice for consumers from September, government says

12th Jan 26, 11:02am

by Gareth Vaughan

'Open electricity' to offer greater competition and choice for consumers from September, government says

Kiwibank $500m capital raise off the table after terms couldn't be agreed with investors

[updated]

Kiwibank equity sale to institutional investors shelved, says it doesn't require new equity at the moment to support its growth

19th Dec 25, 12:37pm

by Gareth Vaughan

Kiwibank equity sale to institutional investors shelved, says it doesn't require new equity at the moment to support its growth

Fitch sees scope for upgrades to big NZ banks' credit ratings

Could the Reserve Bank's new capital settings be a slow burning catalyst for big bank credit rating upgrades?

19th Dec 25, 9:39am

by Gareth Vaughan

Could the Reserve Bank's new capital settings be a slow burning catalyst for big bank credit rating upgrades?

'We do not operate a zero failure regime,' RBNZ's Anna Breman says

Reserve Bank's risk appetite may have increased, but it has a 'very low appetite for events that could create systemic risks,' new Governor says

19th Dec 25, 5:00am

by Gareth Vaughan

Reserve Bank's risk appetite may have increased, but it has a 'very low appetite for events that could create systemic risks,' new Governor says

What will the RBNZ bank capital changes mean for deposit rates?

Reserve Bank says new bank capital requirements will see interest rates paid to depositors 'fall slightly'

18th Dec 25, 8:30am

by Gareth Vaughan

Reserve Bank says new bank capital requirements will see interest rates paid to depositors 'fall slightly'

RBNZ pledges increased debt availability and lower interest rates as it reduces banks' high quality capital requirements

[updated]

Regulatory capital changes for banks will reduce their funding costs and bolster credit availability, RBNZ says

17th Dec 25, 9:47am

by Gareth Vaughan

Regulatory capital changes for banks will reduce their funding costs and bolster credit availability, RBNZ says

New government super ministry to support 'ambitious reform agenda'

[updated]

Government outlines plans for the Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport to be up and running from July next year

16th Dec 25, 11:46am

by Gareth Vaughan

Government outlines plans for the Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport to be up and running from July next year

RBNZ agrees to $6.73m ASB penalty for anti-money laundering breaches

[updated]

ASB acknowledges anti-money laundering failures as RBNZ files civil court case; ASB CEO apologises

15th Dec 25, 11:17am

by Gareth Vaughan

ASB acknowledges anti-money laundering failures as RBNZ files civil court case; ASB CEO apologises

A Top 5 resurrection: Inflation targeting, asset bubbles & a no s**t Sherlock moment

Gareth Vaughan on inflation targeting under the spotlight, asset bubbles, Venezuela & water's obvious economic importance

13th Dec 25, 9:11am

by Gareth Vaughan

Gareth Vaughan on inflation targeting under the spotlight, asset bubbles, Venezuela & water's obvious economic importance

'The construction boom in data centres, and the associated borrowing, warrants close monitoring'

Institute of International Finance debt monitor flags growing leverage in the AI sector, sees momentum for private credit

11th Dec 25, 5:00am

by Gareth Vaughan

Institute of International Finance debt monitor flags growing leverage in the AI sector, sees momentum for private credit

SBS Bank's Finance Now launches vehicle fleet payment service

Finance Now working with Visa and others in open-loop payment system for vehicle fleet management

9th Dec 25, 9:54am

by Gareth Vaughan

Finance Now working with Visa and others in open-loop payment system for vehicle fleet management

MBIE investigating 'matters that have been raised' about FMA Chairman Craig Stobo

FMA Chairman Craig Stobo temporarily steps down while MBIE investigates matters raised about him

8th Dec 25, 9:54am

by Gareth Vaughan

FMA Chairman Craig Stobo temporarily steps down while MBIE investigates matters raised about him

'Bureaucracy for its own sake' removed by anti-money laundering Ministerial Exemptions

Currency exchanger, fuel card system, payment provider and insurer granted AML exemptions

2nd Dec 25, 8:10am

by Gareth Vaughan

Currency exchanger, fuel card system, payment provider and insurer granted AML exemptions

RBNZ confirms Rodger Finlay as Chairman, adds new board member

After a year of 'wide-ranging change,' Reserve Bank names Rodger Finlay as ongoing Chairman, adds Rhiannon McKinnon to board

27th Nov 25, 10:41am

by Gareth Vaughan

After a year of 'wide-ranging change,' Reserve Bank names Rodger Finlay as ongoing Chairman, adds Rhiannon McKinnon to board

A composite image of someone's hand holding a card during a contactless payment and someone's hand holding New Zealand money.

Business lobby groups propose 'fair, workable solution' to government's planned surcharge ban

[updated]

Eleventh hour attempt by business groups to convince government not to ban surcharging, suggest capping them instead

27th Nov 25, 5:00am

by Gareth Vaughan

Eleventh hour attempt by business groups to convince government not to ban surcharging, suggest capping them instead

Co-operative Bank penalty for unreasonable fees to be determined by High Court

Commerce Commission and Co-operative Bank reach settlement over unreasonable fees self reported by the bank

25th Nov 25, 1:47pm

by Gareth Vaughan

Commerce Commission and Co-operative Bank reach settlement over unreasonable fees self reported by the bank

Banks now allowed to share anti-money laundering information to help fight fraud & scams

[updated]

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee hails move to broaden banks' ability to share information to combat fraudsters and scammers

20th Nov 25, 2:53pm

by Gareth Vaughan

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee hails move to broaden banks' ability to share information to combat fraudsters and scammers