Glass maker Metro GlassTech is the latest heavily indebted overseas private equity owned business to get into strife with its bankers, says one report.

The four big Australian-owned banks - ANZ National, ASB, Bank of New Zealand and Westpac - are creaming it in New Zealand.

The banks are desperate to lend...

More than half of New Zealand's $168.2b of mortgages are now on floating rates, says the Reserve Bank.

New housing statistics have identified increasing numbers of Auckland suburbs that are out of reach for first-time buyers, with childless big-earners the most likely to be able to buy now.

Soaring wholesale power prices last week have prompted complaints from 14 organisations, including ASB bank, Telecom, Vodafone and the owner of the Marsden Point oil refinery.

Affinity Equity Partners, the private equity firm that owned the now in-receivership retailer Colorado Group, has been given clearance to buy Tegel Foods.

The New Zealand dollar may fall this week, after Federal Reserve board members hinted that the US economy is recovering enough to end extraordinary support measures.

ASB has announced a $250 million package to help stimulate the city's economy, local businesses and community groups, the bank's chief executive Barbara Chapman said.

A $250 million investment programme by ASB to support businesses and people in Christchurch is to be announced this morning.

New Zealand avoided a double-dip recession last year, with latest GDP figures showing economic growth of 0.2pc in the December 2010 quarter. Manufacturing activity drove the expansion, up 2.5 per cent.