The lawyer heading up a legal fight against NZ's major banks over fees says he won't be throwing the towel in despite a ruling in favour of ANZ in Australia.

At least four banks have quietly dropped cash incentives aimed at wooing home loan customers.

NZ's first mobile wallet has been launched by technology company Semble in collaboration with national mobile operators and banks.

Thousands of BNZ customers are set to lose the ability to earn airpoints on credit card transactions, though the bank is offering a new cash-back incentive.

Air New Zealand is dropping BNZ in place of Westpac as its official Airpoints partner.

The major banks are breathing a sigh of relief that the Reserve Bank has decided to drop the 5+ proposal.

Home loans became more affordable last month, with the typical home buyer saving $30 per week on mortgage repayments compared to December.

New Zealand's banks had a bumper 2014, with home loan demand amid a booming property market helping to boost their combined profit by more than 20 per cent to a record $4.8 billion.

Banks will need to "reinvent themselves" if they want to keep increasing shareholder returns, according to a new report.

The New Zealand dollar pushed on to a 21-month high against the euro yesterday as the spectre of deflation swept through Europe's financial markets.

New Zealand manufacturing activity eased from a 15-month high in November, while remaining in expansion for the 26th consecutive month, as production and new orders declined in the month.

A $6 billion drop in dairy farmers' incomes this season is a blow to the wider economy, no question, writes Brian Fallow. But it's not all bad.

An architect of the Trinity forestry tax scheme has failed to convince the High Court to halt bankruptcy action against him.

An architect of the Trinity forestry tax scheme is facing bankruptcy action from the Bank of New Zealand over a guarantee he gave on debt.

NZ's services sector expansion slowed from a month earlier, as economic growth moderated from a rapid to a more sustainable pace.

Westpac NZ's record annual cash profit of $864m confirms a bumper year for the big banks. In fact, at $4.1b, that's almost $1000 for every man, woman and child in NZ.

Bank of New Zealand is watching dairy prices closely but has faith in farmers' ability to manage finances through dips in the commodities cycle, says chief executive Anthony Healy.

BNZ chief executive Anthony Healy has thrown his weight behind efforts to clean up New Zealand's polluted waterways.

NZ manufacturing activity picked up in August, extending the period of expansion to two years, and pointing to more industrial production.