A group of Auckland charities have quietly started lending money at zero interest rates to low-income families in a pilot project which may drive loan sharks out.

A slowdown from the first half of the year is expected when economic growth figures for the September quarter come out on Thursday.

Banks have united to keep mum on how often they give customer details to police without a warrant.

The kiwi dollar climbed to a 16-month high on a trade-weighted basis after investors piled into currency after the Reserve Bank governor's statement yesterday.

A visit to New Zealand by the man who blew the whistle on Bernie Madoff is "timely", says the SFO's acting chief executive.

The Reserve Bank is watching the housing market, but at this point not so much like a hawk as like a dove, writes Brian Fallow.

An Auckland banker has been charged with stealing nearly $1 million from his clients and faces 41 criminal offences, including money laundering.

Editorial: Banks need to be more careful about handing over personal information to the police. They must make it their business to assess whether a request constitutes a valid reason for sidelining the Privacy Act.

The NZIER shadow board believes Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler should leave the official cash rate on hold at 2.5 per cent on Thursday.

Banks get daily requests from the police for personal banking information, and one says it is influenced by law enforcement interest when it assesses customers.