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.

BNZ and Kiwibank have joined the other banks and cut mortgage rates.

Kiwibank says half year profits fell 41 per cent as bad debt provisions more than doubled.

Lending to customers at New Zealand's banks grew by a meagre 0.7 per cent in the second half of their financial year, a new report shows.

In the first mortgage rate cut of 2011, Kiwibank has dropped its one-year mortgage rate to 6.15 per cent from 6.45 per cent per annum.

Treasury is sitting on advice to the government about options for selling state assets, and is just waiting to be asked to produce it.

The Labour Party's finance spokesman, David Cunliffe, raised some eyebrows last Thursday

The Labour Party has signalled a willingness to allow private capital into state-owned enterprises - at the subsidiary level.

Kiwibank has cut its 2 year fixed mortgage rate to 6.59pc, to try and spice up housing demand.