Economists expect the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates further late this month, despite lower than expected inflation figures.

House prices firmed up last month, but turnover stayed low said the Real Estate Institute.

Kiwibank had slowing growth and shrinking margins in the March quarter, says KPMG.

Kiwibank, which led its rivals in cutting two-year fixed home loan rates last week, has now followed them by reducing its three, four and five year rates.

Westpac economists expect house prices to fall about 2 per cent this year and another 2 per cent next year.

House prices will fall gently for the next two years before levelling out, says a leading bank economist.

All the major trading banks have now lifted their mortgage rates, with BNZ becoming the last to move following the recent OCR hike.

Hubbard is defending his actions, while one investor says he had been told he was investing in a "trust fund".

Personal finance writer Mary Holm shares her best advice and tips.

ANZ and National Bank have announced increases to their variable mortgage and savings account rates of around 25 basis points.

ASB Bank has become the first big bank to lift its interest rates - and it says there are more to come.

The rural property sector remains stagnant because prices and sales are being dictated by banks, REINZ says.

New Zealand's housing market is running out of puff.

The average floating mortgage is expected to rise by $10 a week after the Reserve Bank lifted the OCR for the first time since 2007.

For borrowers the Reserve Bank's statement makes dispiriting reading...

Inside Money:Why are the rich just as tardy with bills as the poor?

One in four New Zealanders will pay their bills late over the next year, with 35pc saying they would miss paying the TV bill if they ran short of cash.