It's hard to be a young designer in New Zealand right now, but the Westpac Young Fashion Designer competition is looking to help out those who are starting out in the industry.

Weak credit demand could curtail earnings growth for the big New Zealand banks, says credit rating agency Standard and Poor's.

National lacks the courage to tackle Australian banks which have saddled NZ with billions in debt, says Greens co-leader Russel Norman.

There is nothing wrong with ministers accepting hospitality from the Government's banker Westpac, and it won't have any bearing on the decision that will follow a competitive tender for the contract, the Prime Minister says.

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...

Anthony Collingwood didn't know how true his words would prove to be when he abused former Blue Chip boss Mark Bryers at the Auckland District Court. "I hope you feel good putting me out in the street, boy..."

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