Last week, Aotearoa New Zealand’s financial news coverage centred on easing headline inflation but renewed interest-rate pressure, election-year tax and investment policies, and proposals affecting digital assets and KiwiSaver/investment capital.
💻 ACT proposes greater coordination for the digital economy
In an election policy announcement on 24 October, ACT proposed stronger ministerial coordination across government work on cryptocurrency, tokenised assets, stablecoins, fintech and payments. The party said relevant programmes currently span MBIE, the Reserve Bank, FMA, DIA and Treasury, and argued that bringing them together would help New Zealand compete more effectively in digital finance.
Read more: Business.Scoop
🏭 NZ First proposes 50% accelerated depreciation
New Zealand First announced a policy on 23 October proposing a 50% first-year accelerated depreciation rate for new plant, machinery and equipment purchased by manufacturing and targeted export sectors. The party contrasted the proposal with the existing Investment Boost, which allows businesses to deduct 20% of eligible new investment costs upfront, positioning its plan as a targeted measure to encourage capital investment and productivity.
Read more: Business.Scoop
📈 Economists weigh another OCR increase
RNZ reported on 23 October that economists were debating whether another Official Cash Rate rise was appropriate after annual inflation came in at 3.7%, with petrol prices 19% higher than a year earlier. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr and Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan highlighted the tension between fuel-driven pressure on households and businesses and the risk that elevated costs could spread into broader inflation.
Read more: Business.Scoop
🌱 New tool maps positive-impact investments
Mindful Money announced on 21 October a free online tool designed to show New Zealanders which investments it identifies as producing positive social or environmental outcomes. The organisation said the tool could help direct some of the approximately $250 billion held in KiwiSaver and retail investment funds towards areas including renewable energy, affordable housing, biodiversity and health, although claims about investment impacts and performance come from Mindful Money itself.
Read more: Business.Scoop
