News

Plastic pollution is getting out of control, with landfills and oceans across the world clogging up with this highly toxic material. Because plastics don't break down like other man-made products, three-quarters of the stuff ends up as waste and only a small proportion is ever recycled or reused. While small efforts are being made to ban plastic bags in Australia and other western countries, much more needs to be done to address this huge and growing problem.

The world is getting faster and more connected all the time, making it more important than ever to slow down and look after your health. As it turns out, spending time at the beach is one of the best ways you can look after yourself, with multiple studies highlighting the physical and mental benefits of time by the ocean. Not only does the beach promote happiness and general wellbeing, it's also a great way to relax, improve brain function, and help fight off infection.

Property values continue to flatten out across New Zealand, with slow conditions in Auckland spreading to other centres. According to figures from Quotable Value (QV), average dwelling prices have already dropped in Hamilton and Christchurch and are starting to falter in Wellington and Dunedin. While nationwide property values still increased slightly from June to July, conditions are changing dramatically as regional and provincial centres drive growth rather than Auckland and other cities.

Westpac has widely matched earlier moves made by ANZ by increasing mortgage rates in New Zealand across a range of fixed contracts. Announced just days before the latest Reserve Bank announcement that left the official cash rate steady at 1.75 percent, changes by Westpac were made effective on Thursday, May 11, 2017.  While many short-term rates at Westpac are now higher than average, it retains a market-leading position for 5-year terms at 5.59 percent, the same as HSBC. Despite rising rates, equivalent term deposit rate increases have not been announced.