Manawatu Standard

Auckland economy tops $100b

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Auckland’s regional economy has surpassed $100 billion for the first time, Statistics New Zealand says. Figures released yesterday showed the Super City’s nominal GDP increased in value from $95.3b to $101.4b in the year to March 2017. The increase was attributed to strong growth in rental, hiring and real estate services, as well as finance, insurance and constructi­on businesses. Statistics NZ said Auckland’s growth drove a lot of other economic activity, and it played an especially large role in the finance sector. Auckland’s economy is nearly 40 per cent of New Zealand’s GDP, which surpasses its share of the national population.

Hotel room rates rise 5pc

It’s a classic case of supply and demand boosting hotel prices across New Zealand. Hotels in the most popular destinatio­ns nationwide raised their prices an average of 5 per cent last year, Hotels.com’s 2017 index revealed. Tourists paid an average price of $185 a night, with a night in Queenstown or Lake Tekapo being the most expensive. Rates in those tourist towns were an average of $284 and $254 respective­ly. The biggest price increases were provincial. Napier has lifted its prices 14 per cent since 2016, more than any other city. Lake Tekapo, Tauranga and Picton all hiked accommodat­ion prices 9 per cent.

Banks urged to cut fees

Bank of New Zealand has reduced 26 fees, prompting a call for other banks to follow suit. BNZ’S Mortgage One base fee drops from $20 a month to $2. The fee for a personal loan facility falls from $250 to $50. Many credit card fees have also reduced, by an average of 45 per cent. Christophe­r Walsh, of finance website Moneyhub, said the move was significan­t, and credit-card holders would save $30 a year per card on average. ‘‘Further cuts on late-payment fees and over-limit fees are significan­t, dropping from $15 and $20 respective­ly to a flat $2. Given this is a 90 per cent fee cut, we hope other banks will follow suit.’’

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