New Zealand's financial markets are "back to normal" and government guarantees for banks, set up during the global financial crisis, will be phased out at the end of next month, says Finance Minister Bill English. Wednesday Mar 10, 2010 photo Mark Mitchell

09 February. Immediately following his commencement speech to the House, John talks informally about what the government hopes to achieve this year and the prospects for making New Zealand a better place to live and work.
The Government's economic blueprint for the future, revealed by Prime Minister John Key this afternoon, has divided opinion in business and political circles. In his statement to Parliament, Mr Key strongly signalled a rise in GST to 15 per cent (from 12.5 per cent) along with across-the-board cuts in personal tax, to be formally announced in the May 20 Budget.
Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard, to no one's surprise, left the official cash rate unchanged at 2.5 per cent and reiterated December's guidance that he expects to start raising it "around the middle of 2010". 4:00 AM Friday Jan 29, 2010 Photo / Mark Mitchell