Lucy Craymer

New Zealand's business confidence rose in February as the economy remains on a path to recovery, an ANZ Bank survey showed on Thursday.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters will touch down in Beijing on Tuesday for a three-day visit as relations between the two countries are strained after Chinese Navy vessels conducted live firing exercises in the Tasman Sea.

High-frequency data is consistent with the central bank's view that New Zealand's economy bottomed out in the middle of 2024 and started to slowly pick up in December, the chief economist of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) said on Friday.

Growing ties between Cook Islands and China, including a new comprehensive partnership agreement action plan detailed this week, have raised concerns in New Zealand, which has a close constitutional relationship with its tiny Pacific neighbour.

Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Adrian Orr said on Thursday that New Zealand was now in an environment of low and stable inflation but warned the volatile international landscape could impact New Zealand's economy.

New Zealand's central bank cut its benchmark rate by 50 basis points to 3.75% on Wednesday and flagged further reductions in borrowing costs amid moderating inflation as policymakers sought to revive a struggling economy.

A strategic partnership deal between China and the Cook Islands spans areas from deep-sea mining to education scholarships but excludes security ties, a document released by the Pacific island nation's government showed.

Cook Islands' Prime Minister Mark Brown said on Thursday he had held discussions with institutions on marine science, climate resilience and economic cooperation so far during a trip to China that has raised national security concerns in New Zealand.

New Zealand expressed renewed concern on Monday about the Cook Islands' prime minister travelling to China this week to sign agreements without properly consulting with Wellington despite the two nations' constitutional ties.

Thousands gathered across New Zealand on Thursday to celebrate the signing of the country’s founding document and some called for an end to government policies that critics say erode the rights promised to the Indigenous Maori population.