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Analysts are warning that net inflows of migrants could fall faster than expected. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi High immigration numbers have been "papering the cracks" of the New Zealand economy, analysts say, and now that they are dropping fast, it is likely to add to the slowdown. Data on Wednesday showed the international migration rate fell to an additional 13 people per 1000 already here in the year to July, compared to 26 per 1000 in October last year. Stats NZ population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said the rate last year had been the highest since the late 1870s. Islam said 13 per 1000 was still high by international standards. ASB senior economist Mark Smith said the rate was back to the level of early 2023, and there was a risk that net inflows of migrants would fall fast...

In New Zealand, people either dislike wealthy people, or admire them, says Rod Duke. The majority share-holder and managing director of Briscoe Group shared his thoughts as part of RNZ's series, RICH: The meaning of wealth in Aotearoa. When Rod Duke became the boss of the Briscoe Group in 1988, it was illegal to sell most things on Sundays. Duke was willing to test the authorities' mettle to enforce that law. "We thought: 'What are the fines? How can I get prosecuted? What's the likelihood? How do I tell people that I'm going to be open on Sundays? How do I convince my staff to work?'" They went for it, and before long Briscoes was doing the equivalent of a month's trading on each Sunday alone. The Labour government of the time, which was in the midst of sweeping economic deregulation, was...

The older generation can suffer financially by allowing their adult children to live at home, experts say. (File photo) Photo: 123RF It is becoming more common for young people to stay living with their parents for longer - but it can be an expensive mistake for the older generation, one retirement planning expert says. The number of households with adult children has grown by more than 100,000 since 2004 - the fastest growth of any type of household. We have crunched the numbers to look at what it might be adding to the household bills. In some cases, having extra adults in the house can add thousands of dollars a year. Otago University researchers estimate the cost of food around the country each year. Their most recent estimates show that at a national level, a man with a "moderate...