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Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson Mortgage brokers are concerned a Commerce Commission suggestion they present buyers with at least three bank offers could end up making things harder for borrowers. In its final report into the banking sector, the commission said mortgage advisers needed to "become champions of price competition" and where possible they should present clients with at least three actual offers from lenders. They should also highlight to clients any banks they were not able to work with, as well as the interest rates that might be available there. The commission said about two-thirds of new home lending by value was happening through mortgage advisers. In 2014, it was just under 30 percent. Squirrel chief executive David Cunningham said the suggestion the adviser should pre...

Lisa Fong built a business based on exercise making you feel good. Then she realised she might have to change her tune. Photo: Stacey Cavalier By Emily Brookes Lisa Fong has "banged on" about how women should take time to exercise to make themselves feel good. She's built a successful business out of it. The 41-year-old is known to many as the founder of Move It Mama, the virtual fitness platform that began when she was at home in Christchurch with four boys under five, doing high intensity workouts by herself. "My arms were drawn like an octopus because I had so many children, so it was the only thing I could do to pick myself up and get a bit of a boost just for me." Move It Mama has a thriving online community of women trying to fit exercise into their lives. Photo: Supplied Wh...

ACC is looking to increase its levies by more than 7 percent for motorists. File photo. Photo: The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) levies should have been increased in the last review three years ago, says the Automobile Association (AA). ACC is consulting on its proposal to increase its levies by more than 7 percent for motorists, and more than 4 percent for employers and earners. It says the number of injuries has been rising, along with the cost of treating them, and higher levies are needed to pay for that. AA principal policy advisor Terry Collins said ACC needed to be financially sustainable to continue to support people involved in motor vehicle crashes. "The government of the day decided not to increase the levies because of the economic conditions of the time. You cann...

Photo: RNZ House prices have softened in most suburbs around the country in the past quarter - with some notable exceptions. Corelogic's latest Mapping the Market data showed 50 percent of the suburbs it tracked had "meaningful" value increases over the past year. Out of 951 suburbs, 480 had at least a 1 percent increase in their median value compared to September 2023. But since June, 674 - or 71 percent - saw their values drop, and 175 by at least 2 percent. Among those that did not drop in the most recent month or three months were Kew, Invercargill, with a median price of $371,450. Its price was up 6.9 percent over three months and 1.8 percent over one month. Otautau had the next biggest increase, up 6.3 percent over three months. Clifton, Invercargill was third, up 5.1 percent. Doub...