Ksenia Stepanova

Auckland

Content Specialist, APAC at Key Media

News editor at Insurance Business NZ and NZ Adviser

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Articles

Cheaper lending, low rates drive first-home buyer surge

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Ksenia Stepanova

New data reveals a quarter of residential property purchases are now going to first-home buyers By 30 May 2025 First home buyer activity has surged in recent months, according to the new Cotality-Westpac NZ First Home Buyer report. Its data shows first home buyers accounting for 25% of all residential property purchases between January and April this year - the highest market share since before the pandemic, and well above the long-term average of 21–22%.
One cut down, 'easing mode' may be at risk

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Ksenia Stepanova

RBNZ will be watching inflation pressures carefully ahead of June decision By 29 May 2025 The Reserve Bank’s decision to cut the Official Cash Rate to 3.25% this week was broadly expected, but the conversations happening behind the scenes show a central bank walking a careful line between delivering support and managing risk. The Monetary Policy Committee vote – five to one in favour of easing – highlights just how live the debate still is.
May OCR decision revealed

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Ksenia Stepanova

RBNZ has released its May Monetary Policy Statement and OCR decision By 28 May 2025 The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has lowered the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 3.25%. The decision, made by majority 5-1 vote of the Monetary Policy Committee, marks the second cut since August 2024. Governor Christian Hawkesby said current conditions support inflation returning to the 1–3% target band midpoint over the medium term.
Rate cuts, increased borrowing ahead of OCR decision

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Ksenia Stepanova

Banks are seeing buyers with more borrowing power, and are pricing their rates for what's ahead By 28 May 2025 BNZ has cut its fixed and variable home loan rates across the board in anticipation of an expected Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) Official Cash Rate (OCR) reduction.
How advisers can turn property trends into opportunity

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Ksenia Stepanova

May housing report reveals a market in motion By 27 May 2025 Sales volumes in New Zealand’s housing market rose 4% in April 2025, according to Cotality’s May 2025 NZ Housing Chart Pack, continuing nearly two years of consistent growth. Property values also nudged up 0.9% over the latest quarter.
OCR in focus: all eyes on RBNZ's next call

2 weeks ago | mpamag.com | Ksenia Stepanova

The second is the base case: a 25bp cut and a lowered OCR track to around 2.8%. That may stabilise mortgage rates, but wouldn’t move the needle much on confidence or affordability. The third, and what Kiwibank argued is most needed, is a 50bp cut and a signal that the OCR is heading to 2.5%. “The shock without Orr would see wholesale rates poleaxed,” Kiwibank said. “All mortgage rates are likely to be lowered, as needed”.
KiwiSaver cuts, business boosts: Budget 2025's key hits

2 weeks ago | mpamag.com | Ksenia Stepanova

KiwiSaver tweaks and a $1.5bn-a-year investment incentive lead a budget aimed at long-term growth in a slow economy By 23 May 2025 The 2025 Budget, dubbed "The Growth Budget," came with plenty of headlines, from health and defence spending to law and order. For advisers and their clients, the big-ticket items were KiwiSaver changes and the government’s new business tax break, Investment Boost.
Major bank BDM shares top tips for faster approvals

2 weeks ago | mpamag.com | Ksenia Stepanova

Turnaround times are a lingering pain point for advisers. Westpac BDM shares best practice tips for getting deals across the line By 22 May 2025 A good mortgage adviser does more than just match clients with products – they act as interpreters, negotiators, and often, troubleshooters. And behind many of them, quietly but critically, are BDMs like Nicky Skinner. Based in the South Island, Skinner is a business development manager for Westpac NZ’s third-party banking channel.
Budget and MPS in focus as rate cuts loom

2 weeks ago | mpamag.com | Ksenia Stepanova

Anticipation is high with the RBNZ's May statement anticipated next week, and the budget set to land on Thursday By 21 May 2025 This week is shaping up to be a huge one for New Zealand’s economic outlook, with the Government’s Budget announcement on Thursday and the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) following close behind next Wednesday.
Premium funding gets a boost with updated Code of Practice

2 weeks ago | anziif.com | Ksenia Stepanova

What do insurers need to know about class actions? A spate of filings in 2020 and 2021 saw issues such as climate change and forever chemicals hit the