Mortgage applications rose nearly 20 percent in December from a year ago and people are also taking out more personal loans, in what personal credit rating agency Veda says proves the economy is recovering. Veda sees 98 percent of all credit applications and says it sees evidence of a revitalised credit cycle and indicates New Zealanders are increasingly confident about …

Ebos Group is progressing a couple of acquisition opportunities after indicating to shareholders last year that it was looking to follow up the successful purchase of Masterpet. Market observers have identified SVS, New Zealand’s leading full service provider of products to the veterinary industry, as a nice fit. Ebos chief executive Mark Waller told BusinessDesk that Ebos had talked to …

The government is setting up a fund to play a “bridging role” for investments in regional water storage and irrigation projects to facilitate private investment. A yet-to-be-named Crown-owned company will take minority stakes in water projects with a long-term goal of getting out and leaving the projects to the private sector. While the government hopes to “get our money back”, …