The NZ Government issued its response to the Productivity Commission’s report on housing affordability. “High house prices matter because many New Zealanders spend a large portion of their incomes on housing and that has helped fuel household debt and contribute to damaging imbalances in the economy,” Finance Minister Bill English says. “In particular, high housing debt diverts money from more …

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully is off to  Papua New Guinea  to meet members of the new government, including Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato. The meetings will include discussions on Asia-Pacific regional issues, trade and investment links, aid, and political and economic developments in Papua New Guinea and Bougainville. McCully will travel to the Highlands region …

For the first time NZ Defence Force health personnel are joining their counterparts from the People’s Liberation Army China and the Australian Defence Force to build linkages around humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Seven Defence Force personnel are participating in Exercise Cooperation Spirit 2012, which is being hosted by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) from 29 October to 2 …