The Reserve Bank says raising interest rates now isn’t the right policy response to an overheated housing market and the bank considers restricting low equity home loans as offering the “greatest potential” to curb demand. Deputy governor Grant Spencer told the Business NZ Council in Wellington that the “overheated housing market is a real threat to future financial stability” and …

Fletcher Building’s head of the distribution division, John Beveridge, has resigned after four years in the job. Beveridge will step down as chief executive of Fletcher’s distribution unit at the end of next month “to pursue personal interest,” the company said in a statement. He’s staying on to help smooth the transition period, and his successor will be made in …

The Reserve Bank was a net buyer of kiwi dollars in May, a month when the currency sank 5.6 percent against the greenback. The central bank made net purchases of some $90 million in New Zealand dollars in May, according to RBNZ figures. The kiwi dollar dropped to 80.72 US cents from 85.49 cents through May, and recently traded at …