Bank 1 year mortgage rate, increased to over 7%   ASB has raised several fixed mortgage rates, including its key 1-year mortgage rate. ASB, one of New Zealand’s large banks owned by Australia, has raised its 6-month and 1-year rates to 7.25%, its 18-month rate to 6.95%, and its 2-year rate to 6.79%. ASB is…

Doctor prescribes ‘4 cans of Coca-Cola’ to patient with chicken bone stuck in throat…what was the effect?”   A New Zealand emergency doctor has neatly solved the problem by having a patient who came in with a chicken bone fragment stuck in their throat drink four cans of Coca-Cola, according to New Zealand media Stuff…

Research finds some brands are hiking prices higher than inflation, faster than others   Inflation may not be the only factor increasing the price of consumer goods, especially devices, new research by PriceSpy suggests. PriceSpy tracks the cost of goods over time, showing consumers where to get the lowest prices. Carl Lindholm, head of public…

Commerce Commission Chairman John Small on banking, market studies and why he joined the competition watchdog   Commerce Commission Chairman John Small says the regulator will be digging into banks’ capital requirements and the prudential regulation regime to examine whether it has any impact on competition as part of its market study. On Tuesday the…