New Zealand's economy grew a better than expected 0.8 percent in the March quarter, despite a deadly earthquake, data showed Thursday, sending the local dollar up to a record against the greenback.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on Monday said the bill from the devastating Christchurch earthquakes had soared to NZ$25 billion (US$20.2 billion), far more than previously thought.

The New Zealand dollar hit a fresh high against the greenback Friday, prompting the country's central bank chief to say foreign exchange markets had misinterpreted forecasts released this week.

New Zealand's central bank left interest rates at a record low of 2.5 percent Thursday but gave an upbeat economic outlook that reported limited fallout from February's Christchurch earthquake.

Whizzing around with your own personal jetpack may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but New Zealand inventor Glenn Martin aims to have his “Jet Ski for the skies” on the market within 18 months.

New Zealand's government debt rose to NZ$71.6 billion (US$58.4 billion), or more than one-third of the country's gross domestic product, Treasury officials said Tuesday.

Strong demand for dairy products by China helped New Zealand post a record monthly trade surplus of NZ$1.1 billion (US$900 million) in April, according to official figures released Monday.

New Zealanders could not afford to be “totally xenophobic” towards Chinese investment because it has brought jobs and capital into the country, Prime Minister John Key said Monday.

New Zealand's government Thursday unveiled a bleak annual budget that forecasts a record deficit following a devastating earthquake earlier this year.

Prime Minister John Key has vowed to shore up government finances hit by the devastating Christchurch earthquakes in the New Zealand budget rather than making big-spending pre-election promises.