"Federated Farmers endorses the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ) view that the recent strength of long-term wholesale interest rates is unwarranted and pressure on our productive sector is unwelcome," says Philip York, Federated Farmers economic spokesperson.

2 February 2009 - Auckland City Police investigating fraud by credit card "skimming" arrested two Romanian men aged 24 and 35 in a central city motel last week and charged them on January 28 in the Auckland District Court with dishonestly using a document.

Auckland, Feb 2 NZPA - Two Romanian men have been arrested and charged over alleged credit card "skimming", Auckland police said today.

Alexandru Tudor, 24, and Marcel Cismas, 35, were arrested in a central city motel last week and charged with dishonestly using a document.

11 December 2008 - Bank workers' union Finsec is supporting Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard's call to banks, to "share the pain" and be part of the solution to the current economic situation.

Tauranga, Dec 5 NZPA - A man raided a Te Puke bank yesterday to get himself returned to jail, the Tauranga District Court heard this afternoon.

From the dock Craig Andrew Blair, 40, unemployed and of no fixed abode, promptly pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery.

Wellington Police hope security camera footage might help identify the men responsible for yesterday's armed robbery at the Kiwibank and New Zealand Post Shop Kilbirnie branch.

Auckland, Nov 28 NZPA - A man charged with the murder of an elderly Chinese woman has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance on January 21.

Auckland, Nov 27 NZPA - The family of an elderly Chinese woman was "delighted" today to hear that a man had been charged with her murder, say police.

13 November 2008 - Bank workers' union Finsec is calling on the banks to explain why the interest rates on credit cards haven't dropped in response to reductions in the Official Cash rate and in the face of mounting evidence that the recession is causing greater reliance on credit cards to cover

13 October 2008 - Bank workers' union Finsec says that all our major banks should immediately sign up to the government's plan to guarantee bank deposits.