Food inflation is up, rising 4.4% annually. Meat, poultry, and fish had the biggest annual increases, while butter, milk and cheese drove grocery prices. Butter surged by more than 51% over the year.

Air New Zealand flights in and out of Bali have been cancelled today because of ash from the erupting Mt Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano in eastern Indonesia.

BNZ has cut some of its short-term mortgage rates to offer the equal lowest lending terms on the market among the major banks.