| 1. Food prices increased 4.6 percent in the 12 months to June 2025, following a 4.4 percent increase, in the 12 months to May 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Annual increases will help put pressure on inflation, determining if the Reserve Bank will decrease or hold the OCR. The price increase for the grocery food group was due to higher prices for milk, butter, and cheese, where the NZ Dairy industry exports benefits from the higher market prices. |
 2. Hyundai’s official position statement requires pre-repair and post-repair system scanning as part of a proper and complete repair. The statement states that even if no dash lights are illuminated, pre-repair scanning is now required to identify diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) present before repairs begin. Post-repair scanning is required to verify that all vehicle systems are properly restored and functioning after repairs are completed. |
3. A Mercedes has smashed the EV battery range record. WebCG Inc, a Tokyo-based automotive media platform, recorded the new record of 1045 km and set the Guinness World Record last month. It is now the official longest distance travelled by an electric vehicle (EV) on a single charge. While test batteries in China have recorded longer distances, this test was done in a real-world circumstance using a Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+. 4. New Zealand’s Reserve Bank left interest rates unchanged, pausing after six straight cuts as inflation quickens, but said it expects to ease them further if price pressures abate. The Official Cash Rate was held at 3.25%. “Further data on the speed of New Zealand’s economic recovery, the persistence of inflation, and the impacts of tariffs will influence the future path of the Official Cash Rate,” the RBNZ said in a statement. “If medium-term inflation pressures continue to ease as projected, the Committee expects to lower the Official Cash Rate further. 5. ATECO Automotive NZ, the importer and distributor of BYD vehicles in New Zealand, has secured the third-generation All-of-Government (AoG) contract, reaffirming BYD as the top supplier of battery electric vehicles under the scheme, with over 3,800 units already delivered to government agencies.  6. An upsurge in insurance premiums has left Australia’s mushroom foraging tour industry struggling to remain viable, with several operators forced to suspend activity amid concerns about risk exposure. Public interest following a high-profile murder conviction involving the lethal death cap mushroom has sparked renewed debate over how liability underwriters assess risk in niche sectors. |