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New Zealand New Residential Mortgage Lending Falls in April

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Total new residential mortgage lending in New Zealand fell to NZ$7.99 billion in April from NZ$9.5 billion in March, according to data from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand released on Tuesday.

Residential mortgage lending to first home buyers fell to NZ$1.65 billion in April from NZ$1.99 billion in the previous month. Lending to other owner-occupiers decreased to NZ$4.76 billion from NZ$5.49 billion.

Residential mortgage lending to investors fell to NZ$1.46 billion from NZ$1.89 billion, while that for business purposes decreased to NZ$119 million from NZ$134 million.

Total new residential lending at a loan-to-valuation ratio above 80% came in at NZ$1.17 billion in April for all borrower types, down from NZ$1.38 billion in March.

Residential mortgage lending, where the loan-to-valuation ratio is equal to 80% or below, was NZ$6.82 billion for all borrower types, down from NZ$8.12 billion in the previous month.

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