After a near two-year hiatus from its home market, Auckland Council elected to use retail format for its latest green-bond transaction. The higher rates environment broadened retail demand, sharpening the pricing outcome for the issuer and illuminating a path that other high-grade issuers may choose to follow.

The New Zealand capital market is working its way through regulatory changes and awaiting certainty on the turn of the rates cycle. But domestic and international high-grade market participants who joined a roundtable discussion hosted by KangaNews and Westpac in July say the direction of travel is largely positive.