New Zealand consumer confidence fell to its lowest level in nearly three years and business confidence slipped too as the global slowdown hit domestic sentiment, reinforcing expectations that interest rates will be kept on hold for longer. 

Data pointed to a sluggish start next year as households and companies refrain from spending because of the increasingly murky outlook. 

The National Bank of New Zealand's monthly business outlook showed a net 25.7 percent of companies expect their own business to grow in the next 12 months, compared with a 28.8 percent optimism level last month.