New Zealand business confidence eased in the three months to December as the uncertain global outlook held back a soft local economy, leaving the central bank room to keep interest rates on hold for the foreseeable future, a private think tank said on Tuesday.

A net 0 percent of firms surveyed expected general business conditions to improve in the next six months against the previous quarter's net 25 percent optimism, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) said in its quarterly survey of business opinion.

"The survey shows slowing momentum but still positive activity in the economy," said NZIER principal economist Shamubeel Eaqub.