http://www.interest.co.nz Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Alan Bollard made the unusual call this morning for banks and businesses not to hibernate in the face of tighter credit markets and talk of an economic slowdown. He said he would be disappointed if businesses held back on quality investment because of these credit constraints, adding many people seemed to have forgotten what a slower economy looked like. Bollard said the New Zealand economy remained fundamentally sound and credit worthy. "Banks, businesses and households alike need to recognise the new external environment and adopt a cautious approach -- but don't go into hibernation, the underlying economy remains robust," Bollard told the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday morning. New Zealand had experienced a record period of uninterrupted growth that had left the economy stretched, Bollard said. Dairy prices had been strong and government's fiscal policy was more expansionary this...