MT Newswires -ShutterstockNew Zealand shares fell on Thursday's close amid heightened geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, leading to a further rise in safe-haven assets. The S&P/NZX 50 Index fell 0.5% or 64.26 points to close at 13,348.61. In response, Tehran warned it would retaliate against the United States, Israel, and any nations backing them, the report added. Further, total new residential mortgage lending in New Zealand rose to NZ$14.07 billion in December 2025 from NZ$8.8 billion in November 2025. In corporate news, a2 Milk Co. (ASX:A2M, NZE:ATM) said Kate Tidbury, group head of legal, will be promoted to chief legal officer, effective at the end of March.