(Adds finance minister quote in paras 7 and 8 and details...

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    (Adds finance minister quote in paras 7 and 8 and details throughout)

    WELLINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) - New Zealand's central bank said on Thursday the use of debt to income (DTI) restrictions as part broader efforts to cool the country's housing market could yield "significant net benefits", while adding that there was no immediate need for such measures.

    The conclusion was reached in a consultation paper seeking feedback by Aug. 18 from stakeholders on how these macroprudential limits could curb risks associated with high debt-to-income lending.

    The central bank has been lobbying the government for months to get permission to add DTIs to its macroprudential arsenal, but house price growth has slowed down and the Bank has said even if they were available, they wouldn't use it right away.

    "The bank would not implement a DTI policy in current market conditions," the RBNZ said in an email statement adding that it considers that the DTI limits could be a useful option in the future.

    Finance Minister Steven Joyce said such restrictions would represent a "significant intervention" in the housing market.

    "It's important that all interested parties have their say during this consultation period," he said in an emailed statement.

 
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