UPDATED 4.02PM: The parity party is on hold again after the New Zealand dollar lost ground against the Aussie, on the back of stronger than expected Australian inflation figures.

It came in at 0.2 per cent in the March quarter, for an annual rate of 1.3 per cent.

Westpac Market strategist Imre Spizer say the Kiwi skirted near parity overnight but it's now down to 98.74.

"Once again it has alluded us. Overnight we got quite high in the Kiwi-Aussie cross to ninety-nine sixty. We've lost almost a full cent from where it peaked last night."