New Zealand's largest banking group, ANZ National, announced a tightening of its lending criteria for home loans, citing "the increasingly complex financial environment and the continued softening of the property market."The bank, in a media statement, also cited "other factors are also coming into play, including reduced consumer spending and rising unemployment." ANZ National is not the first to tighten its criteria. ASB's Sovereign Home Loans announced a similar tightening in September and since then GE Home Loans has pulled out of the wholesale market. Westpac tightened its home lending rules in May.ANZ National said it would still have exceptions for very high income customers, but from today would have the following new rules.· Generally, little new lending in excess of 80 per cent loan to value ratio and any loans made above 80 per cent LVR would require a new registered valuation.·  Low doc loans limited to an LVR of 60 per cent.·  All residential investment lending above 75 per cent LVR would require a new registered valuation.Interest.co.nz