NZ dollar perks up, holds above $0.72 after RBA

* NZD regains $0.72 as it claws back near-term losses

* RBA rate hike supports, kiwi gains vs Aussie

WELLINGTON, Nov 3 - The New Zealand dollar made up some of its recent losses on Tuesday as investors showed slightly more appetite for risky assets amid firmer stock markets and ahead of a raft of central bank rate meetings.

The kiwi was also helped by a rise in the closely-correlated Aussie dollar <AUD=>, which was buoyed by the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to raise rates by 25 basis points to 3.50 percent, as expected.

"It's had a bounce in the past few hours, but there was not too much substantial behind it, a bit of a higher Aussie and the stronger finish of stocks," said Westpac Bank senior markets strategist Imre Speizer.

The kiwi <NZD=D4> was at $0.7214/17 at 0400 GMT from Monday's late local level of $0.7209/16.

The Reserve Bank of Australia said it expected to gradually lessen its stimulus of the economy, which was growing stronger than expected, but with inflation seen staying within its 2010 target. See [ID:nRBA]

There are central bank meetings this week in Britain, eurozone and the United States.

The kiwi was a shade firmer against the Aussie <NZDAUD=R> after the RBA rate decision, as fears of a rapid widening of the yield gap between the two economies eased.

The currency was unmoved by local data showing the annual growth in wages at an eight year low in the third-quarter, while partial measures of jobs and employment pointed to a soft labour market, reflecting 18 months of recession. See [ID:nWEL94591]

"Wage pressures are still cooling, as expected, so this element of the inflation outlook continues to support the RBNZ's suggestion that there is 'no urgency to begin withdrawing monetary policy stimulus'," said UBS senior economist Robin Clements.

The more authoritative employment indicator is due on Thursday, with the third quarter household labour force survey expected to show the jobless rate rising to 6.4 percent from 6 percent. [NZ/POLL]

Government debt was flat, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year bond <NZ10YT=RR> unchanged at 5.69 percent. U.S. Treasuries had fallen after stronger-than-expected data spurred hopes of recovery and dampened demand for safe haven debt.