New Zealand dlr jumps to 5-mth peak after rate rise

* RBNZ lifts rates, signals more to come

* Kiwi dlr targets April 2013 peak vs USD

* Australian jobs data due at 0030 GMT

By Cecile Lefort

WELLINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - The New Zealand dollar climbed to a five-month peak against the U.S. dollar and hit a record high in trade-weighted terms after the central bank raised interest rates on Thursday and predicted a steady stream of further hikes.

The New Zealand dollar NZD=D4 popped up to $0.8520, from $0.8462 in early trade, after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) lifted its cash rate by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent. It traded as high as $0.8527, a level last seen in October.

The kiwi rose to 79.87 on a trade-weighted basis =NZD , its highest since it was floated in 1985, and was hovering near five-year highs against the yen.

The rate hike put New Zealand way ahead of most developed nations in tightening. The RBNZ said it saw considerable momentum in the economy and raised its growth forecast to 3.5 percent for 2015, from 3.0 percent. News Search ID:nL3N0M94IF

The RBNZ also said rates could rise by a further 100 basis points this year, and perhaps the same amount in 2015. Interest rate futures 0#NBB: fell up to 8 ticks out to March 2015 as investors priced in the risk of a faster tightening.

"The RBNZ was reasonably upbeat and hawkish. Until we see signs the economy is responding to interest rate hikes, the kiwi is likely to remain well bid," said Michael Turner, a rate strategist at RBC Capital Markets in Sydney.

Key resistance was seen at $0.8544, the October peak, and then $0.8587, the high from April 2013.

New Zealand government bonds 0#NZTSY= were firmer, sending yields up to 3 basis points lower along the curve.

The Australian dollar AUD=D4 was marking time at $0.8989 ahead of employment data at 0030 GMT, having recovered from Wednesday's one-week low of $0.8923.

Economists expect 18,000 jobs to have been added in February, but the series is volatile and a surprise reading could see a big currency move.

Support was seen at $0.8923 with resistance around $0.9035.

While the Aussie has shed 1-1/2 cents in a week on renewed worries about a slowdown in China, Australia's top export market, it is still up 1 percent this year.

The Reserve Bank of Australia, which has long favoured a lower currency to help support the economy, kept rates at a record low of 2.5 percent at a policy meeting last week.

Interbank futures 0#YBA: imply a one-in-5 chance of any further cut in rates, while swap markets give a small chance of hike on a 12-month horizon. CSSY

Australian government bond futures edged up, with the three-year bond contract YTTc1 adding 1 tick to 97.035. The 10-year contract added 3 ticks to 95.910.

(Editing by John Mair)

((Cecile.Lefort@thomsonreuters.com)(+61 2 9373-1234)(Reuters Messaging: cecile.lefort.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))

Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA/FOREX