Nuplex Industries, the specialty chemicals manufacturer, is exploring more investment opportunities across Asia, having shifted its businesses away from the firm’s traditional markets in Australia and New Zealand.  The Auckland-based company officially opened a US$35 million plant in China’s Changshu, and is already considering expansion plans for the site, where it holds a 50-year lease. The company was caught out …

Kiwa Digital Ltd (KIWA), a world leading production house for experiential digital books based in New Zealand, is to deliver interactive cartoon stories to mobile devices in China. In a breakthrough international publishing and licensing agreement with leading Chinese television company, Beijing Kaku Media, KIWA will bring popular children’s characters to life digitally in the Chinese language. The agreement was …

“Governments that understand the need for reform must find a way of countering this lazy, reactive style of politics, just as John Key’s government has done in New Zealand.” In its first two terms the Key administration made an effort to reduce the size of government, enhance the scope for growth and tackle seemingly intractable problems in tax, welfare and …

The economic upswing is one thing, but the New Zealand economy is also going through a material transition. We’re moving from legacy to opportunity, amidst the demands of rebuilding our second-largest city, housing shortages in our largest city, demographic shifts, global wobbles and an overvalued currency. We present six themes intertwined with this journey. A common sub-theme is the heightened importance of …

Proud New Zealander David McLean has been appointed chief executive of Westpac New Zealand after performing an “outstanding” job acting in the role since August 2014 following the resignation of Peter Clare. McLean’s appointment will be highly popular with bank executives and staff. A “people person” he is credited with bringing the bank together again after a bruising period under …

Graeme Harrison, chairman of meat company Anzco Foods, is to fund a new professorial chair in global value chains and trade at Lincoln University, initially for a term of five years.  The new position will sit within the university’s agribusiness and commerce faculty, which already has a global value chain and trade department. The university declined to release financial details …

Kiwi scientist Dr Phil Rolston has been awarded the Chinese Government’s most prestigious science prize for his work in grasslands seed development.  Dr Rolston, Senior Scientist at AgResearch Lincoln, received the award at a ceremony in The Great Hall of the People which was attended by President Xi Jinping, Vice-Premier Li Keqiang, and Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang. …

Bank of China (NZ)  signed MOU with two of New Zealand’s best known companies; Air New Zealand and NZX. The signing of the memorandum with NZX was included as part of the official state visit to New Zealand this week by China’s President Xi Jinping. Both the Chinese President and John Key witnessed the signing at a function in Karaka, South Auckland. Bank …

The world’s 7th largest bank*, the Bank of China announced that it has been granted its banking licence from the Reserve Bank of  and will formally launch its business at a special ceremony in Auckland on Friday. The granting of the banking licence will allow the Bank of China to meet the growing demand for the significant reciprocal trade opportunities between New Zealand and the People’s …

There is broad global support for moves to curb international tax avoidance, New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English said on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brisbane. Cracking down on tax avoidance is one of the key agenda items at this weekend’s G20 Summit, where New Zealand is an invited guest. The G20 countries make up 85 percent of global economic activity …