Local Government Minister Chris Tremain says the passage of the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill will leave Canterbury better off. The bill passed its third reading in Parliament yesterday. “The Commissioners have done an outstanding job in turning around the situation in Canterbury over the last three years,” saysTremain. “They have been very effective in …

The New Zealand dollar is heading for a 1.2 percent weekly fall against the greenback as weaker than expected Chinese manufacturing added to a souring mood among investors looking for reasons to sell. The kiwi traded at 82.71 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 82.77 cents t 8am, down from 83.15 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index decreased to 75.78 …

The second announcement in a week of new companies setting up in Wellington is further proof that the city and its environs are increasingly attractive base for business, says Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, Chief Executive Raewyn Bleakley. “The decision by Contact Centres Australia to choose the Wellington CBD to open their first New Zealand contact centre, creating] about 100 local …

ANZ Bank announced an assistance package to help drought-affected farmers get through the Big Dry.  Parts of Northland have had their driest February since records began. This week the Government declared a state of drought in Northland, and Federated Farmers expects other regions to follow soon. “As with any serious weather event that impacts on dairy and meat production, the …

Ministry of agriculture mexico… view agtricutrue and agribusiness – very import relationship nz – new administration..very similar to mexico – the vision…our president has instructed us to strengthen the relations we have with all countries of world.. mexico wants to strengthen and recover leadership role in different borders of world now open – borders to a point -no longer exist …

Heartland New Zealand, which gained bank registration in December, posted a 9.2 percent gain in first-half profit on increased earnings from retail, business and rural lending and a reduction in costs. Profit rose to $10.7 million in the six months ended Dec. 31, from $9.8 million a year earlier, the Christchurch-based company said in a statement. Net operating income rose …

Mainzeal director Richard Yan has stepped down from the New Zealand China Council’s executive board of his own volition. newzealandinc.com believes Yan – who has been a passionate advocate for a strong relationship between New Zealand and China – would not have wanted to cause any issues for the recently formed council. Yan earlier appeared on the council’s executive board …

Ministry for Primary Industries  Director-General Wayne McNee says overseas regulators have  said they would like to know about issues like DCD residues in NZ dairy products before information is given to the media. McNee says none of the dairy products recently destroyed by Chinese authorities contained DCD residues. China’s food quality authority’s met recent quarterly list of products that have not …

APN News & Media plans to go to the High Court to defend an IRD claim to $48m (plus 50% penalties and interest) over interest claimed on “certain financing transactions”. The dispute involves tax of NZ$48 million for the period up to 31 December 2012. The IRD is seeking to impose penalties of 50% of the tax in dispute and …