The 2012 International Sports Event Management Awards today announced Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) as a finalist for the prestigious Sport City Award. The ISEM Awards are the only international Awards to recognise excellence in the global sports event management industry. Conducted annually and now in its sixth year, the Awards honour sports event management industry leaders through …

Up to $1.3 trillion additional revenue available to New Zealand over next four decades – New Zealand has the potential to capture $1.3 trillion more in agricultural exports between now and 2050 if targeted actions are taken, according to a new report released by ANZ today. ‘Greener pastures: The Global Soft Commodity Opportunity for Australia and New Zealand’ quantifies the size …

Chinese whiteware maker Haier has pushed its bid Fisher & Paykel Appliances to $1.28 a share, the bottom end of the independent valuation range, gaining crucial support from institutional investors to meet its 50 percent minimum acceptance threshold. Haier raised its bid 8 cents a share, bringing it within the independent valuation of between $1.28 and $1.57, it said in …

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will hold official talks with his counterpart from Burma (Myanmar), Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin, on Monday. Mr Lwin is visiting New Zealand as part of his country’s increasing international engagement since embarking on fundamental political and economic reforms a year ago. “New Zealand is greatly encouraged by the nature and scale of the reforms …

New Zealand companies and organisations are well aware of risk management strategies and approaches, but for many it is just a box ticking exercise rather than a core management function. Murray Chandler, partner for accounting and advisory firm Grant Thornton, said that this was one of the findings from the latest Grant Thornton New Zealand Business Risk Survey: Delivering value …

Is Fonterra’s Sir Henry van der Heyden staying on past his use-by date as the dairy co-operative’s chairman to protect chairman-elect John Wilson from a boardroom coup? That question was doing the rounds even before Fonterra confirmed on September 27 that van der Heyden would not step down from the board as expected this December when he hands over the …

Iwi groups yet to complete their Treaty settlements will be offered the opportunity to participate in the Government share offer programme, Finance Minister Bill English and Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson say. “This is a result of our constructive engagement with Iwi leaders and their technical advisers,” the ministers say. “It is another example of how direct engagement with the …

The Supreme Court has rejected a bid by two North Island iwis to overturn Shanghai Pengxin’s successful bid for the Crafar farms. The court’s decision to reject the iwi’s appeal against the recent Court of Appeal’s judgment upholding Shanghai Pengxin as having the requisite business acumen and experience to run the dairy farm business is good news for all other …

New Zealand and China Customs have agreed to work more closely together to combat the smuggling of pharmaceutical products used to manufacture methamphetamine (‘P’). The agreement is the result of talks between Chinese officials and Customs Minister Maurice Williamson during a two-day visit by China Customs. The two customs administrations are also committed to continuing work to advance further growth …

Ritchie McCaw goes into the All Black changing room to find all his team mates looking a bit down. “What’s up guys?” he asks. “Well Ritchie, to be honest we’re having all sorts of trouble getting motivated for this game against Australia . We know it’s important but we’ve just beaten Argentina and South Africa in consecutive weeks and, let’s …