Christmas shoppers used plastic cards to spend up on pretty much everything except fuel, according to Statistics New Zealand. The value of electronic card spending in retail industries rose 0.3 percent in December from November. It was the third consecutive monthly increase. The value of total electronic card transactions rose by 0.4 percent in December. The data suggested a more …

On the Road is a daily blog kept by Alexander Speirs documenting NZ Inc’s January 2013 research visit to China, Hong Kong and South Korea.  persuasive essays on abortion Well, we’re finally here. Following a long day on the road, Fran and I have safely made it to our hotel in Beijing. If you’ve seen the news in the past …

The Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund, whose units soared 26 percent on their first day of trading, will tip wool carpetmaker Cavalier Corp out of the benchmark NZX 50 index this month. The Fonterra fund, which has surged by a third from their $5.50 offer price, has met the ranking and liquidity requirements and will join the benchmark index on Jan. 21, …

While on a short stop in Auckland,  newzealandinc.com caught up with Bill Maroni – CEO & President of the United States -New Zealand Council.  We talk about his upcoming event –  the United States-New Zealand Pacific Partnership Forum 2013 –  innovation within the space and the increasing importance of Pacific dialogue. essay writing service You can find our coverage in the …

custom research paper writing service The next United States New Zealand Pacific Partnership Forum promises to be a “truly global dialogue, focused on ‘defining what’s next’  for the NZ-US relationship in a pivotal year for the region.“ US NZ Council CEO and president Bill Maroni says 2013 will be a year of change and increasing focus on the Asia Pacific …

An appearance by Alex Jones on Piers Morgan’s show has sparked debate after a lively exchange between the two media personalities on gun control.  Jones was top of Twitter Wednesday evening following the show in which he presented Morgan with a petition signed by 100,000 Americans ordering Piers be deported from the United States in response to Morgan’s vocal anti-gun stance within …

Equities on both sides of the Atlantic weakened at the start of the fourth-quarter earnings season in the US that is expected to show tepid growth in corporate profits. Quarterly earnings are expected to increase by 2.7 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data. “People are concerned about earnings,” Ken Polcari, director of the NYSE floor division at O’Neil Securities in …

The New Zealand dollar may gain against the euro as investors returning from the Christmas and New Year holidays prepare for the European Central Bank to review monetary policy this week amid fears the region’s economy will continue to shrink this year. The kiwi increased to 63.66 euro cents at 5pm in Wellington from 63.54 cents yesterday. It was little …

newzealandinc.com was live at New Zealand’s Rocket Pitch?competition?organized by The Icehouse and Geeks on a Plane – access all of our coverage of the start-up showcase from the event hub including exclusive interviews, company profiles and more. Organized by 500 Startups, a startup incubator and investment fund led by celebrity entrepreneur and angel investor Dave McClure, Geeks on a Plane …

Global efforts to get a new deal to combat climate change are foundering because they are based on the competitive mindset of trade negotiations rather than collaborative problem-solving, says Green Party climate change spokesman Kennedy Graham. Speaking at a Victoria University-hosted briefing on the outcomes of the latest round of global climate change talks in Doha, Graham said trade and …