NZ First leader Winston Peters has expelled MP Brendan Horan from the NZ First caucus, saying he has no confidence in Horan’s ability to continue as an MP. Peters told Parliament he had seen evidence relating to allegations Horan had misappropriated money from his late mother and that needed to be treated seriously. Peters said he had conducted as thorough …

TPP negotiations involve 11 countries working towards agreement across a range of complex, sensitive issues. A common element to any international trade process is the need to consider requests that negotiating partners raise.  That is not to say that all proposals can be accommodated.  In some cases they can’t, at least not without changes that take into account different policy …

Standard & Poor’s has downplayed the threat of looming price regulation to access Chorus’s switchgear on its ageing copper lines, saying the final ruling will probably be amended given the highly political nature of the fibre network. The regulator yesterday released a draft determination that would cut what Chorus can charge internet service providers for accessing its unbundled copper network …

Delegat’s Group is flagging a small increase in annual earnings for 2013, though it’s warning that the strong kiwi dollar is making life hard for the wine-maker. The company forecasts operating profit of $27 million in the 12 months ending June 30, 2013, managing director Jim Delegat told shareholders in Auckland. That’s a 6 percent lift in earnings from 2012. …

New Zealand commodity prices rose for a fourth straight month in November, led by pelts, beef and wood pulp. Lamb prices fell to a 31-month low. The ANZ Commodity Price Index rose 1 percent last month with 10 commodity prices gaining, four declining and three unchanged. A firmer New Zealand dollar meant the gain in the ANZ NZD Commodity price …

The peak agricultural bodies of New Zealand and Australia have united in calling for a truly comprehensive and generally liberalising Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement from day one of implementation. Federated Farmers of New Zealand and the National Farmers’ Federation of Australia are both participating in the TPP negotiations, currently taking place in Auckland. “Liberalisation must result in the elimination …

Wellington-based Alex Gordon was one of 2,000 entries to the World Financial Modelling Championship. After three rounds, he was one of the world’s top-16 financial modelling minds to attend the New York live finals this past weekend. The competition was fierce and finalists came from all the corners of the globe – from New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Britain, Russia, …

Prime Minister John Key says he was delighted to hear the news that Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting a baby. “This is fabulous news for Prince William and Catherine, and I know the Queen and Prince Phillip will be extremely pleased. “It is an important day in any young couple’s life when a baby is …

Markets Hub host Paul Vigna and Steven Russolillo review the top markets and business stories from 2012, which include bad robots, flubbed IPOs and old-fashioned Wall Street shenanigans

Israeli private equity group Fortissimo Capital paid US$8 million for award-winning Wellington-based microwave radio products developer 4RF, allowing the receivers to repay creditors and settle with noteholders. The former parent company, 4RF Communications, was put in receivership in April after failing to reach agreement on restructuring some $5.5 million of convertible notes. To ensure the business, which had $20.4 million …