Environment Minister Amy Adams is taking a combative approach to early criticism from environmental groups of the government’s proposed changes to the Resource Management Act, saying the critics are “out of touch with New Zealanders.” Fundamental reform proposals for the 22 year-old RMA legislation were published yesterday with a raft of measures to give much greater power to the central …

Allied Farmers has taken a further $4.1 million impairment on its ex-Hanover Finance assets, inflating its first-half loss, which still narrowed from a year earlier. The Hawera-based company posted a loss of $5.5 million in the six months ended Dec. 31, from a loss of $8.3 million a year earlier. Revenue rose to $22.6 million from $9.6 million. The company …

Veritas Investments, the shell company that’s acquiring the Mad Butcher franchisor business, aims to raise up to $25 million in the public share offer next month and has secured a $10 million loan facility from ANZ New Zealand. The capital raising will fund the $20 million cash component of its $40 million purchase, with the balance to be met with …