The shale oil boom might not be popular with everyone but its positive impact on the trade balance is starting to be demonstrated. In December, the US trade deficit narrowed sharply thanks largely to record petroleum exports, with the monthly trade deficit some USD7.5bn better than expected. The provisional GDP estimate of -0.1 percent assumed a larger trade deficit. Greater …

Newly appointed Housing Minister Nick Smith has wasted no time on returning to Cabinet with the announcement of a fundamental review of the way local governments charge developers for infrastructure like roading, drainage and water. how to start a home based business The growth in so-called “development charges” by councils was identified as one of several reasons for too many …

CeresNZ, the Christchurch-based unit of American firm Ceres Environmental Services, says it has a “strong interest” in buying Mainzeal Property and Construction from the receivers. CeresNZ plans to have preliminary talks with the receivers, betting that the rebuild of Christchurch provides a role for the “highly skilled people within Mainzeal,” according to a statement posted on the Scoop website. Mainzeal, …