The volume of building activity recorded its biggest gain in 10 years in the third quarter, led by construction work in Canterbury and the upper North Island. Building activity rose 9.6 percent in the third quarter and was valued at $2.9 billion in unadjusted terms, according to Statistics New Zealand. Residential building work made up 56 percent of the total. …

Fletcher Building, the country’s biggest listed company, isn’t abusing its position as the Earthquake Commission’s go-to guy for home repairs in Canterbury, and is providing “satisfactory value for money.” EQC chairman Michael Wintringham told Parliament’s finance and expenditure committee that Fletcher’s role managing the repair programme has met the government-backed natural disaster insurer’s criteria around cost, quality, timeliness and safety. …

The US is in the box seat for the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) negotiations but despite the Americans’ clear negotiating clout – obvious on the outskirts of the TPP talks at SkyCity Convention Centre – things are not plain sailing. The powerful US Chamber of Commerce has made it clear that the TPP deal is important to America’s future …