The Labour Party is giving conditional support for the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership, with party leader Andrew Little saying Labour is “pro-free trade” but will only support TPP if it contains “key protections” for New Zealanders. “Labour supports free trade,” he said. “However, we will not support a TPP agreement that undermines New Zealand’s sovereignty.” The Labour caucus had agreed five ‘bottom line’ …

Meat processor Silver Fern Farms has suspended trading of its shares on the Unlisted exchange until further notice as it continues with its capital raising initiatives. The company said it would make no further comment at this stage. Shares in the co-operativee last traded at 35 cents, valuing SFF at $35.1 million The farmer-controlled co-operative has more than 6,200 shareholders …

New Zealand posted its first trade deficit for a June month in six years as imports rose more than expected. Statistics New Zealand said the country had a trade deficit of $60 million in June, its first deficit for the month since 2009, and contrary to economist expectations in a Reuters poll for a $100 million surplus. It compares with …