The New Zealand dollar jumped against the European common currency overnight after a report signalled further weakness in the European economy, fuelling bets the European Central Bank may add further stimulus. The kiwi rose to 63.14 euro cents at 8am in Wellington, from 62.85 cents at 5pm yesterday. The local currency slipped to 80.73 US cents from 80.80 cents yesterday as the …

Hundreds of Auckland householders are receiving a financial boost of $335 today, in a record annual electricity dividend totalling $105 million from Auckland Energy Consumer Trust The trust is making its annual payment to more than 316,000 households, businesses, schools and community groups who are customers of power lines company Vector throughout central Auckland, Manukau and northern Papakura.  They receive the payments regardless of which power retailer they are …