Trade Me Group will probably succeed in forcing real estate agents to accept higher fees, adding $22.5 million of property advertising revenue by 2017 as it pushes back on a challenge from smaller, industry-owned rival realestate.co.nz. Property is seen as the key growth engine for Trade Me’s classified advertising business as it faces flat revenues in its other main general auctions …

The trade-weighted index, which measures the New Zealand dollar relative to the currencies of major trading partners, rose to a post-float record, prompting speculation Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler will try to talk down its value when he announces an interest rate hike tomorrow. The trade-weighted index jumped as high as 79.68 overnight, up from 79.50 yesterday and surpassing its …

Skellerup, the industrial rubber goods maker, has reached a $32.3 million settlement with insurers over claims from the Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 which prompted the relocation of its Christchurch manufacturing facility. The Auckland-based company will receive some $22.3 million this month on top of the $10 million it’s already been paid to cover includes costs that have been …