New Zealand commodity prices rose in December, led by gains in dairy products. The ANZ Commodity Price Index advanced 1 percent to 330.4 from November, touching its second highest level on record. The index is about 22 percent above December 2012. International prices for 10 of New Zealand’s main commodities increased in the month, three fell and four were unchanged. …

New Zealand building consents issued by local councils for new homes rose 11 percent in November, boosted by apartment developments. New dwelling consents, including apartments, rose to a seasonally adjusted 2,267 in November from 1,891 in October, according to Statistics New Zealand. Excluding apartments, seasonally adjusted consents fell 0.5 percent. Last month, New Zealand’s Reserve Bank exempted new home building …

Fonterra Cooperative Group, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, will “vigorously defend” a claim by French food processor Danone over last year’s recall of whey protein concentrate. best essay writing services The Auckland-based company is working through Danone’s claim after negotiations for a commercial settlement failed. The French company will file papers in the High Court in Auckland today and has …