Australian airline Qantas Airways lost ground on trans-Tasman routes last year, though its New Zealand unit still managed to send some $156.2 million back to its parent. The airline’s subsidiary Jetconnect, which manages the group’s trans-Tasman passenger schedule, reported a 17 percent drop in profit to $8.8 million in the 12 months ended June 30, on an 11 percent drop …

The New Zealand dollar will probably continue its upward momentum this week on the back of a positive economic outlook. The local currency may trade between 81.20 US cents and 84.50 cents this week, according to a BusinessDesk survey of 10 traders and strategists. Eight expect the currency to rise while one says it will be unchanged and one expects …

Allied Foods (NZ), whose products include Tip Top bread and Big Ben pies, posted sales that were little changed in 2013, while making its first dividend payment in three years. Revenue was $275.5 million in the year ended Sept. 1, 2013, from $276.6 million a year earlier, according to the company’s annual report filed with the Companies Office. A small …