Conservation Minister Nick Smith has ordered an independent financial review of the controversial Fiordland Experience monorail project, ahead of a final decision on whether to allow the project to proceed over DoC land in the Fiordland World Heritage area. Smith is due to deliver a decision early next year on the application by Riverstone Holdings, backed by Wanaka property developer …

The cost of labour in Christchurch is increasing, especially in the construction industry, driven by a tight labour market with low unemployment and strong demand due to the earthquake rebuild, according to the latest September quarter Canterbury Rebuild Report by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. The mismatch between supply and demand saw salary and wages in the Canterbury …

The liquidators for the Ross Asset Management group of companies found to be a Ponzi scheme are in talks with three former investors over about $3.8 million of payments they received in the two years leading up to the group’s eventual collapse last year. PwC’s John Fisk and David Bridgman are looking at transactions they might be able to reverse …