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The government is aiming to cool housing inflation, seen as a threat to New Zealand’s financial stability, while speeding up consents as part of a plan to encourage construction of 39,000 new homes in Auckland. Housing Minister Nick Smith’s special housing area proposal, where central government would buddy up with local authorities to unlock land supply, will remove certainty for …

New Zealand has stopped issuing export certificates for beef and lamb bound for China pending resolution of a paperwork glitch that has left frozen product sitting on Chinese wharves. Ministry for Primary Industries deputy director-general Andrew Coleman told reporters at Parliament that he couldn’t say how much meat was caught by the hold up, which has been blamed on a …

The New Zealand dollar may decline this week as expectations of a US economic recovery lure investors to the world’s largest economy and the greenback. The kiwi dollar recently traded at 80.83 US cents from 80.68 cents late Friday in New York, after touching an 8 ½-month low of 80.58 cents. The dollar may trade in a range of 79.20 …

SkyCity Entertainment Group has agreed to buy Queenstown’s Wharf Casino for $5 million from Malaysia’s Lasseters, adding 74 electronic gaming machines and six gaming tables to its existing operations in the resort town. The deal is subject to Commerce Commission and Gambling Commission approvals. The company moved to 100 percent ownership of Queenstown Casino in December, buying out Skyline Enterprises’ …

The New Zealand dollar dropped to an eight-and-a-half-month low on optimism an improving economic outlook in the US may prompt that nation’s central bank to end its quantitative easing policy. The kiwi fell to 80.62 US cents from 80.68 cents on Friday in New York and 81.10 at 5pm in Wellington. It touched 80.58 cents late Friday, its lowest level …

Wall Street seems destined to push to fresh highs again this week as investors continue to bet on both an improving economic outlook and a solid commitment from the US Federal Reserve to counter any weakness. On Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.80 percent to close at a record 15,354.40, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added …

Nuplex Industries cut the range for its full-year earnings guidance by about $11 million, saying Australia’s manufacturing slump has dented demand for its resins, specialty chemicals and plastic additive products. The shares dropped about 9 percent. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation are expected to be in the range of $124 million to $129 million in the year ending …

The ambitious growth strategy that has imperilled Solid Energy was developed on a far more optimistic outlook for oil and coal prices than its industry peers, but it had no analysis to back those views, Treasury papers released today under the Official Information Act show. The plans, which included converting low grade Southland coal to fertiliser and diesel, first appeared …

Summerset Group shareholder Quadrant Private Equity is selling down its 37.2 percent stake in the retirement village operator, taking advantage of the stock’s 34 percent advance this year. QPE Funds Management, the Quadrant unit that holds the shares, “is in the process of selling part of its shareholding,” Summerset said in a statement. QPE has asked Summerset to seek a …

By Brierley Penn It is difficult to believe that we have been in D.C. for just 48 hours with the amount that has been packed in since our arrival. Last night, following a day spent recovering from jet lag and exploring the sights of the city, we were hosted at the US Institute of Peace for the Forum’s opening ceremony. …