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The hot property market is making consumers more confident in Auckland and they expect house prices to rise more in the next two years. That is according to the ANZ-Roy Morgan NZ consumer confidence survey for January, which otherwise shows a mixed picture nationally. The national headline consumer confidence index firmed to 118.3 in January from 114.7 in December but …

The departing boss of Coca-Cola in New Zealand is leaving disappointed that companies are not appreciated for making money but says the country has been a great place to do business and live in. George Adams is moving back to Europe after serving nine years as managing director of Coca-Cola Amatil NZ and Fiji. Irishman Barry O’Connell, who is currently …

Former newspaper editor Tim Pankhurst will take up the role of chief executive of Seafood New Zealand from April. The former editor of The Press, Waikato Times, The Evening Post and The Dominion Post has often written about his love of fishing and he will now lead the organisation promoting seafood and lobbying on the industry’s behalf. “Tim brings significant …

DAIRY PRICE OUTLOOK: GlobalDairyTrade prices registered their third increase in a row overnight signalling further possible upside to Fonterra’s 2012-13 milk price of $5.50 per MS. The details were good with whole milk powder (WMP) prices playing some catch-up to skim milk powder, which have been leading most other dairy markets higher. Overall, WMP powder prices increased by 2.8 percent, with …

The steam came out of the NZX 50 Index, although investors continued to favour Fonterra tradable units and Trade Me, owing to index changes taking place next Monday. The NZX50 Index fell 1.72 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4169.23, on volume of 32.65 million shares, valued at $101.8 million. Within the index, 20 shares rose, and 19 fell, leaving 11 …

The New Zealand dollar was little changed on Wednesday after being clobbered overnight in London trading. The kiwi was at 84.06 US cents at 5pm, from 83.93 US cents at 8am and 83.94 cents at 5.25pm on Tuesday. It fell from 84.19 cents to 83.75 cents overnight on Tuesday before recovering. Imre Speizer, senior market strategist at Westpac, said the …

The offer for L&M Energy from its chairman and creditor Geoff Loudon is now unconditional, having been accepted by more than 90 percent of shareholders, allowing compulsory acquisition of remaining shares. Loudon’s New Dawn Energy has acceptance for 90.25 percent of L&M by Jan. 15 and so it will move to compulsorily acquire remaining shares under the Takeovers Code. The …

Fran and I have just returned from an amazing day with some of the leading figures in developing Beijing-Hollywood. I’ll keep my remarks brief as  I wouldn’t want to spoil the video that will go up on the site in the coming days. We began the day at the magnificent Star Lake Resort – a newly built, luxury facility that will host …

Property developer Glenn William Cooper, 39, has been remanded on bail for sentencing on March 8 after a Serious Fraud Office investigation into his dealings with a family with whom he built a relationship. Cooper pleaded guilty in Manukau District Court on Wednesday to five charges of dishonestly using a document. The charges resulted from an investigation into five property …

Billionaire Li Ka-shing’s Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings (CKI) is describing New Zealand as a core investment destination after it beefed up its presence with $501 million purchase of EnviroWaste. The biggest user of waste material by mass in Hong Kong is looking to leverage its expertise in materials handling as it expands into waste management, while collecting a steady income …