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By Stephen Jacobi A recent survey of 1018 New Zealanders found that over 60.5 per cent believed New Zealand needed to do more to connect with global markets. While 85.7 per cent could not name the deal under negotiation with the United States and other Asia Pacific economies, when prompted 51.6 per cent said they had heard of the Trans …

After today’s CPI figure we expect the Reserve Bank to cut the Official Cash Rate on October 25th in an effort to lower the exchange rate, the Employers and Manufacturers Association says. “The CPI figure indicates inflation has moved below the agreed target of 1-3 per cent required of the Reserve Bank leaving ample room for a cut to the OCR,” …

Commerce Minister Craig Foss has welcomed the passage of a Bill that enables greater cooperation between the Commerce Commission and its international counterparts. The Commerce Commission (International Co-operation, and Fees) Bill passed its third and final reading today. “This bill is another step towards creating a Single Economic Market with Australia,” says Foss. “The Commerce Commission will be able to …

Jonathan Underhill The Maori Council is expecting a tough fight through the courts with the government after Prime Minister John Key ended talks with Maori over how the Mighty River Power sale could help address Maori claims to rights in freshwater resources. Felix Geiringer, a barrister representing the Maori Council, says the issue is “very likely to go to court” …

Samoan Prime Minister, Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi visits New Zealand later this week to mark the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between the two countries. “I visited Samoa in August to mark the anniversary, and I am pleased to host Prime Minister Tuilaepa for a return visit during this special milestone year in our relationship,” Prime Minister John Key said. …

The government will sell Mighty River Power shares in the first half of 2013 though its inability to pin down Maori over water rights has left financial markets warning of a discount if investors can’t quantify Treaty of Waitangi risks. Prime Minister John Key said his cabinet today shelved the contentious ‘shares-plus’ proposal that would settle claims to waterways of …

Prime Minister John Key will host the President of the Philippines for discussions on two-way trade and other bilateral matters straight after Labour Weekend (October 22-23) President Benigno Aquino III – visiting NZ for the first time – will be accompanied by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario, other members of the President’s Cabinet and a large trade delegation. …

Prime Minister John Key today outlined the Government’s next steps to prepare Mighty River Power for its partial sale in the first half of 2013. “I’m pleased to announce today Cabinet made three decisions regarding our shares sales programme,” said Key in a post-Cabinet press statement.  “First, the Government will not implement the Waitangi Tribunal’s ‘shares plus’ concept, or engage …

Hawke’s Bay deer farmers and Federated Farmers members, Tim Aitken and Lucy Robertshawe, are Marks & Spencer 2012 Farming for the Future Champion of Champions. “Marks & Spencer is a globally recognised brand which epitomises quality and environmental sustainability.  This is huge for us, for the FirstLight Foods group which sells our product to Marks & Spencer, our industry and …

Green Party co-leader Dr Russell Norman wants the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to launch quantitative easing to lower the value of the New Zealand Dollar. Dr Norman writes “Since the Global Financial Crisis, our major trading partners have engaged in large scale measures that have devalued their currencies” and that “The UK, USA, Japan and the European Union have …