Simon Hartley

Qantas subsidiary and budget airline Jetstar's domestic launch in New Zealand - offering seats for possibly 30% more passengers into Queenstown - is expected to prompt a domestic price war in the months ahead.

Queenstown's property sector remains firmly a buyer's market despite an almost 25% gain on prices on December's lows, but the likelihood of further month-on-month price degeneration remains, with no sign of recovery in sight.

An independent review of the Wye Creek fire in March last year, in which more than 700ha of farm and Department of Conservation land was razed, is being released today by the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

The doubling of government debt by a further $35 billion during the next four years - partly to fund a recession-softening infrastructure spending boost - will be part-funded by the Government offering longer-term government bonds to investors

Significant writedowns of more than $100 million have hurt Telecom's second-half after-tax profit to December, which has plummeted almost 60% from $397 million last year to $163 million.

Forced mortgagee property sales around Wakatipu in 2009 are expected to increase as the recession bites harder, with the lion's share of sales - up to 80% - still expected to come from the combined managed apartment and commercial development sectors.

Fletcher Building's steel division was the outstanding performer for the global construction company.

Ngai Tahu Property will be looking at increasing security arrangements after a lone set of pay-to-view binoculars for tourists was wrenched off its base on O'Regans Wharf, at the foreshore near central Queenstown.

Fletcher Building is expected to lodge a half-year profit decline of between 32%-38% when it reports tomorrow, and its maintenance of dividend levels and overall guidance for the entire year will be a crucial factor for investors.

The pending coroner's inquiry into the death of Israeli solo tramper Liat Okin in late March last year on the Routeburn track will not include an in-depth investigation into the police search, which at the time was criticised for having started late.