Dene Mackenzie

New Zealander's hospitality sector sales grew strongly in the year ended March, but labour costs remain the biggest test for businesses.

A change in the Labour Party leadership to Grant Robertson would have benefits for the two Dunedin MPs, Clare Curran and David Clark, both of whom were strong supporters of Mr Robertson in last year's leadership round.

Higher interest rates look likely next month, as New Zealand's economic growth soared in the three months to March.

Making KiwiSaver compulsory would be a good thing but it needed to be universal, with no special exemptions to degrade its effectiveness, Dunedin financial consultant Peter Smith said yesterday.

Higher interest rates, a rising dollar and the prospect of more foreign investment into New Zealand markets are likely to follow a hawkish review of the economy by the Reserve Bank.

International equity markets continue to surprise, with strong gains in the United States after positive economic data.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment yesterday released a glowing report on the Government's Business Growth Agenda in a 127-page document which could be mistaken for an election manifesto.

The Reserve Bank is expected to lift the official cash rate to 3.25% on Thursday but finding a clear signal on the chances of a July increase is expecting too much, economists say.

New Zealand's largest rental equipment business, Hirepool, confirmed it will list on the NZX with the amount of money being sought by the company making it one of the largest floats this year.

Forsyth Barr is recommending Abano Healthcare shareholders vote against a resolution chairman Trevor Janes be removed from office.

The Government's accounts continue to edge closer to the forecast wafer-thin surplus but tax revenue still remains a barrier to realising Finance Minister Bill English's long-awaited goal of a black line on the accounts.

Air New Zealand has signed a major aircraft order with Airbus which will replace its Tasman and Pacific Island fleet. Business editor Dene Mackenzie talks to Forsyth Barr broker Andrew Rooney about the implications of the order for the national carrier.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has introduced a raft of measures aimed at stimulating the euro zone economy, including negative interest rates and cheap long-term loans to banks.

A Party Bill calling for the end of the coat-tailing provision in New Zealand's MMP electoral system has been drawn from the ballot, adding spice to an already fiery election year.