Simon Hartley

Otago and Southland's manufacturing sector has plunged into contraction with declines in new orders, employment levels, production levels and deliveries of raw materials.

Softening economies are putting increasing pressure on central banks globally to cut interest rates and economists are picking an increasing likelihood of Reserve Bank of New Zealand cuts,...

Annual inflation data due out next week is expected to show just a modest gain to 1.7%, still stubbornly below the Reserve Bank's mid-point 2% target range.

Proposed fair pay agreements (FPAs) have been labelled a ''retrograde step'', harking back to centralised wage bargaining days, and undermining the economy.

Nominations have opened for the inaugural Otago Export Awards, hosted by the Otago Chamber of Commerce.

Businesses in Dunedin have shown a "significant" positive rise in the belief that their own business outlook is improving - up from 29% to 40%.

Oceana Gold has had to resort to the courts in the Philippines to fight a local provincial governor seeking to "restrain any operations" at the Didipio mine, in northern Luzon.

Austrian oil giant OMV has confirmed it will be arriving off Otago's coast this summer to drill a one-off oil and gas exploration well costing around $80 million.

Southland meat processor and marketer Blue Sky Meats has delivered its best result in eight years as revenue is up 34% to a record $140million.

Port Otago is losing 15,000 ship-to-ship containers it has transshipped at Port Chalmers during the past year, after rival PrimePort Timaru secured a weekly service of the large Rio-class Maersk...

Stockpiles of pinus radiata logs in China have depressed New Zealand wharf-gate prices by about $US20 ($NZ29.70) during the past fortnight, putting pressure on the jobs of smaller contract logging...

Average house values across the country have eased back during the past month, but several regional areas in the South remain in double-digit growth.

Business confidence has slumped to a decade-low with almost a third of businesses predicting a deterioration in general economic conditions over coming months.

Regional economies are looking "broadly positive" for the remainder of the year, according to a bank report, which singles out Otago and Wellington for their respective strengths.

The Otago Chamber of Commerce will be solely responsible for delivering Regional Business Partner Network services across Otago.

Napier Port is going ahead with plans to seek a stock exchange listing of 45% of its shares, while Port Otago's owner has begun working its way through an ownership review process.

Ship-spotters' interest was piqued yesterday by the maiden visit of Otago Harbour to its namesake harbour - but any familiarity ends there.

Plaman Resources did not notify the Overseas Investment Office of the presence of fossils at the Foulden Maar site, near Middlemarch, when it applied for consent to buy a neighbouring farm.