Simon Hartley

Port Otago - which holds a 15.5% stake in listed Lyttelton Port of Christchurch - is becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of financial rebuilding information from the port company.

Oceana Gold has resumed delivering gold and copper concentrate from its northern Philippine mine site to the local port, after its trucks were seized more than two weeks ago by local government agencies.

Month-on-month house sales around Otago and in the separate Central Otago Lakes region have surged during February, up respectively about 30% and 80%.

A hearing date and venue is expected to be announced shortly by the New Zealand Law Society over multiple misconduct charges being faced by former Dunedin lawyer John Milne.

Solid Energy's financial woes became public in August last year, when it flagged the likelihood of a $200 million slump in revenue.

As Solid Energy's 1200 staff await the latest restructuring details and whether the company needs a Government bail-out to survive, listed Australian coal mine developer Bathurst Resources is forging ahead with further South Island acquisitions.

The sale of New Zealand's largest wool exporter to private Australian interests is unlikely to sit well with its New Zealand farmer-shareholders, but could provide a channel to new global markets.

New Zealand's trade balance between exports and imports has delivered a surprise $305 million deficit, with analysts prompted to raise concerns about the effects of the pending drought.

Farm services company PGG Wrightson saw its first-half profit boosted 55% to $4.8 million, but ongoing uncertainties in the agricultural sector prevail for the remainder of the year.

Insolvency agency the Official Assignee has found more than $2.9 million of funds was gleaned from clients of self-bankrupted Dunedin lawyer John Milne, who now faces four professional misconduct charges over the matter.