Business interests received only a cursory nod in the Government's Budget yesterday and there was little for regions outside Auckland, except a contestable share of a $25 million fund to create mixed public-private regional research institutes.
Otago's economic activity stands in the middle of the pack countrywide, its 3.3% annual gain almost mirroring the national average.
Expectations are high the Government should be making a more concerted effort recognising the regions beyond Auckland, when the Budget is delivered tomorrow.
Port Otago will spend $30 million to $45 million to expand its infrastructure over the next two years, allowing larger ships to call at Port Chalmers.
Port Otago has vowed to meet all its monitoring obligations when it begins its channel deepening programme in July, beginning with the removal of rocks by a contractor.
Dunedin charter boat Vivienne J has been bought by Monarch Wildlife Cruises and Tours to boost its cruise ship tourism capacity, alongside MV Monarch.
Belt-tightening at Oceana Gold appears not to have reached all levels of the workforce, with the combined total remuneration to its top five executives up almost 40% last year, to $US4.36 million ($NZ5.81 million).
Cash-rich Oceana Gold has bought a 14.9% stake in Canadian gold exploration company Gold Standard Ventures Inc which is exploring for gold in northern Nevada.
Snail mail and the sheer volume of $627 million in deferral payments due today for the Meridian Energy $1.88 billion float in 2013 could make some investors forfeit their shares, but they are unlikely to be out of pocket.
Fonterra's listed Fonterra Shareholder Fund (FSF) units touched their lowest point yesterday, trading briefly at $4.99.
Sweeping extensions to the Reserve Bank's contentious loan to value ratio (LVR) banking restrictions tightens lending to Auckland property investors, but loosens lending elsewhere around the country.
There is ''significant risk'' dairy prices will remain low for an extended period, and concern is mounting over the heightening risk of overly indebted dairy farmers defaulting on loans, the Reserve Bank has reported.
Dunedin owners of buildings likely to be at risk in an earthquake appear to have time on their side to upgrade them, but tenants' and insurance companies' requirements could force them to act more quickly.
New Zealand-listed New York-based software governance company Diligent Board Member Services has reaffirmed its full-year guidance, with sales estimated in a range of $US97 million to $US99 million ($NZ131.9 million to $NZ134.6 million).
Real estate in the Central Otago Lakes region posted the largest percentage gain of anywhere in the country for April, up 18.2 % on last year, but remains otherwise eclipsed in median prices with Auckland's 18% gain to $720,000.
The ANZ Bank has called for two consecutive cuts in New Zealand's interest-driving official cash rate (OCR) and other banks are also now leaning closer to a call for cuts.
Owners of Dunedin's earthquake prone buildings have a reprieve from undertaking expensive repairs.
Global coal prices are painting a bleak future for state owned enterprise Solid Energy, which has been haemorrhaging more than $2 million each month of this financial year.
A new nature photo safari tour operation taking in the Otago Peninsula, Otago Harbour and their coastlines has been launched, with a view to expanding further afield.
The Warehouse has booked positive growth across all its divisions with third-quarter trading up by 5%, and has maintained its earlier financial guidance for its full-year result.
