Finance Minister Grant Robertson has announced that as the Lockdown for New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula will be 7 days, businesses in the city and region can apply for the government’s wage subsidy. Although the Lockdown for the rest of New Zealand is expected to last for 3 days, businesses outside […]

New research shows the potential for a booming seaweed sector in New Zealand is tied up in red tape and resource consents. The report from the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge found that globally seaweed production has tripled over the last two decades and now makes up a third of all aquatic farming. But it […]

One of New Zealand’s largest buttercup squash growers is diving into Asia’s alternative proteins market with a plant-based milk. Kabochamilk is a collaboration between Hawke’s Bay grower Shane Newman and Sachie Nomura, a Japanese celebrity chef who also developed a world first avocado milk. Kabocha, a Japanese variety of squash, is a staple part of […]

The Reserve Bank has held the official cash rate at a record low 0.25 percent. Economists had thought the reimposition of the Covid lockdown would cause the central bank to delay what was regarded as a near certainty rise. The RBNZ says given the uncertainty caused by the new outbreak justifies leaving policy unchanged despite […]

The new South Waikato Trades Training Centre is making strong progress with the funding contracts being signed to complete the $14m project. Professional services firms have been appointed to undertake the next phases of design, engineering and cost management for the Centre. The project is being led by the South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) […]

KiwiRail’s project for two new InterIslander ferries is progressing, with the operator signing a letter of intent for them to built at a South Korean shipyard. The letter is a non-binding agreement that allows both parties to progress to more detailed contract negotiations. KiwiRail chief executive Greg Miller said the decision to choose the Hyundai […]

New Zealand’s primary sector’s economic prospects are bright despite the significant challenges from COVID-19, Agriculture, Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor said on Tuesday. The latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report forecast food and fibre export revenue of more than 47.5 billion NZ dollars for the year ending in June 2021, and […]

China is now New Zealand’s second-largest source of foreign investment. However, the investment relationship still lags behind trade and people-to-people links. A report by the New Zealand China Council shows that in 2017, China invested 8.25 billion New Zealand dollars across the country. Executive Director of New Zealand China Council Stephen Jacobi said that contrary […]

Westpac has lifted its 2020/21 farmgate milk price forecast by 50 cents to $7.50/kg – 20c above the upper end of Fonterra’s forecast range. A $7.50/kg milk price would be one of the highest in the co-op’s 20-year history. Westpac has increased its 2021/22 milk price forecast by 25 cents to $7.25/kg. The price increase […]

New Zealand kiwifruit company Zespri has launched a three-year trial program growing kiwi’s and promoting authorized plantations in Sichuan province. The vendor indicated that during the first year of the trial program, the company would gather an expert council consisting of Chinese scientists, scholars, and practitioners. The expert council aims to share experience and knowledge […]