M.I.A.
OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.
OPINION: Media reports that only eight overseas teachers have arrived into the country seven months after 300 border exceptions were granted wouldn't surprise too many in the rural sector.
In June, 50 vets were granted border exemptions, but only a handful have arrived so far; and 200 dairy workers were granted border exemptions, but fewer than five have arrived so far. And just last month 200 machinery operators were given the green light - none have arrived so far.
These numbers paint a sad picture of the MIQ system. Something needs to change, and quickly.
A move is underway to make the Wellington bureaucracy speed up the approval process for certain agrichemicals that farmers and growers are desperate to get their hands on.
The new majority owner of meat company Alliance has no plans to close any processing plants. Instead, Dawn Meats plans to extract more value from Alliance's existing footprint.
Westpac NZ has announced new initiatives that aim to give customers more options to do their banking in person.
New Zealand red meat exports experienced a 29% increase year-on-year in September, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
BNZ says its new initiative, helping make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier, is being well received by customers and rural professionals.