Dene Mackenzie

Shares in Summerset Group, which listed yesterday, surged to $1.45 on opening as institutions bid the price up to get their desired quotas.

The labour cost index and quarterly employment survey both provided further evidence the New Zealand economy continues to hang on to its gradual expansion, against all odds.

The global credit crunch is providing opportunities for the Democrats for Social Credit to put forward their alternative monetary policies in the hope the party returns to the halcyon days of the past.

Prime Minister John Key emerged the winner of the first head-to-head debate with Labour leader Phil Goff, who, although calm and reasoned at times, consistently rose to baiting by Mr Key and lost valuable time when he could have been explaining policy.

Increasing the retirement age, compulsory superannuation and restoring the contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund are part of Labour's savings policy which could change policy debates on the way to the November 26 election.

National plans to use the proceeds of the partial sale of state-owned assets to establish an investment fund of up to $7 billion, but the size of the fund is contingent on the sale prices achieved for the assets.

New Zealand First launched its election campaign yesterday with leader Winston Peters calling for a fair tax system where everyone paid a fair share.

People moving away from earthquake-affected Christchurch are concerning Finance Minister Bill English who is urging the local authority to be more proactive in hastening the rebuild.

Business advocacy group BusinessNZ has welcomed the Government's focus on youth employment in its employment relations policy announced yesterday but says more needs to be done.

National has moved closer to smashing collective bargaining and leaving employers with the opportunity to offer individual contracts to their workers - if they want a pay rise.

Finance Minister Bill English yesterday expressed empathy with some of the ideals of the Occupy Wall Street movement, but says New Zealand has already moved to stop some of the financial excesses driving the protests.

Inflation came in well under expectations in the three months ended September, providing the Reserve Bank with some breathing space as it prepares to review its official cash rate tomorrow.