Dene Mackenzie

The Government has been forced on to the back foot following the surprise credit rating downgrades on Friday by two major rating agencies.

National Party list MP Michael Woodhouse is vowing to make those who vandalise his election hoardings pay after his and other MPs signs were damaged during the weekend.

Signs are emerging that Otago employers are being proactive in addressing the skill shortage in some industries, Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie says.

Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation has weathered tough financial times through its diverse portfolio, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu kaiwhakahaere (chairman) Mark Solomon says.

New Zealand's economy took as double hit yesterday after rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings both downgraded their sovereign ratings.

An increasing number of employees are insisting on using their own choices of technology in the workplace, causing security problems for employers, Cisco Systems security specialist John-Paul Sikking says.

Gift duty is abolished from today but Mitchell Mackersy Lawyers partner Sally Peart is warning there are still some hooks that are worth noting.

The much-anticipated float of online auction company Trade Me is likely to come before Christmas with up to $500 million worth of shares expected to be offered to investors.

Oceana Gold advised yesterday there had been a fatality at its Didipio tenement in the northern Philippines as a result of a weather related-incident associated with Typhoon Pedring.

Postie Plus Group has defied challenging market conditions to yesterday report an improved operating profit for the year ended July 31 of $1.92 million.

Fletcher Building is providing plenty of positive signals to the market this week with three announcements in two days, Craigs Investment Partners broker Peter McIntyre says.

Local government in Otago and Southland is being urged to concentrate on getting the small things right in the wake of survey results released yesterday which show local authorities are not doing enough for business.

Politicians have called for the Reserve Bank to be given a wider range of tools to control the fluctuating New Zealand dollar, after it dropped from US82c on Thursday to US77c yesterday.

Employment confidence in Otago and Southland fell in the three months to September, but Southland remains in positive territory.