Dene Mackenzie

The Performance of Manufacturing Index was a picture of health in September with manufacturing in Otago-Southland looking particularly strong.

Reaching a surplus was a significant milestone and one the public service could be proud of, but the job was far from done, Finance Minister Bill English said yesterday.

The pressure is building for the Reserve Bank to lower the official cash rate to 2% despite most economists saying the central bank believes 2.5% will be low enough to generate inflation of 2%.

The New Zealand Superannuation Fund took a hit in August as global markets continued their volatile runs.

Household spending has bounced back to its early 2015 peak but the growth is expected to moderate for the rest of the year.

A significant rebound in the number of New Zealanders leaving for Australia looks unlikely but a slowing in the net inflow of migrants is on the cards, Westpac economist Felix Delbruck says.

Listed jeweller Michael Hill International has made a strong start to the year with first-quarter sales up 9.2% for Michael Hill stores.

Investors from the 12 Trans Pacific Partnership countries are likely to get easier access to investing in high-value New Zealand businesses, Dunedin lawyer Sally Peart says.

The strong momentum in Summerset's business has continued, with third-quarter sales and year-to-date sales well ahead of the previous corresponding period, Forsyth Barr broker Suzanne Kinnaird says.

New Zealand needs to be careful not to get out of step with the rest of the world in implementing tax changes on multinational companies seeking to minimise their tax obligations, Deloitte Dunedin tax partner Peter Truman says.

The much anticipated Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement was signed yesterday but there is a long and difficult path ahead before it comes into force in about two years.