Merino wool making big waves in US market
Merino bra and underwear sales are on the rise as fast-growing United States company Branwyn becomes familiar with the fine wool’s home in the Mackenzie Basin.
Business
Seaweed plastic alternative in works
Seaweed plastic alternative in works
University student Olivia Cooper is closing in on a long-held dream to help reduce climate change with a business start-up turning seaweed into plastic-free packaging.
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Dunedin homeware store to close after hard 2025
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Dunedin homeware store to close after hard 2025
The owner of a Dunedin homeware store closing less than a year after it opened says she underestimated how tough the retail sector would be.
Top-performing KiwiSaver fund revealed
Top-performing KiwiSaver fund revealed
Warnings of impending share market doom didn't play out in 2025, and the year ended with solid returns for KiwiSaver investors - and some change at the top of the performance tables.
Royal surprise for local loom business
Royal surprise for Canterbury loom business
A Canterbury business was royally delighted to watch a video of Princess Kate weaving on one of its looms take off on social media.
Rival parties join forces to get slavery bill heard
Rival parties join forces to get slavery bill heard
A new process to skip the lottery of the 'biscuit tin' is being used for the first time because coalition partner ACT refused to support a government bill.
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Third generation painter joins the family business
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Third generation painter joins the family business
Some people get plastered on the weekends, but Matthew Sims spends all week doing it — and sometimes he gets quite a bit of paint on him as well.
'No splashing the cash' on Budget Day
'No splashing the cash' on Budget Day
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced when she will deliver this year's Budget.
OCR increase could be considered in May: economist
OCR increase could be considered in May: economist
It is possible that the official cash rate could be up for discussion as early as May, one forecaster says.
Air NZ flight attendants plan three-day strike
Air NZ flight attendants plan three-day strike
A union says problems with Air New Z's planes and services are creating extra headaches for staff at 38,000 feet.
KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals surge in 2025
KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals surge in 2025
Thousands more withdrawals were made from KiwiSaver for hardship reasons last year than in 2024, and providers say there's no sign of the rate slowing.
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Owner forced to close due to surgery complications
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Owner forced to close due to surgery complications
Health complications and surgery wait times have forced the owner of a Dunedin second-hand clothing store to give up her dream job.
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Student bar’s compliance woes: Bog licensed until October despite two incidents
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Student bar’s compliance woes: Bog licensed until October despite two incidents
A central Dunedin pub with a history of locking fire exits has been granted another reprieve after police were abused by patrons during a drunken 21st.
Changing when we use power could save billions: report
Changing when we use power could save billions: report
A quarter of NZ's peak electricity use could be shifted to times of lower demand, lowering household bills and saving up to $3b in infrastructure investment, a new report says.
Job market improving, bodes well for employment: BNZ
Job market improving, bodes well for employment: BNZ
The jobs market is showing early signs of improvement, according to BNZ, which it said should lead to lower unemployment by the middle of the year.
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Coach to tackle cafe ownership
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Coach to tackle cafe ownership
With a resume that includes coaching for the Highlanders and Black Ferns, Riki Flutey expects his sporting expertise will come in handy manning the helm of a Dunedin cafe.
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Builder had to ‘learn place pretty quickly’
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Builder had to ‘learn place pretty quickly’
Not surprisingly, Stephen Jory has forgotten the number of times he has smashed his thumb with a hammer on a building site over the past 50 years.
First stage of major expansion complete
First stage of major expansion complete
South Canterbury company Barker’s has completed its new jam, juice and sauce factory near Geraldine in the first stage of a nearly $60 million expansion project.
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Work begins on new town housing project
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Work begins on new town housing project
Another town housing project is about to spring up in Dunedin — this time on the former Bayfield Bowling Club site in Bayfield Rd.
Inflation rises above Reserve Bank's target rate
Inflation rises above Reserve Bank's target rate
Inflation has edged higher on the back of higher fuel, travel, and telecommunication costs backing the view the Reserve Bank will hold interest rates steady for the medium term at least.