A tortuously long sale process for New Zealand's fighter jets may end up with them being used for spare parts should the intended buyer fail to raise the cash.

Wellington Nov 25 NZPA - Turners and Growers chairman Tony Gibbs says he rejects as "hysterical" concerns that his company has "colluded" with foreign powers in its bid to break Zespri International's control of exports outside Australasia.

Wellington, Aug 4 NZPA - Fonterra's Global Dairy Trade arm will tomorrow test international markets for whole milkpowder (WMP) with its scheduled August internet auction.

Wellington, Aug 2 NZPA - It should be determined whether prisoners given to the United States by New Zealand troops were mistreated, before the SAS is sent back to Afghanistan, Green MP Keith Locke says.

Wellington, May 27 NZPA - Fonterra today tightened up the economy for the coming year by cutting its opening forecast payout for the 2010 season to just $4.55/kg of milksolids.

Wellington, May 27 NZPA - Fonterra says it expects to pay its 10,700 farmers an average of $4.55/kg of milksolids next season. The opening forecast for the 2010 payout is a further slide from this season's $5.20/kg, with Fonterra blaming low international commodity prices.

Wellington, May 15 NZPA - It will take patience and diplomacy to get the United States back to the table on trade talks, Trade Minister Tim Groser said today.

Wellington, May 8 NZPA - Telecom shares were down 7c in early trading to 275 after the company reported its third quarter results. The figures showed a 14 percent rise in the company's third quarter net profit to $159m, while revenue lifted 1 percent to $1.4 billion.

Wellington, May 7 NZPA - The New Zealand sharemarket rose again slightly in early trade today. New Zealand's benchmark NZSX-50 index rose only 10.695 points - equivalent to 0.378 percent - to 2842.05 points after opening.

Wellington, March 25 NZPA - Small rises in the share prices of top stocks helped keep the New Zealand sharemarket marginally positive in early trading, despite a slide by equities in the United States.