By Kevin Norquay of NZPA Wellington, May 21 NZPA - The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) was a lone wolf howling in the darkness yesterday, outnumbered by tax specialists who declared Finance Minister Bill English's budget as resilient as a house built from bricks.

By Kevin Norquay of NZPA Wellington, May 20 NZPA - Finance Minister Bill English has come up with a tax package "that almost looks like white rabbits out of the hat", New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants Institute tax director Craig Macalister says.

Wellington, May 10 NZPA - Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce chief executive Charles Finny is joining government lobbyist firm Saunders Unsworth as a consultant on July 1.

By Kevin Norquay of NZPA Wellington, April 27 NZPA - Australia's rumoured postponement of its emissions trading scheme (ETS) led to calls today for New Zealand to do the same, but the Government gave no assurances either way.

Wellington, April 1 NZPA - Taiwan will have to sign a trade agreement such as the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with China if it wants to stay competitive in global markets, says a former New Zealand trade official.

Wellington, March 230NZPA - A closer economic partnership (CEP) agreement signed between New Zealand and Hong Kong last night is the cream on the top of the free trade agreement with China, says Trade Minister Tim Groser.

Wellington, Jan 29 NZPA - With local authority rates rising last year at three times the rate of inflation, a business-oriented lobby group says ratepayers expect more frugality from councils this year.

Wellington, Nov 15 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key has thanked United States President Barack Obama for agreeing to proceed with talks on a regional free trade agreement. Both leaders were in Singapore for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

Wellington, Nov 14 NZPA - The prospect of a free trade agreement between New Zealand and the United States moved a step closer today.

Wellington, Oct 8 NZPA - The United States is losing dominance in international trade and must work with New Zealand to "maintain control", Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Charles Finny says.