Bill English’s proposal to allow use of loan to valuation ratios is yet another reason to add to the supply of affordable homes, say Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker and Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford.

A three month extension to the final settlement date for a small group of residential red zone property owners will ease a number of pressures they are facing, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

Justice Minister Judith Collins has joined with representatives of 48 countries in Brussels at the Ministerial launch of the Global Alliance against child sexual abuse online.

In Europe it’s a piece of market wisdom referred to as ‘Sell in May and go away’; in the United States they call it the Halloween effect.

Gold has climbed to its highest price in almost six months and talk in commodity markets is that it could threaten the fabled USD2,000.00 per oz mark by the end of the year based on global economic conditions.

Buying shares in the Government's sell-off of state assets would break the bank for most New Zealanders says Labour's State Owned Enterprises spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove.

SmartPay (NZX: SPY), a leading provider of payments and transactional solutions in New Zealand and Australia, is pleased to advise that the resolution proposed at the SmartPay Holdings Limited Special Meeting of Shareholders held on 28 June 2012 was passed by the shareholders.

NZX-listed shell company Veritas Investments Limited ("Veritas") announced today the very successful outcome of its 2 for 1 rights offer that closed last week. In a very strong show of support, 83% of rights were exercised, raising around $700,000 of new share capital for Veritas.

Glass Earth Gold Limited (TSXV-GEL; NZAX-GEL) ("Glass Earth" or the "Company") announced today that it has filed its March 31, 2012 first quarter Financial Statements and associated Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") report pertaining to that period with regulatory authorities.

Ecoya Limited (NZX:ECO) the company that operates the Trilogy Skincare and Ecoya Fragrance Brands today announces its audited full year result to 31 March 2012.

SmartPay (NZX: SPY), a leading provider of payments and transactional solutions in New Zealand and Australia, today announced its financial results for the year ended 31 March 2012 together with the announcement that it has substantially completed a positive recapitalisation and restructure of th

Global natural health and beauty products company Comvita plans to acquire on market up to 200,000 of its ordinary shares.

Vocus Communications Limited (ASX: VOC) today announced it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Maxnet Limited, a leading New Zealand based Data Centre operator and Cloud provider.

Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters says the 2011 Regional Rankings report by BERL (Business & Economic Research Ltd) show a number of encouraging economic indicators for Rotorua, and give reason for some real optimism for the future.

As the financial year closes, New Zealand Mint's Mike O'Kane tracks gold's progress Despite new confidence about improving global economies, gold remains popular across the three major markets. US market

A2 Corporation Limited (NZAX:ATM) ("A2C", "the Company") announces today that it is undertaking a strategic review of its options to accelerate growth and maximise shareholder value.

The Financial Markets Authority is warning the public of an illegal offer by Makko Securities and its Senior Account Manager, Roy Lochen, to provide broking services in relation to the proposed Initial Public Offering of Facebook and other securities.

Air New Zealand today announced normalised earnings* before taxation of $33 million for the six month period ended 31 December 2011, a 71% decline on the same period last year. Net profit after taxation was $38 million.

Pastoral Dairy Investments (PDI), a specialist investment fund led by senior New Zealand dairy industry and investment figures, has today launched an initial public share offering, www.headliner.co.nz reported this morning.

Online marketplace and classified advertising business Trade Me Group Ltd released its interim financial results for the six months to 31 December 2011 this morning.

Auckland, 22 February 2012 - Fletcher Building today announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2011. The group recorded net earnings after tax of $144 million, compared with $166 million in the prior corresponding period.

Auckland, 31 January, 2012 - Fletcher Building Limited announces that its Formica business has reached agreement to acquire all of the shares in Homapal Plattenwerk ("Homapal"), a manufacturer and distributor of metal and specialty laminates, for ?30 million (NZ$48 million).

Illinois, USA - LanzaTech, a producer of low-carbon fuels and chemicals from waste gases, has closed its Series C round with new investment totaling US $55.8 million led by the Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund.

Short-termism has driven markets at the expense of long term investment thinking during a markedly volatile 2011.

Fonterra announced today an increased payout forecast range for the 2012 Season of $6.90-$7.00 for a fully shared up farmer, up 20 cents on the previous forecast.

Comvita Independent Directors note Cerebos New Zealand's statement this morning that it will not lift its offer for the company above the current bid price of $2.50 per share.

Cerebos New Zealand Limited ("Cerebos") will not be increasing its offer price under its full takeover offer dated 8 November 2011 (the "Offer") for all of the equity securities in Comvita Limited ("Comvita").

Wellington investment company Rangatira today announced its interim result for the six months to 30 September 2011. In what the company termed a challenging and volatile market, Operating Earnings were $4.4 million, 2% ahead of the same period last year.

Emerging market growth slowed to its weakest level in nine quarters in the third quarter of 2011, reflecting the continued decline in world trade volumes, the HSBC Emerging Markets Index (EMI) shows.

Wellington - Equity research specialist Woodward Research today issued a report on Trade Me, the dominant online auction and classified advertising company in New Zealand owned by Fairfax Media (ASX:FXJ).