The way has been cleared to save the historic Akaroa Gallery. Resource and building consents have been granted and structural designs for the repair work are now complete. Richdale Builders Ltd is set to begin the work which is expected to take two months.

Police have released the name of the Wellington man killed in a motorcycle crash at Okaramio in Marlborough about 5pm yesterday. He was Kenneth Gordon LILLEY, aged 54 years.

With the nights getting colder and winter on the doorstep Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says it’s time for the Christchurch City Council to pick up the pace and rapidly fix more of its social housing units.

Māori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples has expressed his great pride in learning of the joint venture between Ngāti Paarau of Waiohiki marae, Safer Napier and the Napier City Council in establishing Te Ara o Ngā Tīpuna (Pathways of our Ancestors).

Eleven community groups from throughout the Region are to receive grants funding for their projects under Horizons Regional Council’s community grants programme.

With the debate about bank deposits versus shares heating up, it's good for people to consider their options carefully when it comes to making investments in their golden years, says Melanie Templeton, General Manager of RaboDirect, the online savings and investment arm of Rabobank.

A new survey showing reduced vacancy rates for central city retail sites is a positive economic sign for Hamilton, says Mayor Julie Hardaker.

The Institute of Financial Advisers (IFA) is delighted to announce the appointment of independent director Jeremy Bendall to the Board.

Cash Portfolio Investment Entities (PIEs) are typically not a consumer's first choice for savings, however, they allow investors to take advantage of special tax rules to boost the returns they receive on their savings, without losing the flexibility to access their money.

Russell Investments' team of global investment strategists have released the firm's 2012 Global Outlook in which they predict that global deleveraging will continue through 2012, noting that "it took three decades for the developed economies to borrow too much money and it will take years to pay

Niche superannuation scheme Mutual Superannuation Fund (MSF) has continued a 40-plus year track record of success with an annual pre-tax return this year of more than 7% for investors despite the very difficult ongoing market conditions.

The Cambridge Associates LLC Australia Private Equity and Venture Capital Index (CA Australia Index) continues to outperform the S&P/ASX 300 Index over multiple time horizons.

With developed world economies suffering from too much debt and weak fundamentals, New Zealand investors have been moving to invest in emerging market currencies, such as the renminbi (RMB), rather than the traditional currencies such as the dollar, pound and the Euro.

New Zealand's leading investment fund managers are beginning to favour property as increasingly defensive investment strategies are being implemented to counter the vagaries of the current world economic situation.

A bill which overhauls securities law to improve financial market conduct and restore investor confidence in New Zealand's financial markets was introduced to Parliament today by Commerce Minister Simon Power.

Harbour Asset Management (Harbour) today announced the launch of the new Harbour Australasian Equity Income Fund (Fund). The Fund has an actively managed strategy that invests predominately in New Zealand and Australian listed securities in order to generate attractive dividend yields.

Auckland digital book producer Kiwa Media has completed a Series A fund raising after attracting interest from New Zealand Chinese investors.

Implementation of Act an important step in restoring investor confidence The Trustee Corporations Association today welcomed the new Securities Trustees and Statutory Supervisors Act which comes into force tomorrow.

New Zealand's investment in Australia rose to $51.0 billion at 31 March 2011, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Recent economic data have been very encouraging, prompting the RBNZ to signal it would reverse the 50 basis point 'insurance' cut very soon providing the economy continues to recover and global risks recede.

Webb's Auction House finished a busy week with more than $2,710,606 being traded across their suite of sales.

- Higher food and fuel prices expected to underpin a 0.8% increase in the Q2 CPI. - Post-earthquake rebuilding activity and general recovery to see inflation pressures lift over 2012. - RBNZ becoming less comfortable with recent inflation developments.

The eradication of the capital gains tax harbour will help to lift productive investment say the New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA).

There is a broadly more favourable economic outlook for New Zealand, with a recession before the end of the year looking even less likely, and an improvement in unemployment and GDP growth expectations, according to this week's snapshot from New Zealand's prediction market, iPredict.

Fonterra has today announced it has successfully raised AU$300 million (NZD $388.3 million) through its first ever issue of corporate bonds in Australia. The bonds are for a five year term, maturing in July 2016. They were priced at a spread of 100bp over swap.

OUTLOOK CURRENCY: The US Independence Day holiday should see markets limited in liquidity and activity today, with recent post-float highs a difficult target to achieve. Greek optimism should be balanced with implementation reality.

There has been no shortage of reasons to be cautious on risk assets in Q2 - the negative US/China/global data flow, EU peripheral debt stress, China monetary tightening and the end of QE2.

From Friday 1 July, financial advisers will be regulated under new rules administered by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA).

HEADLINES... Markets: Risk off tone prevails sending equities, commodities and bond yields lower as data fails to quell slow down worries, nervousness about Greece continues. USA: GDP revised up 0.1pps to 1.9% saar in Q1, at mkt.

While log exports are booming at the demise of locally produced wood products, a forest industry leader calls for New Zealand to take control of our forest and wood products industry.