Help is at hand for residential builders fearing the worst after the loss of vital insurance.

Hot on the heels of the withdrawal by Lloyd’s of London from the New Zealand market for builders guarantees a locally-owned insurance agency is launching a new one.

"High rental price increases should not come as a shock to anyone", says Andrew King, Executive Officer of the NZ Property Investors’ Federation (NZPIF). "While Statistics NZ has pointed to the Healthy Homes legislation, this is only one change that has pushed rental prices higher."

New research undertaken by Redvespa may help us understand the reasons behind New Zealand’s slide down the Global Innovation Index - from 9th in 2009 to 25th in 2019.

Cutting agricultural subsidies that distort trade and production is a vital step in tackling world hunger and climate change challenges, Federated Farmers says.

Respected award-winning Quartz Reef winemaker Rudi Bauer is the successful appointee to the Central Otago Tourism Advisory Board. Rudi fills the vacant position created when board member Dylan Rushbrook took up the role of General Manager for Tourism Central Otago in early 2019.

An exceptionally well-located Mount Maunganui retail property is for sale with abundant rental upside and future redevelopment potential.

After nearly 10 years as chief executive of Skills Active Aotearoa, Dr Grant Davidson will be leaving in February 2020.

"Grant has served our industries and stakeholders exceptionally well," says Skills Active chair Sam Napia.

With more long weekends on the horizon, many Kiwis will be enjoying an ice cream or two as they head to the beach, bach or barbecues.

The consumers price index (CPI) rose 0.5 percent in the December 2019 quarter due to rising prices for both international and domestic airfares, rent, and petrol, Stats NZ said today.

The annual inflation rate was 1.9 percent.

The latest Retail NZ Retail Radar Report shows that despite the busy Black Friday, Christmas and Boxing Day sales periods, a significant number of retailers did not hit their sales targets for the quarter ended 31 December.