NZD Just when we might have thought it was all over for currency markets, lower levels were in store for the NZD and local exporters would finish the week with the beginning of a smile on their face, currencies have traded right back into the middle of very familiar ranges.

New Zealand Oil & Gas Ltd (NZOG) has agreed to acquire a 10% stake in Petroleum Exploration Permit 38401, which lies in the offshore Taranaki Basin, approximately 150km northwest of New Plymouth.

Nearly 2000 engineering and manufacturing workers will have redundancy protection after EPMU members voted overwhelmingly to ratify the Metals & Manufacturing multi-employer collective agreement.

The CTU today welcomed the settlement of the Metal Trades Multi-employer Collective Agreement.

The first round of focus group meetings between Chorus's newly-appointed Auckland and Northland field services contractor, Visionstream, and technicians employed by the two companies currently carrying out the work, had been a solid success, Visionstream said today.

It's been 20 years since The Body Shop opened its doors in New Zealand and what a journey it's been. We've campaigned, protested and raised millions for causes around New Zealand and the world, for whales, dolphins, tigers, children, women and political prisoners to name just a few.

8 July --A joint venture between Mike Pero Mortgages and one of its brokers, Jason Barba, has launched a website of New Zealand's lowest home loans interest rates.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union delegates from the telecommunication sector will meet in Auckland next Wednesday to plan the details of their campaign to stop Visionstream's dependent contractor model.

Yesterday the Government announced that it would align RWT rates on interest and PIE tax rates with marginal rates for income tax, from 1 April 2010. The changes will be included in a Tax Bill to be introduced later this month for enactment by December this year.

The ratings agency Standard & Poor's has completed an annual review of the South Canterbury Finance Group and confirmed the group's investment grade rating (BBB-), albeit on negative credit watch.