The biggest corporate farming sell-off ever seen in New Zealand is placing 29 state-of-the art 'designer' farms on the market - for a combined asking price of $224.5million.

New insurance legislation set for first reading tomorrow in Parliament would create an unregulated insurance industry in New Zealand, says the New Zealand Captive Insurance Association (NZCIA).

Hawke's Bay carpentry apprentice Nathan Biggs has been awarded top honours in the Registered Master Builders 2009 Apprentice of the Year competition, in association with Carters.

New Zealand's first timber framed modular "box" home, a courtyard show garden and a sustainable farm kitchen are just three of the 48 individual design projects making up the record number of entries received for the 2009 Timber Design Awards.

Wellington, Feb 28 NZPA - Commerce Commission efforts to pursue public interest law in New Zealand through class actions are being constrained by rudimentary enforcement provisions in the Fair Trading Act, according to a Court of Appeal judge.

Wellington, Feb 27 NZPA - The Commerce Commission was today rolled by the Court of Appeal over one of its biggest wins under fair trading law - the $900,000 fine imposed against timber giant Carter Holt Harvey for selling timber with a high strength label when it knew the timber did not consisten

21 January 2009 - Fonterra Co-operative Group announced today the appointment, effective February 16, of Jonathan Mason as its new Chief Financial Officer. Mr Mason succeeds Guy Cowan, who announced his retirement in early 2008 and will be leaving the Group at the end of February 2009.

24 NOVEMBER 2008 - One of the biggest corporate farming sell-offs in rural New Zealand this year has seen nine farms totaling 3,500 hectares placed on the market for sale.

20 October 2008 - Andrew Simcock has been appointed General Manager of Biodiesel New Zealand Ltd, Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd's renewable fuel business.

NZ Wood, in partnership with the New Zealand Timber Design Society, New Zealand Pine Manufacturers Association and Carter Holt Harvey, is calling for entries for the 2008 Timber Design Awards.