Lack of quality trade apprentices blamed on poor training and marketing

A lack of emphasis on the trades is affecting the quality of potential apprentices, as the need for tradies with specialist skills rises.
Why you should perfect the art of the follow-up

OPINION: It doesn't matter how good your marketing is or how much advertising you're doing if you can't close a sale.
Report says top of the south could be powered mostly by biomass

Wood could be the next big thing powering the top of the south, a new report says, with the forestry sector playing a key role in powering Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.
Te Anau industrial-zoned land sold

The diggers have started earthworks at a new industrial subdivision in the tourist town, with 10 of the 33 sections already under contract.
How the Government was held to ransom for a $37.8m bailout

Kāinga Ora paid up against Treasury advice, for fear of "reputational damages" the debacle could cause the KiwiBuild programme.
Demand keeps Southland butchers busy

Butchery and home-kill business owners in Southland say they are struggling to find enough staff to keep up with demand.
Ask Susan: Is it really worth getting a second job?

Money Editor Susan Edmunds answers your questions about tax, student loans, mortgages and KiwiSaver.
'I lost half-a-million trading online – it's no different to gambling'

One former online trader says many people convince themselves they are 'investing' but they're risking it all.
Fewer high-end lifestyle blocks selling in Te Tauihu

More entry level properties are selling, but buyers are starting to return to the market agents say.
More cash in cannabis than tobacco with billions up for grabs, advocates say

The cannabis market is said to be worth $1.5 billion and proponents of reform say there is money to be made in a safe, regulated legal cannabis regime.
Championing local ownership in NZ banking

SPONSORED: SBS Bank, named 'Mutual of the Year,' recognising its commitment to its customers and the community.
How to survive the silly season without destroying your bank account
Harriet Biddulph has budgeted to spend significantly less on Christmas presents this year.
How embracing the vlog could boost your business

OPINION: Think video blogging is just for influencers? Think again.
Astin Parore, 20, with six-figure art business: 'Don't underestimate young people'

Started during the first Covid lockdown, he has now brought on his mum Sally Ridge as creative director to help find more artists.
Five couples 'accidentally' bought a classic country pub

Five Taranaki couples have put their beer money where their mouth is and bought the tiny rural pub they often joked about taking over.
Bold journey of bouquets

Tuatapere's Nathalie Pahl has gone from gardening one patch to supplying flowers in Southland through her business, Blooming Boulders.
Medical Assurance Society to pay $2.1 million penalty for misleading customers

The Financial Markets Authority said more than 16,000 customers were overcharged or underpaid due to 'fundamental flaws' in business systems.
NZ’s sustainability heroes

The 2023 Sustainable Business Awards showcase NZ’s top sustainability achievements.
New company offers unlimited leave and sick leave

Liam O'Neill loves games, and also loves to see his employees happy. That is why they are offering unlimited leave and sick leave.
Connecting with tomorrow’s workforce

SPONSORED: With businesses across Aotearoa contemplating a tight labour market, many are looking ahead for ways to future-proof their business.
How the Government was held to ransom for a $37.8m bailout

Kāinga Ora paid up against Treasury advice, for fear of "reputational damages" the debacle could cause the KiwiBuild programme.
Fewer high-end lifestyle blocks selling in Te Tauihu

More entry level properties are selling, but buyers are starting to return to the market agents say.
Here's how your suburb's housing market might be faring

The downturn and recovery have hit different parts of New Zealand in different ways.
Almost 20,000 borrowers behind on home loans – with number still growing

And more pain is to come, the Reserve Bank is warning.
Sluggish Black Friday continues retail's struggles

OPINION: It's becoming clear that people are now buying less than they were in 2022 as prices continue to rise.
Top 10 songs that tell the story of 2023 in music

OPINION: I don’t know about you, but I found 2023 even harder than last year.
What my marathon effort can teach you about personal finance

OPINION: I realised I wasn’t going to hit my target using a DIY approach so I either needed to do something about it or withdraw.
Ask Susan: What happens to KiwiSaver if I leave New Zealand?

If I leave New Zealand what happens with my KiwiSaver? I have an opportunity to consider in Europe.
Gisborne forestry company fined $73,500

Harvesting can be a difficult job, but if it's not done by the rules, companies will be held to account, says chief Environment Court judge
Ford Ranger set to retain NZ's most popular car status

Ford ute on target to claim coveted best-seller title for the ninth year in a row.
Parish nurse farewells decade-long role

Rachael Westenra has been part of rural residents' lives, from deciphering medical letters to delivering groceries, and even bathing their feet.
Duo impress in trans-Tasman test

Representing New Zealand in the sport of dog trialling has been a proud moment for Brian Dickison.
A plane fuelled by fat and sugar has crossed the Atlantic Ocean

The Virgin Atlantic flight used only sustainable aviation fuel in a flight from London to New York.
Iconic brands fail Auckland Zoo app test for sustainable palm oil

Auckland Zoo's new shopping app gives some iconic Kiwi brands the thumbs down. But companies say it's being too harsh.
Fonterra pledges to make milk production 30% greener by 2030

New Zealand's biggest emitter wants farmers to use less fertiliser, plant trees and introduce new tech. But there’s no commitment to reward those that do, yet.
Milk sheds are quietly leaking a greenhouse gas you probably haven’t heard of

Many farms' most powerful greenhouse gas comes from a milk-chilling machine, not a cow. But new cost-saving tech could fix that.
Elon Musk tells boycotting advertisers to 'go f... yourself'

In a profanity-laced outburst, Elon Musk has slammed advertisers that have left X, warning they will kill the social media platform.
What happened at OpenAI? The Sam Altman saga, explained

Over the course of a dramatic five days for the booming artificial intelligence industry, the prominent AI leader Sam Altman was ousted from ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.
Why this short 37-minute A380 flight is a big milestone

For the first time ever, an A380 has taken off using 100% sustainable aviation fuel.
It's boom times for startups trying to electrify aviation

Just as electric cars have started to revolutionise driving, a growing group of startups are now looking to electrify air transport.
NZ family plead for government help getting relatives out of Gaza warzone
What is working retail at Christmas like – and what does it pay?
'We’re out of our lane' as world economy shifts
Reserve Bank talks tough: When will relief come for home loan borrowers?
Lack of quality trade apprentices blamed on poor training and marketing
Gisborne forestry company fined $73,500
Why you should perfect the art of the follow-up
What really counts as poor in New Zealand now?
Report says top of the south could be powered mostly by biomass
Te Anau industrial-zoned land sold
Ford Ranger set to retain NZ's most popular car status
A peek inside Otago's $100m residential college
How the Government was held to ransom for a $37.8m bailout
KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals double as New Zealanders struggle