Herald business writer
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Why northern geopolitical upheaval has a big fertiliser provider seeking a southern supply
Worry about geopolitics and NZ energy crisis blight otherwise brighter rural prospects.
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Aucklanders do better on some living costs than other Kiwis: New report
Aucklanders spend less on energy and more on transport.

Kiwi v Aussie dairy farmers: Who’s the least satisfied and looking for another job?
Research results give Australian industry stakeholders plenty to chew over.

Mānuka honey’s sticky export situation
The industry is urged to learn how to keep the premium status of high-grade mānuka honey.

NZ’s first big-scale vertical hort grower on block after size falls short
Company administrators nix directors' hopes of trading out of trouble.

Sobering times for NZ wine industry: Costs and taxes rise and exports fall
Squeeze on costs collides with rising excises to sour sentiment.
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Knighthood for lifetime of Waikato community leadership: Sir John Gallagher
Sir John Gallagher is particularly proud of his work with Habitat for Humanity Hamilton.

Zespri fires up expanded offshore growing plans
Overseas growers are lining up to produce SunGold for Zespri.

NZ wine volume slump adds to new Southern Hemisphere production low
Global wine production down, Italy regains No 1 spot.

Cream rising to the top for Fonterra, Deloitte Top 200 Company of the Year
Transformation is the theme of Deloitte Top 200 Company of the Year success stories.
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No meat chickens in avian flu scare, sales unlikely to fall
Outbreak concerning, but not the most feared strain.
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Former port CEO conviction has message for big company leaders, says law firm
First prosecution of its type in New Zealand.
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A new beer adventure: Panhead founders put flesh on Boneface
Boneface's growth in a capital-hungry business will be carefully managed.
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Zespri improves most fruit returns outlook but net profit forecast down
Zespri must sell 190 million trays of kiwifruit from record crop.

Fonterra's consumer business sale and how it might look
Lack of capital for the FMCG operation is not the only reason for Fonterra's exit.

Fonterra's need to stay the milk supply market's big cheese about more than pride
Slipping share of milk supply market raises shareholder concern.
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Fonterra ‘better off’ returning capital to shareholders
Fonterra co-op model not suited to running a consumer business, says chairman.

Voting on Zespri’s offshore growing expansion plan off to a strong start
Two major industry organisations support growing more SunGold overseas.
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Lively annual meeting ahead for dairy giant Fonterra?
Pay rises are on the cards for the chair, directors and watchdog councillors.

Fonterra moves global consumer business sale up a gear, favours IPO and trade sale track
Chief executive Miles Hurrell says there's 'significant' interest.
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Outlook for dairy: Fresh signs of life but China still disappoints
New Zealand and Australian milk production is off to the strongest season start in years.

Fonterra shareholder watchdog and board argue over dairy giant’s transparency
Different interpretations of shareholder survey results.
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The problem with New Zealand's new red kiwifruit export offering
Retaining a premium price in the future could be a problem, Zespri warns.

Fonterra now strong enough to make capital return aside from consumer business sale: new report
Balance sheet also supports increased dividend target says Northington Partners.

$3 billion deal: 'Significant' implications for Fonterra
Independent bank cites potential financial consequences as well as benefits.

SunGold export outlook juicy but yellow kiwifruit competition looms: Zespri
A 'proliferation of brands' are increasingly expanding their kiwifruit offerings.
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Zespri's grim warning over rogue Chinese production of NZ gold kiwifruit
Pirate kiwifruit: Zespri challenged in identifying where the fruit is going.
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Port of Tauranga FY25 net profit forecast to improve
Import and export volumes improve after sharp drop this time last year.
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Zespri to hold new vote on expanding overseas kiwifruit production
It didn't work last time - but the global marketer claims significant support now.
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Air NZ's seat capacity shortages hobbling Hamilton Airport's growth potential: chairman
The group is already facing belt-tightening by travellers in the economic crunch.

'No visible green shoots': Freightways says outlook remains subdued in tough economy
The Australian economy is 'slightly more buoyant'.

Rabobank tips an OCR of 3.25% in July next year, with 'risks' to forecast
The effect of interest rate cuts is likely to be felt quicker than previously.
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Gallagher Group eyes Brazil's vast ranches in new South American market move
Demand for precision farming support offers 'enormous potential for growth'.

Kiwifruit infrastructure sector needs market signals to invest more: Seeka boss
A million-tray cool store can cost around $25m so market guidance is vital.
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Rocky first year of mandatory climate disclosures looks set to lead to some brief relief
High costs and uncertainty dog year one and lead to delay proposals.
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Fonterra's owners need much more info on why consumer business should go: adviser
But they may not get it until well into next year.
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New Zespri CEO’s flying start
NZ should see more of Jason Te Brake next year as the industry tackles big challenges.
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What does China's economic stimulus package mean for NZ dairy exports?
Only time will tell if China's economic boost package revs up consumer demand.

Zespri’s case against illegal gold kiwifruit planting goes to new court
'Pirated plantings' in global kiwifruit marketer's case.
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Zespri pushes hard to sell second plan for offshore kiwifruit growing expansion
The global marketer says overseas growers deliver significant benefits back home.
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Fonterra staff numbers on $100,000-plus swell in tough economic year
Most of the rises among regional New Zealand staffers.
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Six-year wait for port extension costs NZ exporters, importers dearly
Tauranga CEO bemoans the constant battle against red tape
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Tatua to the fore again in FY24 dairy payout
Bulk products revenue down but specialised divisions post highest result yet.
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Independent analysis coming on Fonterra's consumer business sale pitch to farmer-owners
Shareholders want to understand the impact on the overall business.
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Southern Cross claims cost soars as Kiwis cash in on health insurance
The cost of claims is up 15% compared to a 9% rise in premiums.
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NZ's fastest-growing region Waikato to have another go at creating a lasting economic growth engine
Business case and operating model work under way.
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All-hands Alliance Timaru meeting 'not going to be about beautifying site': Meatworkers Union
Meat co-operative CEO won't comment.
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Maersk offers new New Zealand-China service in Asia-Oceania container vessel upgrade
A new Northern Star container vessel service starts in Shanghai next month.

Fonterra quiet on consumer business sale progress, more to come next week
Dairy co-operative reiterates it is not 'a natural owner' of consumer products business.
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Fonterra posts strong $1.1 billion net profit
Dairy co-operative lifts forecast milk price for 2024-2025 by 50c/kg milk solids.
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Driving Waikato's economic development: will the regional council be next to try the vexed job?
Councillors to debate whether to fill gap left by failure of Te Waka.

Fonterra farmers will zero in on milk price in FY24 results this week
Plans for the sale of the consumer business are also in the market spotlight.

Fonterra shareholders anxious for info on possible $3b-plus consumer business sale
Watchdog council sends annual letter of expectations to board, surveys farmer-owners.

Hamilton airport seals two direct transtasman service deals
Hamilton celebrates Jetstar agreement after a long service drought.
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Stock Takes: Oliver Mander's new NZSA role
Plus: WasteCo's covenant breach, Tower's new horizons and Napier Port pain.
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Bill Gates backs Kiwi livestock genetics company to improve food supply in Africa
Gene editing a valuable tool for NZ Inc, says dairy genetics specialist.
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Major expansion under way for dairy sector sweetheart Tatua
Tatua's cream products expansion is the single biggest project in its 120-year history.

Will forestry rob hundreds of Kiwis of jobs? Meat processing sector confronts big livestock dip
One million fewer lambs next spring raises economic red flag in meat-processing industry.
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Dairy exporters in USA gloomy over China demand outlook
The US update notes China’s efforts to grow its own milk production.
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Why is Fonterra exploring cow-less dairy food technology?
Dairy co-op says no money or deals involved in its latest tech probe.

Self-titled 'father of colostrum' back in dairy industry after jail spell for fraud
Terevor Lock heads new Waikato venture aiming to boost colostrum export market.

NZ fertile investment ground for cream of global dairy industry, new report
Private capitalists including Graeme Hart, corporates, state-owned firms put down roots.

Container shipping giant's NZ service changes temporary, exporters and importers hope
World's No 1 container line MSC announces Oceania service rejig.

US dairy exporters also feel crunch of lower Chinese demand for imported dairy
But there are bright spots for America's exporters in the outlook.
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Who will get first option to buy in proposed Port of Tauranga share sale?
Provisional sale decision made, now it's time for council to discuss how and when.

NZ energy crisis isn't in the future — it's here: Major dairy exporter calls for action as need for coal persists
Open Country Dairy says insufficient electricity supply now a certainty for NZ.
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Red Sea turmoil impacts Kiwi shipping, Maersk warns of supply chain delays
Tauranga and Auckland ports experience knock-on effects of Red Sea tension.

Northland councils blind to economic benefits of Northport expansion proposal, port company argues
Port challenges councils’ findings on cultural values.
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Wine and the City: Sarah Jessica Parker is a US starmaker for NZ's Invivo wines
The US, NZ's biggest export wine market, is 'starting to fire' for Te Kauwhata winemaker.
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Northport takes its expansion plan to appeal in Environment Court
Independent commissioners had earlier rejected Northport’s expansion bid.
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Mainfreight looks to Australia as biggest future earner, gives trading update
Management of margin and overheads "magic" recipe for progress.

Dairy farms chalked up $86,000 loss last season but Fonterra share payments save some bacon
Expected milk payouts are below the break-even point, a new report says.
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How NZ is building an economic bridge to India
India and New Zealand are seeing good opportunities to work together.
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NZ cheese export value falls but US celebrates record exports this year
US says its cheese exports were "impressively" up across all major varieties.
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Fears for national growth and supply chain as Northport's expansion bid scuttled
Application failed to offset negatives of reclaiming 11.7 hectares of coast.
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Sealord gives new buy Independent Fisheries a long line to keep living up to its name
Canterbury company set to continue its 70 years of family history and values.
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Bay of Plenty council could gain investment war chest of $650m from share sale
Bay of Plenty Regional Council's sell-down could equate to more than $850m of stock.
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Is a regulated structure still right for today's $4b kiwifruit export industry?
Critical mass and scale saves the sector's bacon time and time again.