There are "deeply ingrained systemic issues'' in the forestry industry, New Zealand's work safety regulator says, following the death of another forestry worker this morning.

Retail spending is up, but potentially higher interest rates and a slowing in the growth of house prices could present challenges this year, says an economist.

Hiring expectations have dipped slightly as employers remain cautious about taking on new staff despite a rosy outlook for the economy in 2014.

In the first of a two-part series Gareth Morgan and Geoff Simmons warn of private profit at a public cost. "Our rivers are stuffed, and getting worse."

NZ business confidence has soared to a 20-year high, lifting hopes for profits, hiring and new investment.

The economic omens for New Zealand this year are good.

A young Kiwi is to get a taste of what it's like to work for one of the coolest companies on the planet.

French food giant Danone's legal action against Fonterra will cause uncertainty for investors and is more bad press for the dairy co-operative and NZ, says a commentator.

A New Zealand technology company has scored its biggest logistics contract to build a parcel sorting system for a 53,000sq metre freight facility in Sydney.

The size of Australia's iron ore export earnings continues to soar despite concerns about an end of the mining boom, a new report says.

The number of jobs advertised on Seek grew only slightly last year, but the employment website says NZ ended 2013 in an 'extremely healthy position' and that 2014 is looking positive.

The New Zealand dollar is expected to remain at elevated levels throughout this year.

Discussion of the economy normally disappears in the summer holiday languor, for good reason.

The Australian economy could strengthen in the new year helped by a weaker currency and the policies of central bankers in Washington.

Solid Energy's random drug and alcohol tests nabbed 28 offenders in the year to July, more than a third less than the previous year.

Let's use present momentum to develop sectors that have the potential to transform New Zealand's economy.

After nearly six grinding years of stop-start recession and timid growth the economy seems set to finally take off.

Economic activity grew 1.4 per cent in the Sept quarter to be 3.5 per cent larger than a year earlier.

A man aged in his 20s was killed by a falling tree while working on a forestry block in rural Horowhenua this morning.

A year ago, Brian Fallow described the state of NZ's climate policy as a shambles and a disgrace. A year later, there is no reason to eat those words, he says.

NZ spent $4.8b more than it earned in its dealings with the rest of world during the September quarter.

The Australian budget bottom line is looking bleak, and a weaker economy isn't going to help the situation.

The Government expects to resume contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund in 2019/20, a year earlier than projected in last May's Budget.

The Government books are on track to deliver the promised surplus in 2014 - 15 but at $86 million, still a very small one, despite improvements in the economy.

Auckland house and apartment building is at a 5-year high, with nearly 5700 dwelling consents issued in the year to October.