Fears that the New Zealand dollar would continue its upward spiral were put to rest yesterday when comments from the US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke revived optimism about the US economy, sending the greenback higher and the Kiwi sharply lower.

Up to seven annual Auckland incomes would now be needed to buy a property in the city for its median house price.

The turnaround in net migration flows gathered pace last month as fewer people left the country for Australia.

Being curious about the differences while seeking common ground is a practice that works well for Tim Deane when he does business in cultures overseas.

More than half of the workers in an employment survey are planning to look for a new job in the next year.

The media business is perceived as the most attractive of all industries to work in, and TVNZ the most appealing media employer, HR specialists Randstad reveal in their latest employer branding survey of 7,000 Kiwis of working age.

Documents released by the Reserve Bank yesterday give scant support to the Prime Minister's suggestion that it might exempt first home buyers from any restriction on low-deposit home loans.

Organisations that manage their culture proactively attain greater returns across key areas such as revenue, profit and customer service than those which do not.

Bill English painted a picture of recovery in the Budget. But stresses remain and the economy is being pulled in different directions by strong opposing forces, writes Brian Fallow.

Standard & Poor's, the global credit rating agency, has put eight local banks on notice over the rising risk of a housing bubble bursting in New Zealand.

Business and economic commentators have given Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan's sixth - and probably last - Budget a unanimous thumbs down.

Local government is where a lot of the governing people care about goes on.

The number of New Zealand house sales slipped from a six-year high last month, but the national market is still being driven by Auckland and Christchurch.