The departing head of the Maori Development Ministry says Maori business has transformed in the past decade and iwi are no longer considered a risk to the NZ economy.

Dame Wendy Pye will turn 70 next year but is still getting up at 4.30am to field international calls, travelling across the world to expand her publishing business and "beating the drum" for children's literacy.

The Irish enjoy nothing more than whingeing about the weather. But internet giants say the people of Ireland should be grateful for their damp, cold climate.

Jeanette Lewis is sipping a latte and looking out over a damp market square. She checks the buses as they pass down the high street.

Brian Fallow writes: "The economy has a soggier soft patch to pull out of next year after September quarter gross domestic product came in below market expectations and the statisticians revised down growth in the first half of the year."

Financial analyst Guy Hallwright is seeking his job back or $600,000 in lost earnings after being dismissed following his conviction for running over a man.

If there is a tendency for businesspeople's lips to curl at the very sight of their local council offices, writes Brian Fallow, the reaction may be unfair or at least misdirected.

What skills and experience do you need to be a successful franchisee?

I'm not an economist, but I do understand what a net loss or a net gain is, writes Susan Chalmers. Most people will be familiar with the concept - at the end of the day, are you better or worse off?

Ports of Auckland has been ordered to pay $40,000 for deliberately breaking the law by employing contractors during industrial action at the port.

Food prices fell 0.8 per cent last month, with vegetables leading the charge. Food prices have now fallen 0.6 per cent over the past year.

The Government's climate change policy is a shambles and a disgrace, writes Brian Fallow. "Unless, that is, you are happy for the costs of the inevitable adjustment to a low-carbon future to be needlessly increased."