SkyCity Entertainment has announced a 29.6 per cent or $16.2 million rise in its first half after-tax profit to $71.02m.

The cost of buying life insurance could rise by as much as 25 per cent this year because of changes to the way it is taxed.

Multi-millionaire Sir Bob Jones is preparing a legal attack that could shut down the surviving arms of Blue Chip boss Mark Bryers' business empire.

Finance Minister Bill English was today forced to defend the Govt's plan to raise GST after parliamentary rivals accused him of telling "porkies."

Concerns have been raised over people trying to "game" the KiwiSaver market by switching providers to get their money out on financial hardship grounds.

The dream of first home ownership will be made easier by Prime Minister John Key's likely tax reforms, economists said today.

The status quo for property investors cannot be sustained, Tax Working Group member John Shewan says.