Last year was a 'bitterly disappointing' year for farmers, with the number of deaths nearly doubling to 17, Federated Farmers says.

Overseas tourists claimed $1 million from the ACC in the last financial year, but the payouts benefited New Zealanders, the organisation says.

Health chiefs are demanding faster action on improved access to state immigration records, so they can tell if patients are entitled to care.

The New Zealand sharemarket posted modest gains in quiet trading yesterday ahead of the Christmas holiday break.

The Government is to allow private insurers to compete with the Accident Compensation Corporation.

The family of Michael Hill International's founder has renewed its attempt to take control of the jewellery chain.

English confident of return to surplus, but spending limits will have to stay.

Herald deputy business editor Grant Bradley, who has visited the Pike River mine and covered the company for the Business Herald, on why today's receivership move by Pike River was inevitable.

An internal review by ACC is looking at how the corporation could run more efficiently and what changes need to be made.

ACC's medical advisers are not being held properly accountable, a lawyer says.

A lawyer has asked for an investigation into a group of doctors he says ACC uses to reject claims due to pre-injury "degenerative" conditions.