Chinese Vice-Premier directly asked Steven Joyce for the assurance on New Zealand investment policy in a 45 minute meeting in Beijing yesterday.

Silver Fern Farms embarked on a roadshow to sell farmers on bringing in China's Shanghai Maling Aquarius as a shareholder in its newly formed venture.

The real estate agent sacked after the Labour Party was leaked confidential sales data on Asian buyers is back in the Auckland property market.

Federated Farmers said it welcomed the Government's decision to decline the sale of Lochinver Station, near Taupo, to China's Shanghai Pengxin Group.

It will put Silver Fern Farms in a strong position, writes Fran O'Sullivan. But that won't stop the emotion over the injection of Chinese ownership into a company that other players were endeavouring to keep NZ controlled.

Silver Fern Farms says $261m Chinese input will help meat processor forge ahead with a growth strategy.

Chinese investment in Silver Fern Farms would be a momentous event for New Zealand, says the former head of a meat industry lobby group.

There is already considerable foreign investment in New Zealand agribusiness, writes Fran O'Sullivan. Several Chinese companies have meat interests and there is major Japanese investment in Anzco.

The future ownership of New Zealand's biggest meat processor, Silver Fern Farms, is a matter for its farmer shareholders to determine, says Finance Minister Bill English.

China government backed Bright Food is understood to be the party in talks to take a stake in Silver Fern Farms.

New Zealand shares fell yesterday to their lowest level this year as offshore volatility weighed on sentiment again with markets across Asia weaker, with the exception of Australia.

Ownership of at least 30 to 40 per cent of New Zealand's biggest meat processor, Silver Fern Farms, looks set to pass to Chinese interests in a $100-million deal, say sources.

Will a Kiwi white knight emerge to fully recapitalise Silver Fern Farms, or will Chinese interests emerge as 50-50 partners with a New Zealand consortium to take the company forward?

Liam Dann writes: Inflation is not dead and there seems no doubt market volatility and the slowdown in China were top of mind for many.

As the weather begins to warm up, let's relax and fantasize about some of the best pools the world has to offer.

China Southern is expanding into Christchurch with direct services to Guangzhou three times a week using a Dreamliner.

Slip-ups are no surprise, given the vast reforms the country is going through, Brian Fallow writes. As China has contributed about a third of global economic growth in recent years, few are immune from the effects of its slowdown.

Asian policy-makers need to understand that currency devaluations aren't a cure-all, writes Bloomberg columnist William Pesek.

The world's largest bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, is stepping up its international expansion to offset China's slowing economic growth, according to former chief executive Yang Kaisheng.

Russia's energy pivot toward Asia faces its sternest test next month when Vladimir Putin visits Beijing amid slumping oil prices and concerns over China's economic slowdown.

In the first minutes of trade, the S&P/NZX50 was up 28 points, led by post-result gains from Air NZ and Metlifecare.

Once the fastest growing region and home to heavy industry, the Northeast is hit by new economic realities.

The New Zealand sharemarket staged a comeback yesterday after being 2.5 per cent down at one point but China's sharemarket rout continues.

New Zealand experts surveying the fallout from China's "Black Monday" stock market tumble will look to see if it reflects bigger problems in that country's economy, which is a big buyer of our exports and a source of tourists.

Uber users complete almost 1 million rides daily in China, which is is expected to outgrow Uber's U.S. home market.

Trade Minister Tim Groser says Southeast Asia is New Zealand's "number one insurance policy".

Chinese authorities are using animals to test living conditions in Tianjin, where a giant chemical explosion last week killed 116 people.