The town of Ashhurst, northeast of Palmerston North, is using its own currency as a way of stimulating discussion about the local economy. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Wall Street moved higher, as did US Treasuries and gold, as investors remained upbeat about the outlook but also stocked up on more defensive assets.

COMMENT: Eight years since Mr English was handed the fiscal reins is plenty of time to build a legacy.

New Zealand business confidence rose a tad in December, led by an upbeat construction sector although tighter credit conditions continued to weigh.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has a rigorous approach to stress testing banks, with some devastating scenarios put to bankers.

The BusinessNZ-BNZ performance of services index rose 1.3 points to 57.9 in November, still above the long-term average of 54.1.

New Zealand consumer confidence posted its biggest lift in four years as rural communities were more upbeat after gains in dairy prices

Christmas spending is shaping up to be strong across the country.

Finance Minister Steven Joyce outlines his attitude to Auckland's woes, Super Fund and tax.

Annual economic growth is expected to accelerate to 3.7 per cent from 3.6 per cent.

Less than half of young renters voted at the last election, and more than 90 per cent of property owners over the age of 50 voted.

WATCH: One of the world's biggest cruise ships - which arrives in NZ next week - will be the star of cruise season.

DHBs paid $1.5 million to senior doctors for additional duties arising from junior colleagues' strike.

COMMENT: The annual reports show a mixed year for Government-owned commercial companies.

New Zealand consumer confidence slipped from a 19-month high this month while remaining relatively upbeat.

Wall Street climbed, a day after the Federal Reserve signalled a steeper path for interest rate increases.

US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen's announcement of an official rate hike marked a significant milestone for the world's financial markets.

The end of an economic era may have occurred yesterday.

WATCH THE ECONOMY HUB: Liam Dann and Jamie Gray discuss the implications of this morning's US Federal Reserve rate hike.

NZ homeowners will be looking to US Federal Reserve which is expected to lift interest rates today.

What happens to the Australian economy when the construction sector dries up?

Uncertainty is forcing businesses to make a hard choice: Stick it out, or hit the road.

A crackdown on tax-dodging multinationals could be on its way if measures outlined in a recent cabinet discussion paper are taken on board by the government. The document was obtained exclusively by NZ Herald investigations reporter Matt Nippert who joins Tristram Clayton to discuss what measures the government could take.

The quake struck just after midnight on November 14, causing massive fault line ruptures and slips, damaging buildings and closing key roads.

UNCOVERED: One worker revealed that he worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week for six months, earning just $5 an hour.

Wall Street climbed to fresh records, again, while US Treasuries slid.

COMMENT: The potential for political change always brings uncertainty, Mark Lister writes.

The Government is planning unilateral action to crack down on tax dodging by multinational companies.

A fifth of share milkers who responded to a Federated Farmers survey said they were coming under pressure from their bank on their

International investment giant Vanguard has launched a new ethical fund which excludes tobacco and cluster bombs for NZ investors.