Munchers may have noticed some slight changes in the taste of one of NZ's favourite chocolate bars.

The iconic Girl Guide biscuits are undergoing testing after complaints that this year's batch is not up to standard.

These days, it's the developing countries that run the trade surpluses and end up exporting capital to the modern economies.

Manufacturing sales volumes rose 3.1 per cent in the December quarter, led by meat and dairy and other food-related industries.

Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz unit, the world's second-largest maker of luxury cars, will almost double investment on "green" technologies to take on BMW in the race to offer electric vehicles.

The Bluff oyster season opened yesterday with a healthy catch, though supply to northern regions this week may be restricted because of bad weather.

There's been a suprise trade surplus of $269 million in January- the biggest for the month since 1989.