Northland oyster workers who say they had to stand on one leg with eyes closed and arms outstretched for 10 seconds to get a job have laid a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

The New Zealand sharemarket rose yesterday when many other markets were weak and a large volume was traded in the shares of New Zealand Oil & Gas, the 29 per cent shareholder of Pike River Coal Ltd.

Trading in Pike River Coal shares was suspended and trading in the shares of its biggest shareholder New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG) was halted yesterday as the investment community extended their sympathies and also waited for news.

The Business Herald's executive pay survey shows the number of chief executives being paid more than $1 million jumped from 26 to 32 between 2008 and 2009.