Stocks on Wall Street were mixed as investors awaited a fresh reason to extend the rally, while commodities including oil, gold and copper were boosted on hopes that Chinese demand would remain strong.

Finalising a new transtasman investment agreement is on the agenda in talks between Julia Gillard and John Key.

Allowing the Australian Prime Minister to address NZ's Parliament could undermine its sovereignty, the Greens say.

Scrap metal dealers and exporters say soaring commodity prices are bringing challenges to an industry that's worth $2b a year to the New Zealand economy.

One person has been arrested and four remain on a ship which Greenpeace boarded to prevent it from being unloaded in New Plymouth.

Equities on Wall St were up overnight, lifted by better-than-expected earnings from Exxon Mobil and a pick-up in US consumer spending that surpassed forecasts.

Lunch still for wimps but technology and social change has toned down macho image