Lower oil prices mean the less efficient carriers with older aircraft than Air New Zealand are back in the game, writes Grant Bradley.

The NZ dollar hit 97.07 Australian cents overnight with some analysts saying there is nothing to stop it pushing higher to parity.

The NZ dollar has touched a fresh record against the Aussie, after Federal Reserve meeting minutes suggested officials may favour keeping US interest rates lower for longer.

A global war between two corporate crocodiles is again being waged in New Zealand, with fashion companies fighting today over the right to use a famous reptilian logo on clothing here.

Dairy prices posted their fifth consecutive gain at this morning’s GlobalDairyTrade auction.

'Economists make forecasts," said the late, great, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, "not because they know, but because they are asked."

ANZ said it expects dairy prices to continue this year's firming trend at tomorrow's GlobalDairyTrade auction.

Catherine Beard writes: Those questioning the value of free trade agreements could do well to examine the results achieved by New Zealand's other agreements.

The boss of a local fund manager has welcomed efforts by the country's financial regulator to crack down on market manipulation.

Having chugged along through the financial crisis, China's huge expansion in debt now threatens to destabilise the economy.

The NZ dollar has edged closer to its record against the Australian dollar overnight - briefly touching 96.29 Australian cents this morning.

Ports of Auckland has won a huge victory allowing it to use more of the Waitemata Harbour to park cars after Auckland councillors yesterday caved in on tough rules for reclamation.

Labour's leadership contest roadshow carried less of a punch to the taxpayer's wallet than the last runoff in 2013, according to newly released list of MPs' expenses.

Dairy prices spiked higher at this morning's GlobalDairyTrade (GDT) auction, the GDT price index gaining 9.4 per cent since the last sale on January 21.

NZ commodity prices fell in January, extending their 12-month slide to about 19 per cent, led by casein, wool, beef and aluminium.

If New Zealand Cabinet ministers really, really want to notch up the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) they could change tack.