A telemarketing company which switched broadband customers to Slingshot without their consent has been fined almost $170,000.

A one-year ban instituted by Russia on food imports from the West could hurt NZ's dairy trade, even though local exports are exempt, say economists.

The South China Morning Post's editors have a sense of humour: "New Zealand MP Winston Peters accused of racism over Wong joke" was the headline.

Auckland infant formula maker New Image says it is "getting back into production" for the Chinese market now it has finally received clearance to export its products.

Falling dairy prices could weigh on the NZ dollar and help push the currency as low as US80c against the greenback by the end of this year, says an analyst.

Dairy product prices slumped to the lowest level since October 2012 in the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction, paced by whole milk powder and cheddar.

Cheap imported carbon credits comprised 99.5 per cent of the units New Zealand emitters used to meet their obligations under the emissions trading scheme last year.

Commodity prices fell for a fifth straight month, led by whole milk powder, reflecting a build-up of inventory in China and strong local milk production.

Oil prices in New York have tumbled to their lowest level since mid-March helped by unplanned refinery shutdowns in the US midwest.

Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin confirmed it is aiming to buy a $70 million North Island farm, which would be second-largest foreign purchase of New Zealand land.

Fine wines, controversial French delicacies and a protected species of fish have all been slapped on the taxpayers' tab by government ministers.