New Zealand Herald Economics editor Brian Fallow gives his expert opinion and analysis from the increase of the OCR and looks ahead to what the Reserve Bank has signaled for the future.

Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler lifted the official cash rate a quarter-point to 2.75 per cent in the first move of a tightening cycle, and signalled potential for a steeper track for future hikes as he tries to prevent inflation accelerating.

Big rises in household power bills are largely because of higher charges from Transpower to recover the cost of recent national grid upgrades, says Prime Minister John Key. Consumers in Wellington and Auckland have recently been told by power companies, including Genesis and Meridian, of big increases in their daily fixed charges which are only partly offset by small decreases in per unit charges.

Retail reporter Christopher Adams talks with Malcolm Rands, chief executive of eco-friendly household products company ecostore.

Founder and owner Eiichi Ishii talks about the creation of Queenstown's world renowned Millbrook golf course.

Air NZ has unveiled a record interim financial result for the first half of the 2014 financial year. The airline says its net profit after tax was $140m - a 40 per cent jump on the same period the year before. Chief executive Christopher Luxon said the hard work of the airline's 11,000 staff had placed the airline in a position where it was able to adapt to a changing economic and competitive environment. A good economic outlook in the airline's 'key revenue markets' was good news, said Luxon, with the airline well placed with new planes arriving soon.

The Government has announced its Genesis share offer will proceed next month but it may sell less than the 49 per cent offered if there is not enough demand from potential buyers in a "front end bookbuild".The Government expects to sell between 30 per cent and 49 per cent of the shares in genesis. When the programme was first mooted, the government said it would offer up to 49 per cent of power companies.

Prime Minister John Key has confirmed the Government will go ahead with the partial privatisation of Genesis Energy over the next month or so but has underlined the sale will be the last one under a National Government.

The minimum wage will go up 50c to $14.25 an hour from April 1 this year, Prime Minister John Key. The increase is ahead of expectations of a 25c rise but remains well short of the $18.80 an hour living wage campaigners say is needed to feed two adults and two children in New Zealand.

Business reporter Hamish Fletcher talks to Rod Drury, chief executive of accounting software maker Xero.

New Zealand suppliers are fearful of speaking to the Commerce Commission about anti-competitive behaviour in case they are blacklisted across the Tasman, Labour MP Shane Jones has claimed in Parliament today.

Business reporter Chris Daniels talks to David Prentice, chief executive of Opus International Consultants.

NZ Herald business reporter Hamish Fletcher interviews PricewaterhouseCoopers NZ chief executive Bruce Hassall about the latest Global CEO survey.

Supermarket giant Countdown - already facing a consumer backlash over its Australian parent's ban on New Zealand products - is accused of blackmailing New Zealand suppliers into paying to keep their products on its shelves.

A new online anti-gambling lobby group has released its first commercial in the US, as part of a big campaign warning of the dangers of legalised internet gambling.

Fair Play on Fees lawyer Andrew Hooker explains the latest legal action taken against major New Zealand banks ASB, Westpac and BNZ. (supplied)

Footage of the arrival of the first direct flight from Guangzhou into the South Island this week. 228 Chinese visitors were flown here to celebrate Chinese New Year and marked the first time a Dreamliner has flown commercially to Christchurch, highlighting the increasing numbers of Chinese visitors choosing the South Island over the north.

In the carmaker's third-quarter ad to introduce its K900 luxury sedan, Laurence Fishburne reprises his Matrix role as Morpheus and displays some surprising operatic skills.

Rising inflationary pressures exacerbated by accelerating building activity pose a threat to New Zealand's economic growth and warrant a return to more normal interest rates, Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler says. The economy has been expanding beyond its potential growth rate for "some time" and inflationary pressures are beginning to appear, particularly in the construction sector where resources are being reallocated to deal with the Canterbury rebuild and Auckland housing construction

Watch Budweiser's Super Bowl XLVIII commercial following the special friendship between the Clydesdales and a puppy.

A Boeing 777 requires a team of up to 30 people for a full strip-and-repaint project, which is turned around in just 12 to 13 days.See this time lapse video of a Boeing 777-200 being stripped and re-painted in the Emirates paint hangar in Dubai.

The world's first woolen running shoe that doesn't require socks, and fights smell.

Careers author and speaker Tom O’Neil explains why having a personal brand is vital in today’s job market.

As part of Career14, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman answers questions about his career and the Green’s policies on jobs and employment.

Labour leader David Cunliffe has set out a policy to give most parents of new born babies a payment of $60 a week until that baby turns one, while those on middle and lower incomes will continue to receive the payment until the child turns three. In his State of the Nation address, Mr Cunliffe also set out a raft of other measures for parents of young children, including free antenatal classes for all first time mothers, and extending early childhood education subsidies from 20 free hours a week to 25 hours.

Labour leader David Cunliffe has set out a policy to give most parents of new born babies a payment of $60 a week until that baby turns one, while those on middle and lower incomes will continue to receive the payment until the child turns three.

Prime Minister John Key this morning hinted that National is working on its own legislation to extend paid parental leave but for a shorter period than the 26 weeks Labour is pushing for.

As part of Career14 Herald careers editor Greg Fleming sat down with Labour leader David Cunliffe to learn a little more about his own career and his vision for jobs and employment as we enter election year.

As part of Career14 Herald careers editor Greg Fleming sat down with Labour leader David Cunliffe to learn a little more about his own career and his vision for jobs and employment as we enter election year.

As part of Career14 Herald careers editor Greg Fleming sat down with PM John Key to learn a little more about his own career and his vision for jobs and employment as we enter election year. Interviews with Labour leader David Cunliffe and Green’s co-leader Russel Norman will run later this week.