Scoop Auckland: Oil Slick Stretches From Rena; Booms To Protect Beaches

Commerce Commission: Issue Paper On High Speed Broadband Demand-Side Study
The Commerce Commission has today released the last of three issues papers relating to the uptake of high speed broadband ahead of The Future with High Speed Broadband: Opportunities for New Zealand conference to be held on 20 and 21 February 2012 in Auckland. More>>

Environment: Forest & Bird Launches Updated Best Fish Guide
Forest & Bird today launched the latest edition of its Best Fish Guide to help New Zealanders choose seafood that is sustainably fished and to ensure we can always put fresh fish on our tables. More>>

ALSO:

• Seafood Industry Council - Campaign document masquerades as Consumer Guide
• Environment and Conservation Organisations of NZ - Quota Management System no guarantee of sustainability
• 2008 image Greenpeace NZ - Greenpeace launch Red Fish List for New Zealand

Auckland.Scoop: Stores Halving The Price Of Milk This Month
“Milk is a basic household commodity and should be available to all New Zealand consumers, not just those who can afford it,” says Nosh Director Clinton Beuvink. More>>

ALSO:

• Nosh - Nosh milk price stand gains momentum
• Federated Farmers - The milk wars come to New Zealand (in one place)
• Scoop Business - Foodstuffs scotches talk of milk price war
• TV3 Video - Nosh slashes the price of milk

Scoop Business: NZ 4Q Wage Inflation Speeds In Private Sector
New Zealand wage inflation accelerated for private sector workers and slowed for public servants in the fourth quarter, leaving overall labour costs benign enough to ensure the central bank keeps interest rates low. More>>

ALSO:

• Statistics NZ - Wage rate growth steady at 2.0 percent
• First Union - Low wages driving inequality
• Moyle Consulting - Boards continue a restrained stance on pay
• NZ Fabian Society - Lecture: Income inequality - what we do about it
• PSA - Catching up with Australia just got harder

New Creatures: Supergiant Amphipods Emerges From Ocean Depths
A recent expedition to one of the deepest places on Earth has discovered one of the most enigmatic creatures in the deep sea: the ‘supergiant’ amphipod. More>>

Scoop Business: Treasury Cuts 2013 GDP Forecast To 3%, Citing Global Outlook
The Treasury has lowered its forecast for economic growth for 2013, citing volatile and more expensive global credit markets and the likely impact on commodity prices of a weaker global economy. More>>

ALSO:

• Labour - Treasury BIM exposes National’s shortcomings
• Greens - BIMs back Greens’ call for charge for irrigation water
• Tertiary Education Union - Treasury wants education for the few not the many
• Export NZ - Treasury briefing sound and orthodox advice

Wellington.Scoop: Feds Say Cameron’s Purchase Unlocks A “Titanic Opportunity”
With James Cameron stating to the Overseas Investment Office that he not only intends to make New Zealand home, but that he intends to farm the two Wairarapa properties he has purchased, Federated Farmers believes it unlocks a titanic opportunity. More>>

ALSO:

• Land Information NZ - LINZ Decisions: James Cameron Purchasing Wairarapa Farms
• Wellington.Scoop - Huge potential for creating wetlands in Wairarapa
• TV3 Video - Cameron's NZ move under fire - Cameron stepped right in to this one

Scoop Business: Lombard Directors Acted With Honesty, Integrity: Defence
The directors of Lombard Finance & Investments acted with honesty and integrity, using the best information they had available to them, according to the defence counsel. More>>

ALSO:

• Scoop Business - Crown adopted ‘divide and conquer’ tactic in Lombard case

Scoop Business: NZ Dollar Reaches New High v Euro, 4½-Month High v US
The New Zealand dollar rose to a new high against the euro and touched a 4 ½-month high versus the greenback as the nation’s resilient economy and relatively appealing interest rates lured investors in the face of mixed global signals. More>>

Even More Endangered: Maui's Dolphin Mortality
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) believes that a dolphin reported accidentally killed by a set net off the coast of Taranaki was likely a Maui's dolphin. More>>

ALSO:

• Greens - Government must act to protect Maui’s dolphin
• Seafood Industry Council - Fishers take reporting responsibility seriously
• WWF-NZ - Maui’s death in set net takes species closer to extinction
• Forest And Bird - Maui’s dolphin death avoidable
• 2009 image Carolyn Meers - NZ on Brink of Losing Maui's Dolphins to Extinction

Air NZ: Rob Fyfe To Resign As CEO
Chairman John Palmer says Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe this morning confirmed this will be his last year at the helm of the national carrier. More>>

ALSO:

• Scoop Business - Fyfe to leave Air NZ at end of year, ahead of selldown
• Labour - Fyfe leads Air New Zealand to greatness
• TV3 Video - Air NZ's Rob Fyfe 'excited' with uncertain future

Scoop Business: NZ Building Consents Fell To Record Low In 2011
New Zealand building consents fell to a record low in 2011, underlining a slump in activity that has hurt earnings at construction firms including Fletcher Building. More>>

ALSO:

• Statistics NZ - Building consents up in December, down in 2011 year - Filled jobs remain steady

Scoop Business: Interest Rates On Hold
The Reserve Bank today left the Official Cash Rate (OCR) unchanged at 2.5 percent. Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard said: “Since the time of the December Statement , financial market sentiment has improved slightly, with increased liquidity in European More>>>

• Reserve Bank - NZ has capacity to weather shocks
• Business.Scoop - Bollard says rising interest rates, looming construction boom
• Business.Scoop - Kiwi climbs 0.7% as Bollard backs off jawboning currency and OCR unchanged at 2.5 percent
• RBNZ Observer - On hold for a while yet
• NZMEA - RBNZ Must Respond to Quantitative Easing
• Rates - ASB Cuts Fixed Home Loan Interest Rates

Fonterra Unbroken: Govt Recommends More Transparent Milk
Among the measures touted is an increase in volume of what Fonterra has to make available to its competitors, and more comprehensive transparency of how the dairy exporter sets its prices. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Consultation on milk pricing, raw milk regulations
• Federated Farmers - Turning off the taps of regulated raw milk
• Business.Scoop: Govt deaf to Fonterra cries over spilt milk
• Federated Farmers Changes to dairy regulation won’t make milk cheaper

Scoop Business: Record Travel Week, Says Auckland Airport
Auckland International Airport, the nation’s largest gateway, has experienced record international travel demand for the week ended Jan. 8. More>>

Scoop Business: NZ Dollar Gains Near 3-Month High As Europe Debt Fears Ease
The New Zealand dollar rose near a three-month high as a European Union meeting of finance chiefs quelled investors’ concerns about the region’s sovereign indebtedness amid speculation policymakers will make progress towards a deal to prevent a Greek default. More>>

ALSO:

• Scoop Business - While you were sleeping: Focus on euro meeting

23/1: Kiwi To Nudge Higher This Week
he New Zealand dollar’s direction this week is likely to be dominated by talks between Greece and private creditors about a debt swap plan needed to prevent the country from default and the Reserve Bank’s official cash ...More >>

Also:

• Scoop Business - World Week Ahead: Euro Talks, US Earnings

Kiwi IT Firm Optimizer HQ Lists On German Stock Exchange
Optimizer HQ, a New Zealand web design agency, has successfully begun trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Founded in 2003, the Auckland-based company listed on the Deutsche Boerse on Nov. 30 at 10 euro cents per share, and rose to 40 cents within six hours.More >>

ALSO:

• Impact PR - Kiwi IT Firm Joins Top NZ Companies on German Stock Exchange

Scoop Business: Legal Challenge Looms If Chinese Win Crafar Farms
The Overseas Investment Office faces an unprecedented public examination of its process if it approves the bid by China’s Shanghai Pengxin Corporation for the 16 farms formerly run by the Crafar family. More>>

ALSO:

• Scoop Business - COMMENT: OIO judicial review threat not a moment too soon - HK authorities add third defendant to Crafar fraud case
• Crafar Farms Purchase Group - Crafar Farms for Judicial Review?

Inflation: Prices Fall In December
The consumers price index (CPI) fell 0.3 percent. • The main downward contribution came from the food group (down 2.2 percent), reflecting lower prices for vegetables • Communication prices fell 3.5 percent, reflecting lower Internet charges and international phone calling rates. More>>

ALSO:

• Scoop Business - Kiwi drops as NZ annual inflation suddenly slows to 1.8% - NZ job ads fall as Christchurch rebuild gets pushed out - Summer puts NZ consumers in a good mood - Crappy summer boosts artificial tans at sunscreens’ expense
• CTU - CPI increase still leaves need for big wages catch up
• Statistics NZ - Canterbury international guest nights drive November fall
• REINZ - Strong Finish For Real Estate Sales in December 2011

Baby Animals: LO-V Against The Odds
A young kākā chick runt at ZEALANDIA - once presumed so close to death his nest-minders had a body bag ready for him - has delighted conservationists at the ecosanctuary by hanging on to life - with some sisterly help from his nestmates! More>>

ALSO:

• Auckland.Scoop - Pic: Giraffe born at Auckland Zoo – mother and baby doing well

Scoop Business: Kiwibank Buys Gareth Morgan Investments
State-owned lender Kiwibank has extended its mark in the funds management business with the acquisition of high profile KiwiSaver funds manager, Gareth Morgan Investments. More>>

ALSO:

• Scoop Business - Kiwibank sixth biggest in KiwiSaver with Gareth Morgan buy

Funds And Games: Harbour Asset Lobs Bomb At Fund Managers’ Performance Fees
Harbour Asset Management has thrown a grenade into the murky world of managed funds’ performance fee structures, saying New Zealand funds managers seriously lag behind best practice and need to lift their game. More>>

Conservation: Kakapo Found Dead
The death of a male kakapo on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island has brought disappointment to the Kakapo Recovery team, as it faces a year without any breeding. More>>

ALSO:

• 2005 image Department of Conservation - Kakapo breeding season - update

Rena Cleanup: Focus On Wildlife Needed
No effort should be spared to clean up the oil and debris from the Rena as the toll on wildlife continues to rise, Forest & Bird said Tuesday. More>>

ALSO:

• Maritime NZ - Rena update #170 - resumption of container removal - Rena media update for Wednesday 18 January - Bags of debris heli-lifted from Rena - Rena update - Tuesday 17 January -8.00 am
• Bay of Plenty Regional Council - Bay of Plenty boaties advised to be aware
• Coastguard - Coastguard Takes Learnings from Italian Cruise Ship Accident
• Image Auckland.Scoop - Rena Coverage