Mar 15, 2018 - Good financial performances were reported in Auckland, Tauranga, and Taranaki.  Solid financial performances have been reported by the ports of Auckland (PoAL), Tauranga, and Taranaki during the six months to December 31st, 2017, Port Strategy reported.

Mar 14, 2018  - WorkSafe has announced the appointment of Paul Hunt as Chief Inspector Extractives in the High Hazards Unit.

Mar 14, 2018  -  BusinessNZ has welcomed the release of the Tax Working Group background paper The Future of Tax.

Mar 14, 2018  - New Zealand's seasonally adjusted current account deficit widened to $2.0 billion in the December 2017 quarter, Stats NZ said today. The $407 million increase in the deficit was mainly driven by New Zealand importing aircraft and other transport equipment, and crude oil.

Mar 13, 2018  -  Cleaning contractor, ISS has gagged the cleaners at Auckland Meat Processors, to stop them speaking out against cuts to a third of the plant’s cleaning staff.

AMP is owned by Wilson Hellaby which the cleaners have been told is behind the cuts.

Five of the 15-strong cleaning team received letters last week telling them they are now redundant and offering them redeployment options.

The cleaners believe the cuts will compromise hygiene standards at the plant and they want to go public.

However, they have been told not to speak to media, and they fear for their jobs.

Senior Organiser, Len Richards says most of Auckland’s beef supply is processed at the plant and Countdown is its major customer.

“This is a major meat supplier and it’s disgraceful that the cleaners have been muzzled to stop them airing legitimate worries about the safety of these cuts,” says Len.

He says the redundant workers have been offered casual work at the plant which suggests these are not genuine redundancies.

“It seems their real intention is to axe the secure, full-time jobs these workers had and to casualise them, so it can save money on decent conditions like sick leave and holiday pay.

“For this wealthy company to target its lowest paid, most vulnerable workers this way is miserable.”

Other jobs offered to the redundant cleaners are for only up to 25 hours a week, which the cleaners can’t live on.

“This whole episode is disgraceful,” says Len.

“We would urge Wilson Hellaby to advise ISS that the cuts are no longer required and to reinstate these workers.”

| An E tū release   || March 13, 2018   |||

Mar 13, 2018  - Kraft Heinz’s A$290m ($228.25m) acquisition of the food and instant coffee business of Cerebos Gregg's has been conditionally approved by the New Zealand competition authority.

Cerebos Gregg’s is owned by Suntory Beverage & Food, a food and beverage firm operating throughout Australasia.

The Commerce Commission ruled that Kraft Heinz should sell the licenses for the Gregg’s brand of tomato ketchup, steak sauce, barbecue sauce and the F. Whitlock Worcestershire sauce brand over competition concerns.

Heinz Wattie’s, a subsidiary of Kraft Heinz, had applied to New Zealand, Australian and Singaporean competition authorities in last November to buy Cerebos Gregg’s as part of a global transaction.

The Commerce Commission said that its decision was arrived at after mainly considering competition problems in the New Zealand market for the manufacture, import and wholesale supply of several table sauces to retailers and the food service industry.

The deal would not include Cerebos fresh coffee known as Suntory Coffee, a relatively new business unit, targeting the fast growing global fresh coffee market.

Commerce Commission chair Mark Berry said: “We believe the merger of the number one and two wholesale suppliers to supermarkets of red sauce, barbecue sauce, steak sauce and Worcestershire sauce would be likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition in each of these markets.

“However, we consider the divestment offered by Heinz Wattie’s is sufficient to remedy the competitive harm the merger would cause and we have given clearance to the merger subject to the divestment undertaking.”

The Commission also revealed that it is satisfied that are no competition issues in the national markets for Asian sauces, condiments, chilli sauce, soy sauce gravies and powdered beverages caused by the proposed transaction.

It said that this was because of various factors like insignificant levels of overlap and the existence of competitive constraint from other suppliers.

Cerebos Gregg’s supplies sauces under several brands including Gregg’s and F. Whitlock & Sons in New Zealand. The company produces the sauces at its manufacturing facility in Australia.

| A FBR release  ||  march 13, 2018   |||

Mar 12, 2018  - A spokesman for Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker said New Zealand has formally sought an exemption from the tariffs, and while the details are still to be clarified, New Zealand may fall within the flexibility offered to close security partners. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also said ministers …  more

Mar 12, 2018  -  Wellington-based private equity fund Caniwi Capital has purchased Auckland-based Lancer Aluminium, buying exposure to the booming Auckland residential construction market through the firm, which makes aluminium window and door frames.

Mar 12, 2018 - The introduction of more flexible copyright laws could drive greater economic growth and enable New Zealand to capitalise on the shift to a digital economy, according to a new report released at InternetNZ’s NetHui on Copyright today.

Mar 12, 2018  -  Hills has appointed Rick Splinter as enterprise business development manager in New Zealand, as the specialist distributor expands capabilities across the local channel.