Apr 19: The eradication of Callaghan Innovation’s controversial Growth Grants in favour of a rules-based R&D tax incentive is a major victory for taxpayers, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Apr 18 -  News Hub reported that the Environmental Protection Authority's decision to grant a marine consent to mine iron ore from the Taranaki seabed is being challenged in court.

Apr 18 -  New Pacific parliamentarians were in Wellington last week to gain insights into effectively navigating the Westminster system of government in their respective nations.

Zespri Group have said that corporate revenue from the 2018 allocation of the Gold3 license release will be $190 to $195 million, or around $253,000-to-$260,000 per hectare, a figure that is up on the prior year.

New Zealand's kiwifruit exporter said in a release: The range is the combined revenue estimate resulting from 700 hectares of Gold3 licence, and 50 hectares of Gold3 Organic new development licence, both released under a closed tender bid mechanism. The validation process for all bids is still ongoing and all bidders will be notified of their outcome from May 1.

In the prior year, Zespri awarded 400 hectares of Gold3 licence, generating corporate revenue of $98.2 million, or around $245,500 a hectare.

For both the 2017 and 2018 Gold3 tender processes, Zespri has not provided deferred payment terms, and therefore the invoice amount for this release is due to be fully received by Zespri by the end of July 2018. A decision by the board on the payment of an interim dividend in relation to these licence proceeds will likely occur in July.

According to sharechat.co.nz, the Gold3 or SunGold variety has proven popular as it is more resistant to the Pseudomonas syringae pv actinadiae bacteria, better known as PSA.

{ A FreshPlaza release }  ||  April 18, 2018   |||

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Apr 17 - The International Monetary Fund gave an optimistic opinion on New Zealand's economic outlook, with the pace of growth seen staying around 3 percent, and says the strong Crown books offer enough headroom to meet the needs of an expanding population

The report, ‘Beyond commodities: Manufacturing into the future’ released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment provides great insight into New Zealand’s manufacturing sector, showing the value it brings to our economy, the potential it holds for future growth and the challenges it faces.

Apr 17 - A comprehensive report on New Zealand’s manufacturing sector signals some of the strengths and challenges facing the sector at present.

Apr 17 -  Twenty-seven years after the Porter Project recommended New Zealand should pursue a "clusters" strategy to develop its manufacturing base, a government study of the manufacturing sector has found there are "few economically significant manufacturing clusters in New Zealand".

A new aquatic centre, upgrades to stormwater systems and the estuarine environment, and the possibility of providing dechlorinated water stations are three of the projects to be considered under Napier City Council’s 2018-2028 Long Term Plan (LTP).

Apr 17 - Fletcher Building has unveiled a $1.25 billion refinancing plan to strengthen its balance sheet after extending talks with US noteholders over a breach of its lending conditions