A sharp decline in whole milk powder prices looks likely at the twice-monthly GlobalDairyTrade auction on Thursday, with futures market pricing suggesting a drop of about 8 per cent.

Investment expert Mark Lister looks at whether our "rock star economy" is headed for recession.

A tourism leader has branded the Government's new travel tax as ludicrous and hypocrisy.

The prices eased in the first sale of the new 2015/16 season as demand weakened.

"It's pretty negative, there's a lot of selling in the futures and there's not much buying - this market looks completely stuffed."

Business confidence has fallen to a three-year low, led by regions like Waikato, Canterbury and Southland particularly exposed to the dairy sector.

Silver Fern Farms says the group agitating for change at New Zealand's biggest meat processor has misled shareholders.

There's so much milk flowing out of US cows these days that some is ending up in dirt pits because dairies can't find buyers.

Disgruntled Alliance Group shareholders say they hope to have the support from the 5 per cent of their number required to force a special meeting to discuss the potential benefits.

The price for NZ's key dairy export, whole milk powder, is set to decline further at tonight's GlobalDairyTrade auction.

Trade Minister Tim Groser says TPP talks should soon pick up steam, with negotiators preparing to put their real cards on the table.

Low dairy prices have not dampened demand for palm kernel - a supplementary feed which has the effect of "turbo-charging" milk production.

Silver Fern has enlisted the services of investment bank Goldman Sachs to advise it on possible equity raising options as it seeks to reduce debt.

Prime Minister John Key says overseas markets are causing high prices for milk at home.

Heinz Wattie and Hawkes Bay fruitgrowers have lined up against what they say would be a relaxation of New Zealand's anti-dumping regime if Government proposals go ahead.

For the month of May, New Zealand had a trade surplus of $350 million, beating expectations for a $100 million deficit.

The drop in the New Zealand dollar has enabled local video games producer to focus on expansion and growing its workforce.

The TPP trade pact does not yet include an acceptable deal on access for NZ's most important exports, dairy products, with little more than a month to go before the controversial 12- nation trade deal could be concluded.

A device that sends text messages to a farmer when a cow is about to give birth is now available in New Zealand.

Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler and exporters alike will be taking some comfort from the devaluation of the NZ dollar and analysts are calling it lower still.

The fate of the TPP trade and investment pact may be known as early as next Wednesday, after a vote endorsed the elusive 'fast-track authority' for Obama.

A second interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank next month is now a done deal and a third is increasingly on the cards before the year is out.

New Zealand earned $8.6 billion less from the rest of the world through trade and investment in the year to March than the rest of the world earned from us.

Dairy prices eased at the latest GlobalDairyTrade (GDT) auction but the sale gave away little on where the market, and interest rates, will go in the months ahead.

A fresh herb grower has confirmed its Italian parsley, which was stocked by two New World supermarkets in the Auckland region, has tested positive for listeria.

Lambs born after the airfreighting of 900 pregnant ewes to a businessman’s Saudi farm suffered an extremely high death rate, it has been claimed.

Silver Fern shareholders are seeking to force a special meeting to discuss the benefits of a merger with Alliance Group.

The account surplus was larger-than-expected in the first quarter as spending by tourists widened the services balance.