As students look to next year, the Herald begins a week-long investigation into why so many are leaving school without the skills they need.

It hasn't been a good six months for the country economically, but the signs of renewal are there, says business editor Liam Dann.

Survey shows Aucklanders don't think it's a good time to buy a home, but mood in regions remains buoyant.

The Government has reinstated plans to allocate a percentage of the houses at Hobsonville Point in Auckland as affordable homes priced under $485,000.

When budgeting for healthcare, more money is never enough, writes Dita De Boni. Even Minister of Health Tony Ryall seems powerless to stem the tide of sickliness that will eventually bankrupt the country.

Paying for professional development can feel like pumping money into a black hole. The resulting benefits to a business, however, can be huge.

Solid Energy's Stockton opencast mine machinery operators have rejected a proposed shift change, despite management warning the mine's future is in jeopardy.

In the wake of the grim news about factory closures and lay-offs over recent months, the unemployment figures were only to be expected, writes Bryan Gould.

DaVinci Institute founder says action needed as 2 billion roles will go in digitised world.

Kiwi fans of The Hobbit are critical of the Government's and even director Sir Peter Jackson's role in the film trilogy's industrial relations dispute, a survey shows.

Reserve Bank eyes tools to help prevent booms and busts that devastate household and bank balance sheets.

New business innovation institute will be named after the late Sir Paul Callaghan.

A rise in household incomes that is greater than the average house price rise makes recent real estate market buoyancy unsurprising, says Bill English.

Seasonal falls in vegetable prices took the food price index down 0.6pc last month.

New online job ad listings were down last month, according to a major New Zealand employment website.

Optimism and shock over dire jobs news no excuse for Govt inaction.

The median house price in New Zealand rose to a record $380,000 last month as sales jumped by almost a third compared to October 2011, according to new figures.

The worst jobless rate so far this millennium only adds to the evidence that the economy has lost momentum since mid-year.