Is the Govt really getting double the amount of dividends from its sold down power companies?

Dr Juliet Newson's job as a geothermal reservoir modelling engineer at Contact Energy has her harnessing computer power to visualise the underground steam resources of the Wairakei area.

The size of the deficit distracts from a more meaningful question: what should government spending and taxes be as a fraction of the national income?

We might never see a CGT in this country, which could well be a good thing given the compromises that would likely be part of its introduction, writes Mark Lister.

David Chaplin on insurance company 'churn' or the shifting of clients to different providers for commission.

Successful people don't put things off. Instead, as much as possible they finish what they've started.

Fran O'Sullivan asks: Why is the Government holding back from stopping cashed-up foreigners from continuing to snap up homes at prices that mainly they can afford?

Tech blogger Juha Saarinen on Vodafone turning off Twitter and Facebook SMS messages without warning.

It would be a stretch to suggest trading rooms will fall silent tomorrow afternoon when Finance Minister Bill English enters Parliament to deliver his seventh Budget.

The David Ross effect came into play again last week Sovereign hived off its remnant investment business.

Debbie Mayo-Smith reminds readers of five simple lessons to help improve sales including the power of silence.

When planning for the future seems just too hard, we all need a way to put it in focus.

For people other than residential property investors, Thursday's Budget is expected to be a nickel-and-dime affair, writes Brian Fallow.

The Government has surprised the market with a stronger than expected move on property tax, writes Liam Dann.

The Auckland residential property boom has developed some of the characteristics of the Dublin bubble a decade ago, writes Brian Gaynor.

Whatever lies ahead, your best bet is to avoid any position in which you have to sell - mortgagee sale or not, advises Mary Holm.

Advocates for global mode and open internet access are undermining local content and the survival of the New Zealand production industry, writes John Drinnan.

Learning how to budget is one of the most valuable skills you can teach your teenagers, writes Diana Clement.

Jock Anderson on Blues rugby player George Moala's recent discharge without conviction as an example of a two-tier justice system.

When Graeme Wheeler introduced the Reserve Bank's new rules for property investment in Auckland, he said that it was only one tool to manage the housing crisis.

Auckland house prices climbed 9.5 per cent in just the last three months, according to the Real Estate Institute - an alarming number, Brian Fallow writes.

To raise unspoiled children, discuss financial issues openly, says new book.

Increase a brazen move when Sky's prices are already an issue and we are in the first days of a competitive pay TV market, writes John Drinnan.

Dampening highly geared speculators' appetite for the Auckland cash-box housing market got the thumbs up from many quarters yesterday.

The Reserve Bank has abandoned its one-size-fits-all approach to loan-to-value ratio curbs recognising house price inflation is an Auckland problem.

No other advanced economy in the world would allow almost all of its banking system to be owned overseas, writes Paul Glass. "Let's require the big four banks to list 25 per cent of just their NZ operations on the NZ Stock Exchange."

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye toyed with the idea of issuing a ministerial direction to make it abundantly clear to the board of directors just who is in the box seat when it comes to funding policies.

David Chaplin says the Reserve Bank has made a heroic attempt to hose down the smouldering Auckland property market.

Economics editor Brian Fallow says today's Reserve Bank move is crude, ad hoc and temporary - but it buys some time.

It's that time of year when we start to hear many of the business commentators debate the sharemarket adage "sell in May and go away".