Rotorua Lakes Council has launched a major campaign to convince Aucklanders to abandon the rat race and move to Rotorua to live and work.

The New Zealand dollar extended its gains after stronger-than-expected third-quarter inflation and dairy auction.

International dairy prices improved slightly at this morning's Global Dairy Trade auction, gaining by 1.4 per cent since the last sale early this month.

More than 520 new jobs and $111 million of capital investment could be pumped into Tauranga by prospective new businesses.

The New Zealand dollar rose ahead of tonight's GlobalDairyTrade auction amid expectations prices will rise.

Median weekly earnings in Hawke's Bay are surging ahead of other North Island regions.

Bad weather takes its toll on New Zealand milk production at a time when it should be hitting a seasonal peak.

COMMENT: Low interest rates make even big home loans affordable - at least for now.

BIG READ: Artificial intelligence is being touted as the biggest potential advance in our history.

Bill English announced a bigger surplus than expected as a growing economy underpinned by population delivered a bigger tax take than anticipated.

Groceries were cheaper in September, impacted by cheaper bananas, lamb and chicken.

The New Zealand dollar fell to a two-month low as investors see a likely win by Hillary Clinton in the US presidential campaign.

Cruise ships coming to Napier Port are on the up, with 10 more expected this season. Local businesses are expected to reap the benefits with nearly 100,000 passengers expected to visit. Made with funding from NZ on Air.

The kiwi rose to 57.78 British pence at 8:30am in Wellington from 57.56 pence.

New Zealand commodity prices rose for a fifth month in September, driven by dairy.

Watch NZH Focus: The days of Kiwis heading to the UK could be numbered as the British Government announces a crack-down on visas for students and skilled workers.

The decline is the first in five auctions.

Businesses were more optimistic about the state of the economy and their own activity in September.

Residents living within industrial earshot of Napier Port may be in for quieter times after the port and its neighbours negotiated

I WROTE a letter to my main bro' John Key about his rock star economy a while ago, and the reality of the regions mostly being about

The New Zealand dollar rose as the nation's relatively robust economy and relatively high interest rates made it a standout as risk appetite abates ahead of today's US presidential debate.

The kiwi dropped to 72.28 US cents as at 8am in Wellington.

The New Zealand dollar rose after the US Federal Reserve held off raising interest rates.

Chinese farmers have taken over formerly white-owned farms for the first time, investing millions of pounds into tobacco production.

Dairy farmers have endured one of their worst ever years, but Fonterra is set to report one of its best.

Watch NZH Focus: Liam Dann talks to Tristram Clayton about whether we're better off as our economy is performing well and about why stock markets are freaking out.

COMMENT: New Zealand's economy has grown by 3.6 per cent in the past year, one of the top performers in the OECD - ahead of Australia, the US and UK.

New Zealand's latest GDP stats are out - and thanks to building and construction, tourism and immigration, growth is highest in the Western world - but is it all good news? Graphics: Phil Welch

Building, tourism and immigration are pushing the economy up.