Fonterra plans to cut costs and defer some capital expenditure so that an improved dividend can at least partially offset a likely $6b decline in income for the sector.

The industry group DairyNZ estimates that one quarter of dairy farmers will have difficulty paying their bills if Fonterra's reduced farmgate milk price comes to pass.

Fonterra has this morning cut its forecast farmgate milk price payout to its farmers, with its chairman admitted it'll put pressure on farm budgets.

The Government and the Auckland Council are at loggerheads over a start date for the $2.4b underground City Rail Link, and that's only going to add to the cost.

Last Saturday's traffic ordeal highlighted Auckland's vulnerability to complete and protracted gridlock, writes Chris de Freitas. A single crash can bring the core of the city's transport network to its knees.

A Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement could boost New Zealand's agricultural exports to the other partner countries by up to 13 per cent by 2025, the United States Department of Agriculture....

The contrast in fortunes this week between two parts of New Zealand could not have been starker.

Wholemilk powder prices continued to decline while other products showed signs of improvement at this morning’s GlobalDairyTrade auction.

ANZ's commodity price index fell for the ninth month in a row in November, as milk powder prices hit five-year lows.

Falling dairy prices have begun to undermine one of the foundations of the economic upswing, rising national income from the most favourable terms of trade.

Tomorrow will see the last GlobalDairyTrade auction before Fonterra releases its revised farmgate milk price forecast for 2014/15.

It was a tale of two speeches in Auckland yesterday for the Labour Party's new leader..

At a time when commodity producers are enduring a slump in prices for everything, Vietnam's pepper farmers are prospering.

The drop in dairy prices hasn't caused Finance Minister Bill English to rethink his confidence behind the forecast of the government reaching surplus next year.

Fonterra says it had started a consultation process to gauge interest in a proposed equity partnership trust for its farmers.

Global dairy markets have plummeted but New Zealand beef prices have continued to hit record highs, while sheepmeat prices have stayed firm, Rabobank says.

Xi Jinping has gone out of his way to forge a strong personal relationship with John Key on his visit.

Treasury has advised against taxpayer backing for Team New Zealand in the next America's Cup, labelling it "poor value for money".

Dairy farmers should be able to weather a low payout for the current season, thanks to last year's record milk price, but two poor seasons in a row would put the sector under financial stress,....

The a2 Milk Company says it is planning to list in Australia, where most of its earnings come from, in the first quarter of 2015, while maintaining its listing on the NZX.

Fonterra now looks certain to drop its farmgate payout to its farmers, after prices fell in the latest overnight dairy auction.

New Zealand wants to lure thousands of West Australians and expats across the Tasman to fill a nationwide skills shortage.

The Fonterra Shareholders' Fund should be able to raise its 2015 dividend forecast given it expects to pay farmers less for their milk.

Yesterday's Reserve Bank decision to continue keeping a tight rein on residential lending has shattered the dreams of many would-be first-home buyers.

New Zealand is “off track” in transitioning to a low-carbon future amid increasing international pressure to slash emissions, according to a Government briefing.

Private dairy ingredient manufacturer Open Country Dairy has told its suppliers to expect a reduced payout in a range of $4.70 to $4.90 per kg of milksolids for 2014/5.

The Prime Minister recently made two announcements which appear worlds away but are intrinsically linked: making child poverty his priority this term, and attracting skilled people to New Zealand to enable continued economic growth.