Dairy farmers can expect to see a drop in the milk price to around $7 a kg of milk solids .

Australia's PM is feeling widespread anger to his tough Budget first hand - but criticism stepped up a notch when he was caught in a conspiratorial wink yesterday.

The acquisition by French food giant Danone of two New Zealand dairy companies last month signals a new phase in the evolution of the local dairy industry.

I hate Budgets. I lack the financial analytical skills to be able to see through all the smoke and mirrors and for years they were basically boring.

Social security and welfare spending rises $625 million to just under $24 billion. Much of that is down to a $687 million increase in New Zealand Superannuation payments offset by small falls elsewhere.

Tertiary student Chris Wiggins was hoping for a boost for transport in the Budget - and was happy with what was announced.

Police officers have warned "something will break" if their budget is squeezed any further after the Government sliced a little more off their funding.

The Government is putting another $100 million into getting beneficiaries such as solo parents and the sick into work and stopping them ending up on welfare in the long term.

New Zealanders will welcome the family focus of today's Budget, Prime Minister John Key says.

Herald economics editor Brian Fallow gives his thoughts on today's Budget

Inner-city suburbs out of your reach? Maybe not. A new data-crunching tool helps renters to look at how affordable their living situation is when transport cost is factored in.

New Zealand food prices rose in April, snapping two declines, as eggs and dairy products lifted grocery bills in the month.

We face an interesting irony when it comes to applied tertiary education.

The kiwi dollar dropped half a cent after the Reserve Bank governor said the bank may sell the currency should it remain high while export prices weaken.

Westland Milk, the Hokitika-based dairy coop, has received accreditation to export products into China, joining the five manufacturers named yesterday.

Kiwi consumers are less financially stressed than Australians despite rising interest rates, a survey has found.

The Reserve Bank has increased the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 3 per cent this morning.

Editorial: Eighteen months ago, Steven Joyce had a warning for the country's universities saying he was "more than willing" for the Government to be more directive.

New Zealand food prices fell in March as cheaper cakes and candy drove a fall in grocery prices, and offset more expensive meat and produce.

The Middle East remains an untapped business opportunity for exporters as their focus is dominated by booming Asian markets such as China.

Confirmation that the Rolling Stones are rescheduling their concert in Auckland is not just good news for fans. It is good news for the local economy. Here's how.

A substantially lower payout from Fonterra for 2014/15 looks likely after international dairy prices dropped sharply at yesterday's international dairy auction, economists said.

Farmers in the Waikato and parts of Northland say they are battling one of the driest summers in memory.

The headmaster turned up the other day with the local MP. I was sitting down the back of the staffroom.