Today
New Zealand eyes breaking its supermarket duopoly
The local unit of Woolworths and Foodstuffs New Zealand have a stranglehold on the grocery sector, which has been blamed for high prices.
NZ fresh produce giant tempts Aussie agribusiness investors
The travails at T&G Global spell opportunity for Australia’s big players, which have been battling for larger slices of the sector.
This Month
How the Hawke’s Bay wine region weathered its most challenging year
AFR’s wine writer discovers a tale of two vineyards and a remarkable comeback story in the wake of the 2023 Cyclone Gabrielle floods.
14 venture capitalists unpack the year ahead
More than a dozen of the country’s biggest tech investors say floats will return, there’s no AI bubble, and Donald Trump may be good news for local firms.
CANZUK: An idea whose time has come
For a decade, a formal alliance of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and UK, was treated as a worthy idea, but not urgent. Then came the second Donald Trump term.
Sell-off could worsen; Cannon-Brookes’ jet conflict; Myer’s big changes
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
New Zealanders are emigrating in record numbers
The country’s economy is in a rut, which helps explain why 15 per cent of its population is in Australia.
ASX dives 1.6pc; Tariffs ‘entirely unjustified’; The threat worse than tariffs
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
NZ Reserve Bank governor resigns as nation tries to shake off recession
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand was unable to explain why Adrian Orr abruptly quit on Wednesday in Wellington with three years still to run in his second five-year term.
Country Road sales, profit crushed amid restructure
Fashion retailer Country Road’s profit plunged more than 70 per cent due to weak sales, higher operating costs and a split from department store David Jones.
February
Albanese accused of soft-pedalling on Chinese navy drills
Australian air traffic controllers only learnt of Chinese navy live-firing exercise thanks to a Virgin Australia pilot flying over the Tasman Sea.
China slams Australia for ‘hyping up’ live-fire drills in Tasman Sea
The defence ministry has hit back at Australia’s response to its naval exercises off the east coast, labelling Canberra’s protests as “unreasonable”.
NZ ‘monitoring’ live-fire drills by China in international waters
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was unclear where the Chinese naval vessels were headed in international waters and for what purpose.
Transurban looks to NZ, US after $15m interim net loss
The toll road group would consider opportunities with “right partners, right structures” in New Zealand after legal costs ate into interim profits.
Supercheap owner’s shares tumble as first-half profit sinks
The stock fell nearly 14 per cent on Thursday after revealing net profit fell 9 per cent to $130 million – well below market expectations.
Fewer babies: a2 Milk targets China’s growing grey population
The infant formula and fresh milk maker will pay a maiden dividend of 8.5¢ a share after it lifted its sale and earnings outlook for the year.
Chemist Warehouse scores $34b pay day in ASX debut
The founders were on hand as the retailer made its sharemarket debut on Thursday via Sigma, with plans to expand in Australia and globally.
New Zealand ‘blindsided’ by Cook Islands-China deal
New Zealand, along with Australia and the United States, have become increasingly concerned about China’s growing presence in the Pacific region.
New Zealand changes ‘golden visa’ to lure wealthy migrants
The government has come up with two options to encourage high net worth individuals to live and invest in the country.
January
Is it time for investors to pile back into the beaten-up $A?
Citi believes the US dollar is primed for a pullback given Donald Trump’s more measured approach to tariffs. That’s good news for the beaten-up Aussie dollar.