The average property value has risen to nearly eight times the annual household income, putting homeownership out of reach for more New Zealanders.

The government’s wage subsidies bill has passed $1.2 billion and the payout is supporting 838,000 employees, 117,000 self-employed people and 242,000 businesses.

Spring has sprung at the same time as level 4, forcing Auckland’s flower growers to bin months of their work.

Kiwi bank and ANZ along with New Zealand Post, Inland Revenue and Metservice all experienced blacks-out due to a cyber-attack earlier today.

Consumer complaints about insurance and financial services have increased in the past year, most being unsuccessful because consumers didn’t read the fine print.

Synlait, based in Canterbury, has about 1000 workers and expected to reduce its headcount by about 15 percent, which would deliver potential annual savings of $10 million to $12m.

The $17 million programme, aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of New Zealand’s beef cattle, is 60 percent funded by Beef and Lamb NZ, the government covering the remainder.

Beauty and wellness companies are cashing in on Covid-19 as video calling makes people much more self-conscious about how they look.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will today spell out how some Auckland factories can restart under level 4 to help prevent a freeze on housing construction.