Prime Minister Bill English is sticking tightly to his "wait and see" policy. "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves," Mr English observed at one point during his post-cabinet press conference devoted mostly, it seemed, to questions about tax cuts.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/staging-spending-surplus

The New Zealand Shareholders’ Association says Heartland Bank’s $40 million capital raising was grossly unfair to retail investors. The bank raised $20 million from a placement to institutions and $20 million from a share purchase plan for retail investors.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/nzsa-heartland-bank-placement-and-spp-“grossly-unfair”-jr-p-200626

Michael Hill International [NZX:MHJ] cannot rely on successful formulas of the past if it wants to succeed in the future, the jeweller’s new chief executive says. Phil Taylor, who has worked for Michael Hill since 1987 and was promoted chief financial officer in 2003, became chief executive last week. He had been the interim cover since August last year after long-time chief Mike Parsell resigned.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/new-michael-hill-ceo-sets-out-what-needs-change-cs-p-200625

Economic growth data to be released this Thursday is expected to show GDP running slightly lower than the previous quarter but still above the long-term trend. The country’s GDP is expected to have grown about 3.2-3.3%, year on year, to December 2016.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/economy-likely-continue-rh-p-200628

Speeds for fixed wireless broadband are on par with ADSL but drop significantly throughout the day and are far behind VDSL and ultra-fast broadband, according to a study by TrueNet. Fixed wireless delivers internet to a home via a 4G network, which is usually used for mobile phones. It uses radio signals rather than phone lines, cable or fibre, which means it can be affected by weather, local demand from other users, or solid objects in its path.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/fixed-wireless-v-adsl-speeds-what-study-shows-cg-p-200619

The first of a series of crucial elections in Europe will be held in the Netherlands this week and high-polling by an anti-immigrant party could bring a shock result. Most of the attention from outsiders has been on the popularity of the Geert Wilders-led Party for Freedom, or PVV.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/editor’s-insight-dutch-cliffhanger-election-will-test-brexit-factor

Housing market sales and price data for February show prices rising across the country yet the annual pace of house price inflation eased in most districts. The Real Estate Institute’s national house price index for February rose 2.7% from January and was up 10.5% from February last year, down from the 11.7% annual pace in January.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/auckand-house-prices-rebound-february-data-mixed-jr-p-200601

Private equity investors Pioneer Capital and Oriens Capital have taken a 55% stake in the Havelock North Fruit Company which markets the small-sized Rockit apple internationally. They’ve bought out the shares of founder Phil Alison(who has now quit the company) and also provided some new working capital to help expand its global distribution channels.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/node/200597

United Flower Growers (UFG) says its acquisition of Turners & Growers FloraMax flower auction business will streamline the New Zealand market and create more opportunities for flower growers. UFG managing director Bruce O’Brien says it is one of the most significant developments in the history of the country’s flower growing industry.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/flower-auction-business-purchase-provides-industry-focus-and-investment-sl-p-200598

New Zealand’s economy is poised to continue its strong growth in this and next year before slowing in 2020, according to new data from NZIER.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/economic-growth-remain-solid-and-next-year-jw-p-200607