NEW YORK (AP) ” Toyota is turning to a sporty hatchback and a low-cost sedan to restore some hipness ” and sales ” to its youth-oriented Scion brand.If it snags a few baby boomers along the way, so be it.The brand, started in…
Japan tankan survey: businesses wary, spending plans flat
TOKYO (AP) ” Japanese businesses remain wary over the outlook for the world’s No. 3 economy and generally plan to reduce capital investment, according to a central bank survey released Wednesday.The Bank of Japan’s quarterly “tankan”…
$175m South Auckland retirement village planned
Retirement village owner and operator Metlifecare has a deal to buy part of the Manukau Golf Course from Fletcher Living for a new $175 million village for the elderly.Alan Edwards, Metlifecare chief executive, said the acquisition…
Air NZ labelled 'Air Auckland' in Christchurch
Air New Zealand is facing a backlash in Christchurch after announcing it was canning summer flights to Japan.This will mean the airline will no longer have any long-haul services from Christchurch where the airport and local authorities…
Green $400m family feud back in court
The eldest daughter of the late businessman Hugh Green wants no appointments made to two trusts while she waits for a High Court decision in a battle over his $400 million fortune.Green died, aged 80, in 2012 and had been awarded…
Fran O'Sullivan: Plan to can middle-men milking parents
A major disruptive play will be launched in the Chinese baby formula market in Beijing today which could ultimately have a big impact – some say seismic – on the price paid for imported product by driving it down through online sales…
Datacom wins big Australian health contract
Auckland based IT company Datacom has won a $248 million contract with Australia’s Department of Health.The deal will see Datacom supply ICT infrastructure and support services to the Australian Government, in a win that followed…
Justice Winkelmann promoted to Court of Appeal
Justice Helen Winkelmann has been promoted to the Court of Appeal and her colleague Justice Geoffrey Venning is now the new Chief High Court Judge.Attorney-General Chris Finlayson announced the appointments yesterday afternoon.A…
Council asks Ports of Auckland to halt wharf extensions
Auckland Council has formally asked Ports of Auckland to halt construction of two massive wharf extensions.At a meeting today, Mr Brown said council chief executive Stephen Town had written a letter to Auckland Council Investments…
Low-cost airlines often high stress for pilots
Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot who last week steered a Germanwings flight into a mountainside, had a history of depression so debilitating that he left his pilot training program for six months in the late 2000s, according to Germany’s…