Business

Changes could add unnecessary cost to mergers and acquisitions, while undermining investor confidence, a prominent law firm says.

The job cuts follow already flagged plans to cut the US online retail and cloud computing giant's workforce by 14,000 posts.

Free Speech Union says the proposed changes will open the back door to encrypted communications channels, but the tech industry says the horse has already bolted.

Their union says problems with Air New Zealand's planes and services are creating extra headaches for staff at 38,000 feet.

Ikea says it's hiring an extra 85 staff for logistics and food services, and adding evening shifts for stock replenishment.

Te Kauwhata is set to lose its well supported postal service at the end of the year. Audio

Since December, three Hutt Valley bars have been targeted in similar ways and police say the crimes may be linked. Audio

Single older people are bearing the brunt of rising prices, and women may be particularly hard hit.

Inflation data for the December quarter came in stronger than expected, prompting questions about whether interest rates might have to start to rise again earlier than expected.