Auckland desk

Filed from the Auckland desk — including multi-city pieces that also ran elsewhere.

Business · 29 September 2026

Christchurch Mayor Announces ‘Market‑First’ Plan to Tame Airbnb Surge

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

Christchurch’s mayor vows to let the market decide which short‑term rentals survive, sparking a debate about whether the city is swapping hostels for high‑end ski resorts.

Business · 29 September 2026

Wānaka’s New Housing Sprint: 100+ Homes Get Green Light, but the Timeline Remains a Marathon

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

A new housing project near Wānaka has received a fast‑track green light, promising 300 homes over ten years in five stages. The plan has sparked both optimism and skepticism among locals and investors alike.

Business · 29 September 2026

Treasury's Book Reveal Prompts Cheery Bankers, Slightly Confused Taxpayers

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

Economists from Westpac, ANZ and ASB say the latest Treasury books look a tad stronger, but the real drama unfolds in the parking lot where road cones are being stacked like a hedgehog’s breakfast.

Business · 29 September 2026

Mackenzie Mayors Flush Out Toilet Misery as Visitors Skirt Paid Loo

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

Visitors to Mackenzie District are evading paid toilets, dumping messes in the back, forcing council contractors to clean up. The mayor laments the rising excrement costs.

Business · 28 September 2026

Lodestone Targets $100 M in First NZX Float Since 2021

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

Solar‑energy firm Lodestone plans a $100 million IPO to fund new farms and a retail push, marking New Zealand’s first big float in two years. In typical Kiwi fashion, the company’s plans raise more questions than…

Business · 28 September 2026

Synlait’s Dairy‑Dramatic Dip: $75.4m Loss Leaves Milk Market Milk‑shaken

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

Synlait’s recent earnings revealed a $75.4m loss, prompting the company to turn to a South Island resurgence, farmer sweeteners and Chinese backing for a return to profit. The milk‑minded market watches on, wondering…

Business · 28 September 2026

Fisher Funds Flounders While Global Markets Swoop – A Tale of Two Underperformers

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

Two Fisher Funds’ listed managed vehicles posted sharp losses against a 30.5% benchmark, even as international markets surged.

Business · 28 September 2026

Seymour Backs Off on Supermarket Splits, Calls Party Talk ‘Unethical’

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

ACT's leader David Seymour has dismissed coalition promises to break up New Zealand’s supermarket duopoly as ‘unethical’, sparking a debate about the future of grocery pricing and market competition.

$Good Girls Property Management fined for 20 tenancy infractions, landlords may need to read the book again$

Business · 28 September 2026

Good Girls Property Management fined for 20 tenancy infractions, landlords may need to read the book again

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

The New Zealand Property Tribunal slapped Good Girls Property Management with a hefty fine after it failed to comply with tenancy laws across 20 units. The case highlights a growing trend of lax landlords and the need…