What if the authorities had swiped some of the money in my bank account, in the cause of keeping the bank open for business, writes Brian Fallow.

The New Zealand and Australian dollars were knocked lower yesterday after data showed China's economic recovery stumbled in the first quarter.

The labour market is showing signs of warming up - but new graduates and trainees still face a tough battle for work.

Payroll clerks have joined tradesmen as the most sought-after workers in the country because of the Novopay crisis, an international recruiting agency says.

The New Zealand dollar has continued its rally, topping 86 US cents and charting a new record on a trade-weighted basis.

Finance Minister Bill English used a pre-Budget speech to say the Government will act to curb rising house prices which represent a risk to New Zealand's economic recovery.

The New Zealand dollar ran hot again yesterday, hitting another post-float high on its Trade-Weighted Index (TWI) and raising the possibility of overt Reserve Bank intervention to bring it back down.

Next month's Budget will show the Government remains on track to return to surplus in 2014/15, but Finance Minister Bill English signalled yesterday that that would not herald a loosening of the fiscal reins.

The number of New Zealand house sales rose to a six-year high last month and prices touched a new record.

The Government remains on track to return to surplus by 2014/15 but its current "firm" control on spending will continue beyond that date.

Young people are overlooking the agricultural technology sector as a viable, well-paid career option, says Gallagher.

Auckland's economy grew by 2.8 per cent last year, ahead of its 10-year average and powered by finance, professional services and

Kiwi business people will have to be smart. Australia, for instance, is now facing strong competition in the hard commodities space from Africa.