Sovereign says it plans to mitigate impending tax increases by shaving as much as 15 per cent from the commissions received by advisers.

Auckland socialite Amanda Hotchin has clearly never heard - or possibly even cares about - the Marie Antoinette syndrome.

The government's description of the leaky building issue as a "natural disaster of huge proportions" is both a clever device and a dangerous precedent.

Mark Bryers this week faces sentencing for 31 offences related to the collapse of his Blue Chip empire - with one investor saying only jail will do.

There is little incentive for NZ capital market participants to adopt a principled approach because our laws are poorly enforced and unethical behaviour is often well rewarded.

Property prices and sales fell in April, but the New Zealand residential property market is holding steady, says the Real Estate Institute.