How easy it is to access KiwiSaver funds on financial hardship grounds?

It might be worth $23 billion because it's the new app the cool kids are using but I can confirm WhatsApp has already lost some of its street cred, writes Liam Dann. I've signed up.

While the sharemarket has been overloaded with a raft of company financial reports this week, the fixed interest market has had a flurry of its own announcements.

Brian Fallow asks :Does the electricity market entrench the ripping off of consumers? Would replacing it with a single buyer model address the issue of energy hardship among some households?"

Travelling the world as a New Zealand businessperson can be a heartening exercise, says Mark Lowndes.

Anyone who has followed progress on this site (or lack of it) probably has good cause for remaining sceptical, at least until the diggers turn up, writes Liam Dann.

Tempted to buy Nurofen? Don't be. Ibuprofen, the exact same active ingredient, costs less than half. It just doesn't have the brand recognition.

Migration is a big deal in the New Zealand economy, writes Brian Fallow. In such a small, open and mobile country changes in the net flow of permanent and long-term migrants are a major influence on the economic cycle.

The global financial crisis is far from over and the underlying problems that gave rise to it remain unsolved, says Lord King.

The economic benefits from the Trans Pacific Partnership, if it eventuates, are seriously overstated and may well be outweighed by the costs, writes Brian Fallow.

Abbott has asked Key to ensure NZ concentrates its efforts on trade and relationships with the Pacific, writes Fran O'Sullivan. NZ is also roped into the B20 (business initiative).

The more energy efficient your business, the lower your energy spend. Reduced cost, improved bottom line. It's so obvious, writes Greg Visser.

I am 56 years old and still work full time, but I have not yet joined KiwiSaver.

The Reserve Bank is announcing its OCR decision this morning. Brian Fallow looks at whether interest rates need to rise as high as they did in the last cycle.

The plain fact is that in industry after industry, Australians have a longer stride, writes Brian Fallow. As long as that remains true, they will outpace us and the gap in incomes and living standards will widen.

Asked about the KiwiSaver myths he has heard most often, Mercer's NZ managing director Martin Lewington comes up with five off the top of his head.

The economic omens for New Zealand this year are good.

John Key will probably get in a few more rounds of golf in Maui before he returns to New Zealand to get his election year planning under way in earnest.

So should we look on the TPP with hope or dread? Impossible to say until we know what "it" is, writes Brian Fallow. It doesn't help that these meetings are conducted with all the secrecy of a papal election.

Auditor-General Lyn Provost is keeping a watching brief on Auckland Council chief executive Doug McKay's review of Mayor Len Brown's possible use of council resources.

Australia's automotive and aviation industries appear to be on the brink of collapse, writes Liam Dann. Holden is considering pulling its manufacturing operations out of the lucky country.

Borrowers need to be aware that current market pricing implies a rise in interest rates of around 2 percentage points over the next two years, writes Brian Fallow.

If there's any compromises that have to be made to persuade native birds to become urbanised, it's surely time for humans to do the bending, writes Brian Rudman.

Trade, trade facilitation, productive investment and movement of labour will be on the agenda and NZ will be able to play a constructive role, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Liam Dann considers the extremely difficult diplomatic position NZ could face this century as China grows in economic strength and asserts its political muscle.

Air New Zealand has frequently been a political football for politicians of all stripes.

There's never been a better time to be a journalist or a news junkie, writes Liam Dann.

'Not really such a great idea" is senior actuary Geoff Rashbrooke's verdict on Peter Dunne's Flexi-Super proposal. writes Brian Fallow.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown made a reasonable fist of fronting up to key Auckland businesspeople yesterday at the Herald's annual Project Auckland luncheon.