If the issue of inequality and poverty is to loom large in this election year there are a couple of cherished beliefs on both sides of politics that need to surrender to evidence, writes Brian Fallow.

There is a huge amount riding on just how the West deals with Putin's incursion, with the Ukraine merely a pawn in the Russian president's geopolitical chess game, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

The short answer is yes, KiwiSaver is taxed. But taxation isn't the only difference between saving through KiwiSaver and the cash-deposit options.

The economy is not suddenly perfect just because the economic cycle has turned for the better, writes Liam Dann. There is still serious work to be done,

The Government has given itself a tight timetable for the Genesis Energy float...

Even as John Key was reiterating his pig-headed refusal to address the long-term affordability of the state pension, the NZ Superannuation Fund reported on its performance, writes Brian Fallow.

Liam Dann asks: "Is the Government decision to sell as little as 30 per cent of Genesis a back down or just pragmatism? That probably depends exactly where you sit on the political divide."

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.

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.

At the end of a long, hot silly season, the corporate reporting season - which kicks off this week - comes as welcome relief for followers of business news.

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 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.

I'm considering signing my kids up for KiwiSaver, in part to get the $1000 kickstart but will also make regular contributions.

Well, this was supposed to be the quirky, light-hearted year-ender column, full of whimsical reflections on the big business events of 2013.

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.