Dita De Boni wonders whether a food stamp scheme for those on low incomes could work in New Zealand.

The NZ dollar is recovering this morning after a sharp fall yesterday.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples has reacted with horror to new figures showing Maori out of work is up from 14.2pc to 16.4pc.

Pressure is going on the Reserve Bank to stop hiking interest rates, after today's surprise jump in the unemployment rate.

New Zealand's unemployment rate surged back to a 10-year high in the last quarter, rising from 6 per cent to 6.8 per cent, a leap which surprised analysts.

Salaries and wages are going up slowly, with a small rise in the June quarter showing employment is barely picking up.

Andrew Little writes that changes to laws that take away workers' rights are unfair and unjust.

The Government has announced plans to extend the 90 Day Trial scheme to incorporate more workplaces, reports TVNZ.

The NZ dollar peeked above US71c for the first time since late June as good economic data from the US and Australia restored faith in the global economic recovery.

Californians don't see much evidence of the recession coming to an end anytime soon.