Best of Business

A weaker dollar's helping commodity prices.
ANZ’s Commodity Price Index hit a record high in March, rising 6.4% as the dollar weakened 2.8%.
Global prices rose 4.1% – the second-highest monthly rise on record.
BusinessNZ CEO Katherine Rich told Mike Hosking on the surface, higher prices look positive for exporters, but they're also facing much higher costs.
She says the weaker dollar boosts export return but also makes imports more expensive.
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One expert says it's important Auckland makes the most of what it has in terms of infrastructure, rather than daydreaming about future mega-projects.
Infrastructure New Zealand is calling for more investment in Auckland's transport woes in order to boost the city's productivity.
CEO Nick Leggett says Auckland needs to unlock the right tools to make the most of the city - and said a congestion charge is needed to fund more infrastructure.
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The average sheep and beef farm is forecast to make double what they did last year - according to new projections.
The Mid-Season Update by Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Economic Service is forecasting an average profit before tax for 2025-26 of $287,600 per farm, following two difficult seasons for the sector.
The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.
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There's no surprise regional flights are some of the first on the chopping block for Air New Zealand.
The airline says rising jet fuel prices are making it cut about four percent of flights, including many for Tauranga and Nelson.
Affected customers will be told this week - and most put on same-day alternative flights.
It axed more than a thousand flights in March.
Airports Association chief executive, Billie Moore, says it's not just about reducing fuel costs.
"One return flight to New York, for instance, would use the same amount of fuel as 170 return flights to New Plymouth. So this is about broad commercial optimisation."
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A push for policymakers to veer away from an outright social media ban for under-16s.
A select committee inquiry's recommending tightening rules on content, advertising and algorithms, and limits for young users.
Social media giant Meta wants stronger protections prioritised over age bans.
Waikato University Cyber Law lecturer Rachel Tan says a duty of care model would address harms better.
"If this is a statutory duty of care, it legally imposes an obligation onto these platforms to actually act."
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