New Zealand (NZ) stories
Wider definitions of retention money could expose principals, head contractors and directors to fines of up to NZD $200,000 under the bill.
Property values rose 1.4% nationally in September, but activity is easing as tighter lending and higher rates weigh on buyers.
Higher mortgage costs are unlikely to deter first-time buyers while rents keep climbing and remain above many monthly loan repayments.
The rollout begins in Auckland hospitals and for travellers, as ministers face criticism for delaying quicker Covid detection by over a year.
Compact New Zealand construction sites are gaining safer, faster handling as rotating telehandlers replace multiple machines and cut transport times.
Property groups warn the proposal could let well-funded firms seek cuts, leaving the most vulnerable tenants with less support.
Small businesses facing COVID-19 revenue shocks are being urged to seek wage subsidies, tax relief and rent negotiations to stay afloat.
Tenants could face higher rents and fewer homes as landlords lose interest deductibility from Friday, industry figures warn.
Overcrowded emergency housing is increasingly being linked to new infections as officials warn the delta variant is spreading among vulnerable groups.
Property values have surged nationwide, leaving first-home buyers facing tougher affordability as almost every New Zealand suburb gained at least 10%.
Small firms are turning lockdown downtime into new services, digital events and broader product ranges to aid recovery.
Construction firms in Auckland face a 57% drop in jobs created as lockdowns, border closures and supply shocks squeeze margins.
Businesses facing port delays will gain extra freight capacity as KiwiRail adds a weekday Auckland-Christchurch service from early October.
Consumer demand for stylish smart switches has put three Schneider Electric PDL products among finalists at New Zealand's Best Design Awards.
Housing pressure is driving New Zealand's first large-scale build-to-rent scheme, with 295 apartments planned for Sylvia Park in Auckland.
Clear, up-to-date Covid-19 protocols have helped construction firms keep working safely through Alert Level changes, industry leaders say.
Better-fitting masks could sharply reduce Covid-19 transmission, with experts urging mandatory N95s for border and quarantine workers.
A further NZD $150m in funding will help Auckland developers meet surging demand, with some homes already sold off-plan to waiting buyers.
Homeowners face higher rebuild insurance bills as labour and materials shortages pushed residential construction costs up 2.2% in June.
Hospitals, banks and other essential services face rising disruption as attackers exploit cloud blind spots and lean security teams.
