BASKETBALL: New Zealand upset France on Friday (NZT) 82-70 to slide into third spot in their pool and book a date with Russia next Tuesday morning (NZT). The Tall Blacks had already secured themselves a spot in the final 16 before the start of this match but a win by 12 points or more would see them take third and miss having to face the in-form host nation, Turkey. Kirk Penney continued his top scoring form with 25 points followed by Mika Vukona with 15, shooting at an impressive 92 percent... more>

ARTS: Wanaka photographer, Camilla Stoddart, has earned a place in the final of the prestigious Red Bull Illume photography awards. Not only is she the only New Zealander, she is also the only female in the 50 finalists, chosen from over 22,000 submissions to the globally renowned action sports photography awards. Her image of BASE jumper, Josie Symons, leaping off a cliff at the Rob Roy Glacier near Lake Wanaka was one of five chosen for the ‘Wings’ category of the competition, one... more>

SKILLS: Managers believe young employees need to increase their confidence, take greater responsibility and use their initiative more to succeed in the workplace, according to a recent Outward Bound survey. Outward Bound Chief Executive, Trevor Taylor, said over 70 managers from businesses around the country took part in the survey. The results are being used by the organisation to design a new course to help managers develop young employees. “The survey findings showed that 85 per cent... more>

CLIMATE: As the deadline for submissions on Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee’s Draft Energy Strategy draws to a close (at 5pm Thursday), Greenpeace is telling the Government that it is not too late to embrace the global Clean Energy revolution – in fact the timing’s perfect. “It is clear from Mr Brownlee’s energy strategy, which reads like a love letter to fossil fuels - he even once described coal as ‘sexy - that he has missed the fact that we... more>

Article - Businesswire New Plymouth District offers premium to mop up Tasman Farms minoritiesSept. 2 (BusinessDesk) - New Plymouth District Council is offering to acquire the shares in Tasman Farms Ltd. that it doesn’t already own as the operator of dairy farms in Tasmania prepares to delist from the Unlisted platform.The council, which holds about 78% of Tasman, is offering $1 apiece for the remaining shares. The stock last traded at 71 cents on Unlisted.The corporate dairy farmers... more>

Article - Businesswire MARKET CLOSE: NZ stock rose buoyed by offshore sentiment; ING, FPH and APN lead gainsBy Jason KruppSept. 2 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand stocks rose for the second time in three sessions, as buoyant Asian and Australian markets helped maintain investor risk appetite on the domestic front. ING Property Trust, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp. and APN News & Media Ltd. paced gainers on the day.The NZX 50 rose 5.4 points, or 0.2%, to 3084.5. Within the index... more>

New Zealand Government IMF confirms Govt's prudent approach to debt A new International Monetary Fund report confirms Government measures to control debt have left us well placed compared with other developed countries, Finance Minister Bill English says. An IMF staff report, released overnight, puts New Zealand among a group of five countries – out of 23 advanced economies - that have the most fiscal room to deal with future unexpected shocks."When we came into Government we... more>

Article - Businesswire Big Three womens’ mag publishers become Big Two By Pattrick Smellie Sept. 1 (BusinessDesk) – Australian-owned rivals APN News & Media Ltd. and ACP Media Ltd. have become virtually equal forces in the battle for the woman’s magazine reader, after another Aussie publisher, Pacific Magazines, sold its key womens’ titles to APN. Publisher of the New Zealand Herald newspaper, APN will double its share of the womens’ magazine market in... more>

Article - Businesswire Farming Systems recommends Olam’s 70 cents/share offerBy Paul McBethSept. 2 (BusinessDesk) – NZ Farming Systems Uruguay Ltd.’s directors have recommended Olam International Ltd.’s takeover bid, which values the dairy farm developer at $171 million.Farming Systems’ chairman John Parker said the increased offer, which is now in the independent adviser report’s valuation range, and assurances that Singapore-based Olam will be able to provide funding helped sway... more>

Article - Businesswire Pyne Gould’s Perpetual unit in talks to buy Aegis WRAP platform from ASBSept. 2 (BusinessDesk) – Pyne Gould Corp.’s Perpetual Group is in talks to acquire ASB Bank’s Aegis WRAP platform. No price was given in their statement.“Aegis is the leading WRAP platform in NZ with Funds under Administration of over $5 billion, an extensive client base and a strong financial track record,” said PGC’s chief executive Jeff Greenslade. “For Perpetual, a customer of Aegis since... more>