Tuesday, January 12, 2010

BookIt, an online company based in Dunedin, has been purchased by TradeMe.

The company supplies online booking software for the travel and tourism industry, and has three full-time Dunedin-based employees.

Business co-founder Ryan Baker describes the sale as a major coup.

Baker says TradeMe was a particularly good fit, as it shared the director's vision about how to take the business to the next level.

Two of BookIt's employees will remain in Dunedin, while the other relocates to Wellington to be based at TradeMe's head office.


Monday, January 11, 2010

Dunedin real estate values are faring well, according to the latest statistics to be released by Quotable Value New Zealand.

Dunedin values rose 4.9% during 2009, topped only by Auckland's 5.1% increase.

Christchurch and Wellington also had a reasonable rise of 4.6%, while Tauranga recorded a tiny 0.1% increase.

Dunedin's rise takes the average sale price to over $276,000


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Dunedin Police are urging store employees to be vigilant as thieves target credit cards.

Store employees in the Meridian Mall and the Golden Centre have reported their credit cards have been stolen from their bags.

Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken says one of the stolen cards has been used to make a purchase, and police are continuing their enquiries.

Aitken encourages all employees to keep their personal possessions in a secure area.


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Next year Shanghai will host the World Expo between May and October.

The Expo will include 185 countries, and is expected to be attended by 70,000,000 people.

With the Expo presenting immense trade and networking opportunities, the Otago Chamber of Commerce is calling on Dunedin businesses to register interest in attending the event.


Friday, December 18, 2009

Anecdotal evidence suggests Dunedin shoppers are once again leaving their holiday shopping to the last minute.

Otago Chamber of Commerce CEO John Christie says it's similar to previous years, with people obviously delaying Christmas shopping, as they usually do.

Christie expects town to be very busy next week, which will give a true indication of how the year compares to others, for the retail sector.

He believes 2010 will be an improvement on 2009, and thinks that'll be due to the build up to large events, including the Rugby World Cup.


Thursday, December 17, 2009

The process of deciding on a potential merger between Port Otago and Lyttleton Port of Christchurch is about to reach another stage.

An independent report looking into the proposed merger is to be in the hands of directors within the next week, however the contents of the report are to remain confidential.

Speaking to 9 Local News today, Port Otago CEO Geoff Plunket would not give an indication of Port Otago's intentions, but said the board would need time to consider the findings of the report.

In Lyttleton Port's annual report, Chairman Rodger Fischer was quoted as saying 'that amalgamation is crucial for the long-term viability of New Zealand ports'.


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Statistics New Zealand has announced local authorities recorded a smaller operating deficit in the September quarter, compared to the previous quarter.

The deficit this quarter is $30.9 million less than the June 2009 quarter deficit of $100.8 million.

Operating revenue also increased, while operating expenditure decreased, according to data collated by Government statisticians.

A Statistics New Zealand spokesperson told 9 Local News, figures pertaining specifically to Dunedin authorities are yet to be made available.


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Yesterday, Finance Minister Bill English announced that the effects of the global recession were having less of an effect than forecasts had predicted.

While the light at the end of the tunnel may be shining a bit brighter, a local commerce official says Dunedin's economy, like New Zealand's, still has some work to do to come out the other side.


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The economic downturn in New Zealand is likely to result in more suicides, and slowing of health improvements among Maori and Pacific Islanders and lower socio-economic groups, according to a University of Otago study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

The article, written by Professor Tony Blakely and Dr Melissa McLeod of Otago University's Wellington campus, bases predictions on both international studies and research on the impacts of structural reforms in New Zealand, during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Blakely says the current recession might impact on health through unemployment, lowered incomes, and reorganisation of health and social policies in the face of funding constraints.


Friday, December 11, 2009

Credit rating agency, Standard & Poor's, has affirmed the Dunedin City Council's credit rating as double A, and has labelled its outlook as 'stable'.

The agency noted that the DCC's credit quality is underpinned by its track record of strong management and fiscal discipline, and benefits from minimum legal limitations in regard to increasing its property taxes.

In reviewing the Council's long-term plan, Standard & Poor's observed that although debt levels are forecast to increase upon the commencement of a number of new projects, they also expect that large shortfalls in capital spending will occur. Hence, the peak debt level may be lower and delayed.


Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Reserve Bank chose not to change the Official Cash Rate in today's six-weekly review.

Forsyth Barr investment advisor Tony Conroy says investor focus was on the review's accompanying statement, which dropped the previous insistence on rates remaining at current levels until late 2010.

According to Conroy, the statement took a lighter stance, effectively stating that rates may need to rise sooner than previously predicted due to the economy picking up earlier than expected.


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Retail workers are urging Members of Parliament to exercise their conscience votes in favour of family and community life and not commerce, as a vote on a Bill aimed at opening shops on Easter Sunday is to be made sometime today.

Margaret Dornan, a worker at Farmers and Vice President of the National Distribution Union, said that retail workers already have very little family time, and this Bill would make it worse.

National MP Todd McClay’s Bill, if passed, would hand power to councils to decide whether shops in the area should trade on Easter Sunday.

Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin says the Council would not comment on a possible revision to the DCC's stance on Easter trading until any potential changes became law.

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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

A project to restore Larnach’s tomb at Dunedin’s Northern Cemetery has been given a major boost from the Otago Community Trust.

The Trust has donated $75,000 to the Historic Cemeteries Conservation Trust for the restoration of the famous tomb, which has suffered from many years of vandalism and neglect.

Moer than $250,000 has been given to 25 organisations throughout Otago, in the November funding round.

Other major donations included $30,000 to Dunedin Women’s Refuge, and $35,000 for the second annual Careers Festival.


Monday, December 7, 2009

A celebration of Dunedin achieving Fair Trade City status will be held tomorrow afternoon at the University of Otago.

Wellington and Dunedin are the first New Zealand cities to achieve the status.

Chair of the Dunedin Fair Trade Steering Committee, Karla Boluk, hopes the status will motivate other New Zealand cities into action.

A representative from the Fair Trade Association Australia and New Zealand will be presenting an award to the Fair Trade Steering Committee, School of Business, and Dunedin City Council.


Friday, December 4, 2009

The Forsyth Barr Kiwisaver Scheme was announced as the inaugural winner of the People’s Choice KiwiSaver Communications Award for 2009, at last night's Workplace Savings NZ Awards.

The award was the only category of the that allowed the public to vote.

Voters were asked to select the provider who they felt had cut through the legislative requirements to provide meaningful and relevant information.

Forsyth Barr's KiwiSaver specialist, Gordon Tucker, is delighted by the award.

He says KiwiSaver can be complex, therefore it's important for providers to communicate in a way that will be understandable, consistent and effective.