New Zealand Presentation

Submitted by Trent

Social media yet to conquer all

When it comes to using social media for marketing, it's a fair guess that technology companies are in there boots and all. 

Yet a survey of 150 New Zealand high-tech outfits suggests they're not all great believers in the marketing power of social media.

Link (submitted by Trent)

Over-65s crowd teens out of market

Employers opting for more experience as 40,000 youngsters get squeezed out 

Old people have displaced more than 40,000 teenagers from jobs in the past five years as more choose to stay on in the workforce and employers shun youth for experience.

Link (submitted by Trent)

Gradual recovery likely for NZ

Muddling through Europe's sovereign debt issues looks to be the likeliest outcome this year, but a global financial crisis is still only a mis-step away, says ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley. 

"Our expectation is that New Zealand will continue with its gradual recovery, on the assumption Europe avoids triggering a global financial meltdown," he said in the bank's latest quarterly forecasts.

Link (submitted by Trent)

Govt bail-out of Otago unlikely: PM

The Otago Rugby Football Union will cease trading on Friday, saddled with debts of more than $2.2 million, with no ability to repay them. 

The union's annual meeting last night heard the union had posted a loss last year of $862,000, and may not be able to field a team in this year's ITM Cup.

Link (submitted by Trent)

Aftershocks will delay Christchurch rebuild

"The pre-Christmas aftershocks will delay the rebuilding of Christchurch by a few months, the Reserve Bank believes. 

Governor Alan Bollard, in a speech to the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce yesterday, said the bank expected a gradual lift in activity over 2012, including demolition and repairs to housing and infrastructure, but that it would be next year before reconstruction got under way in earnest. By 2014 and 2015 it will be boosting economic activity by more than 1.5 per cent a year, the bank forecasts."

Link (submitted by Trent)

Bikes bring more money than wood from Rotorua forest

"The economic value of mountainbiking in Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Forest has been estimated at five times its annual timber revenue and looks set to increase as promotions raise awareness of what is on offer. 

A study by Crown Research Institute Scion shows the median annual recreational value of mountainbikers using the forest is $10.2 million - well above the $4.6 million earned through export revenues."

Link (submitted by Trent)