Environment court cases halve, will Fed trump Wheeler, Xero still a dilemma

In today's print edition: Approval for major infrastructure projects has shifted in recent years, with new Environment Court cases almost halving. The trend is troubling senior legal practitioners, who warn boards of inquiry that are taking on some of the work do so within compressed timeframes and often with fewer specialist skills. In today’s NBR Print Edition court reporter Victoria Young asks what’s next for the process as another round of RMA reform looms.

Xero’s share price [NZX:XRO] has been generating plenty of discussions around water coolers and investment forums this week. Many are asking: Does Xero’s current share price represent an attractive entry point for a stock that has reached such dizzying heights before? Tempting for some no doubt but looking at where a share has been before is by no means a foolproof investment strategy. Shoeshine assesses the current sentiment surrounding the NZX’s premier tech stock.

The economy goes into another adjustment cycle over coming weeks as global financial market nervousness continues and the impact of lower dairy prices become clearer. Economics editor Rob Hosking previews two important policy decisions next week – the US Federal Reserve’s end to quantitative easing and the RBNZ’s interest rate review.

Is corporate welfare Steven Joyce’s soft spot or blind spot? As someone who got his own business going without any government support, discussions about business subsidies are what the Economic Development Minister says he is attracted to. Which is precisely where the argument begins. Jamie Ball reports.

Exactly a year ago there was a flurry of news stories about the dire state of the New Zealand film industry, which was variously described as “on the brink of crisis,” “in crisis” and “dying.” How things have quickly changed. Nick Grant documents the screen sector upswing.

If the idiom is true that "he who pays the piper calls the tune," could it be that most economic research institutes in New Zealand are leading the rest of us on a merry dance? Jamie Ball takes a bird’s eye view of an industry that some are calling guns for hire.

The Warehouse Group [NZX:WHS] is expanding its reach as a financial services provider by launching own-brand credit cards, with the potential to offer mortgages and financial advice in future. Business reporter Calida Smylie talks to CEO Mark Powell about the opportunities and challenges this move brings.

Having failed to stop the global financial crisis, US regulators now run a massive state-sponsored extortion racket. Guest commentator Roger Bowden.

Software, health and agritech are the hot areas in New Zealand’s high-tech industry, according to TIN100 publisher Greg Shanahan. Technology editor Chris Keall canvasses this year’s big movers, including Orion Health, soon to list on the NZX, which jumped from 14 to 8 as its revenue rose from $122 million in 2013 to $153 million. Another health sector contender, F&P Healthcare [NZX:FPH], had the fastest revenue growth of any TIN100 company.

Some brokers are backing Fletcher Building [NZX:FBU] to deliver improved returns to shareholders based on an expected earnings recovery next year. Property editor Chris Hutching looks at the key take outs from this week’s annual shareholders’ meeting.

Briefly:

• The China effect is now as embedded in world markets as Wall Street is, writes Nevil Gbison in Margin Call
• Rodney Hide on why we have become a nation of crybabies
• Ad Media reporter Campbell Gibson talks to Peter Biggs

All this and more in today’s National Business Review. Out now.