Exclusive wealth club invests in NZ, David Parker’s Google crusade and Eroad’s IPO under pressure

An exclusive syndicate of foreign high net worth investors are plugging money into New Zealand busineses through a secretive investing syndicate.

Business reporter Calida Smylie reveals in today’s NBR Print Edition the key players behind Seraph, an “angel” venture capital model touting its wares downunder.

Meanwhile, Chinese applicants now make up almost half of those wanting to join Kim Dotcom and Donghua Liu in New Zealand’s elite investor class residency scheme. Reporter Victoria Young explores this trend and others emerging from figures obtained under the Official Information Act.

With the Labour Party going into the election repeating its two “third rail” policies of 2011, political reporter Rob Hosking corners finance spokeman David Parker to talk about this attack plan amid the party’s falling polls.

Also, Order Paper raises a curly one: Should Winston Peters be leading Labour?

In an exclusive report, NBR’s Nathan Smith reveals US Republicans have stepped into the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks – sending a blunt letter to US trade officials demonstrating the American influence in the negotiations.

Shoeshine looks at the upcoming Eroad IPO following a disappointing IkeGPS listing this week and says it is time to take the blinkers off when it comes to the valuations many tech companies are selling at.

Technology editor Chris Keall reports on the latest sibling rivarly between Telecom and Chorus over broadband plans. What seemed like a cunning plan could backfire.

Doing business in China is the focus of our special feature this week and it is clear the golden years for the world’s biggest market are far from over. But with the rewards come risk. Topics include intellectual property, banking, trading tips and how to tame the tiger without getting mauled.

In Property this week, Chris Hutching covers a privately-funded Queenstown convention centre plan gaining support from hotel- developing Auckland-based Safari Group.

Briefly:

• Sir Roger Douglas concludes his three-part series on essential reforms to local government
• AdMedia’s Campbell Gibson interviews DDB’s new creative officer – ad land superstar Damon Stapleton
• Michael Coote says New Zealand is paying the price of asymmetry in the transtasman labour market

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