Hotchin company grabs Fiji loan, lining up to sue, 'Made up’ numbers in tax policy, 2Degrees ripe for picking, global warming theory and more

Property developer Mark Hotchin is back! Not only is he making news for Dirty Politics allegations, the National Business Review today reveals he has re-acquired a loan deal for prime resort land in Fiji that was first lent by Hanover Finance to two Aucklanders. The loan was sold on in a tranche to Allied Farmers – but was later transferred back to a Hotchin entity, chief reporter Duncan Bridgeman writes.

Meanwhile, in Christchurch, lawyers are expecting a tidal wave of new insurance claims following a recent Supreme Court unanimous landmark decision against IAG, property editor Chris Hutching writes.

On the campaign trail for the general election, political editor Rob Hosking argues Labour’s fiscal policies involve too much wishful thinking and invention.

Political columnist Matthew Hooton argues the capital gains tax proposal destroys Labour’s credibility and the New Zealand Initiative’s director, Oliver Hartwich, wonders if a grand coalition along the lines of Germany’s would work here.

As 2Degrees quietly celebrated the fifth anniversary of its launch, high-profile telecommunications industry analyst Paul Budde sent a note to his clients saying: “Five years on and to a certain extent it is a bit of a wonder that the company still exists.” Ouch, says technology editor Chris Keall.

New research finds the Atlantic Ocean may be hiding all the “missing heat” responsible for a mysterious hiatus in global warming during the past 17 years. NBR’s resident deep thinker Nathan Smith explains.

People of a certain age may be under attack from the Gen Xers for getting too much free over the years but there is some comfort from Waikato University’s agribusiness professor Jacqueline Rowarth who argues later middle age can be a very productive and prolonged career era. She has evidence, for example, that geologists, biologists and novelists generally speaker in their late 50s.

“And lo, there came down from that mountain one of angelic countenance clothed in light and riding a chariot of fire and holding in his hand the tablets upon which his words were engraved. And lo, his name was Ha-gar.” In tray re-writes the First Testament …