Panama Papers' political fallout will hurt, Christchurch ducks airport opportunity, Regulator tight-lipped on possible Bryers charges

In NBR Print today: Tone rather than substance is the core political difference over New Zealand’s response to the “Panama papers.” But, as Rob Hosking reports, the giant leak has enabled the opposition parties to paint the government as defending somewhat dubious financial arrangements.

Meanwhile, Tim Hunter says successive governments of all stripes have nurtured a nasty tax loophole for reasons that remain obscure but the game is now up.

And commentator Bernard Hickey asks why New Zealand would want to risk its reputation just so a few Auckland accountants and lawyers can essentially rent out the country’s good reputation to people like Mexico's 'Duke of Privilege'?

With infrastructure asset valuations in a sweet spot, Christchurch City Council could generate substantial sums from the partial sale of its international airport, market sources tell Tim Hunter. And Tim Brown, an executive with infrastructure investment specialist Morrison & Co, says his firm has a clear interest in the airport.

NZ Post’s proposal for the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and the NZ Super Fund (NZSF) to buy 45% of Kiwibank seems like a cunning way to deflect the opponents of privatisation. But we say Kiwibank should emulate the Z Energy [NZX: ZEL] model and list on the NZX.

Australia’s corporate regulator is understood to be recommending former Blue Chip boss Mark Bryers face charges following the collapse of an Australian group of companies he was allegedly managing illegally. Hamish McNicol reports.

You won’t find incoming NZME boss Michael Boggs banging on about “speaking truth to power” or the disinfectant properties for sunlight. Like the majority of modern media leaders, the only value he’s firmly fixated on is the one he delivers to shareholders. Nick Grant reports.

Shoeshine compares Fonterra’s Australian business to that of Murray Goulburn and paints an ugly picture of the Kiwi dairy giant’s performance across the Tasman.

Southern entrepreneur Phil Burmester says he tears his hair out when he listens to discussions on water bore sales. The critics fail to comprehend the scale involved, he tells Chris Hutching.

Although the government is optimistic about a New Zealand/ European Union free trade agreement, farmers say it could be an uphill battle for a good dairy deal. Jason Walls reports.

Chris Keall says he’s changed from a virtual reality sceptic to VR bore, constantly badgering people to try out his newly-acquired Samsung VR Gear. What happened?

NBR’s Intelligent Business Network Series focuses on reputation with the annual NBR Colmar Brunton Reputation Index.

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

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