SCF investors plan lawsuit, Air NZ’s relief and why Auckland is booming

In NBR Print today: Out-of-pocket investors who took up South Canterbury Finance preference shares are banding together in a bid to potentially launch a class action lawsuit. Jamie Ball talks to financial advisor Chris Lee who is organising an action group.

Opposition parties have made a mess of attacking National over recent years and even the recent revelations about using the security services for political purposes show no lessons have been learnt. Rob Hosking on the fallout of Dirty Politics.

A couple who merged the accounts of their car dealership with his medical practice has been stung for tax avoidance. Victoria Young reports

Silver Fern Farms [Unlisted:SFF] has appointed Goldman Sachs to review its capital options and engage with investors and some Brazilian food giants are circling, but the company says its not looking to carve off its business units. Jamie Ball reports.

If ever someone wished he could turn back the clock and start again, that would be Cavalier Corp [NZX:CAV] chairman Alan James. Shoeshine discusses some options for the battling carpet maker and also analyses the Commerce Commission’s take on the Acurity [NZX:ACY] takeover.

Meanwhile, the governance model for company directors in New Zealand is weak and damaging for the economy and community, says Kerry McDonald, a former president of the NZ Institute of Directors.

In Ad Media, Campbell Gibson reflects on our television networks sending fewer and fewer reporters abroad.

Underlying economic data is pointing to a stronger base for the New Zealand economy than in previous recoveries, even as the global outlook looks less certain. Rob Hosking reports.

Air New Zealand [NZX:AIR] management may breathe a faint sigh of relief next month when Virgin Australia expects to return to a quarterly profit but, as Calida Smylie reports, they should not relax for too long.

NZX chief executive Tim Bennett says this week’s listing of Orion Health [NZX:OHE] is probably the most significant event in the capital markets this year. Duncan Bridgeman reports.

Mandatory data breach reporting should be introduced in New Zealand if businesses are to radically alter the behaviour of senior management, an Australian academic tells Nathan Smith.

In Property, Chris Hutching looks over developer Richard Diver’s second Christchurch rebuild property on the market.

NBR’s Special Feature looks at the Auckland boom, from construction to events, to population growth to show biz

Don’t miss the NBR Car of the Year Awards

Briefly:

• Rodney Hide on why charter schools let in the sunshine
• Nevil Gibson debates changes to competition law
• China’s Xi sends blunt message, says Michael Coote

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