The curious case of Peter Scutts, $1000-a-day contractors irk Fonterra staff, TPP would be a NZ triumph

Fonterra [NZX:FSF] is still advertising for contractors as staff face brutal rounds of job cuts. Sally Lindsay reveals the dairy co-operative is advertising for IT contractors in New Zealand and insiders say many of those already hired are getting paid about $1000 a day.

Grizzles with the government appear to be more about the downbeat mood than the reality of economic data, Rob Hosking writes. Although the dairy industry has taken a strong hit – and will stay hurt for longer than expected – the slide to pessimism is not justified by an economic outlook that looks likely to hold at 2-2.5% growth in GDP. The decline in optimism is more related to some slipshod political management and a growing sense the government is losing its grip.

If Trade Minister Tim Groser does get the TPP’s text initialled and released in the next few days, the question for Labour’s Andrew Little is obvious, says Mathew Hooton. If this government does ratify the TPP, will he promise to invoke the withdrawal procedures if he becomes prime minister in two years? He’ll probably waffle but the real answer is no.

One of the consquences of the digital age is that companies are collecting more and more information about people and other businesses. Some who collect such information are a critical part of the businesses that use them, such as accounting software providers Xero [NZX:XRO] and MYOB [ASX:MYO] and auction site Trade Me [NZX:TME]. So what happens when government agencies, such as Inland Revenue, NZ Police or the spy agencies come knocking and ask for a business’ information? Jenny Ruth reports.

Capital markets are wild beasts and riding them through the rough times out into calmer territory are an integral part of being an investor. But, reports Calida Smylie, with data pointing to nine downturn cycles in the average investors’ lifetime, it’s easy to get thrown off track when market cycles disrupt and upset.

Meanwhile, stocks may have proved resilient to the latest financial market spasms out of China but it’s a different story with commodities, writes Nevil Gibson in Margin Call.

NBR Special Report: Capital investment and raising money.

Tim Hunter looks at Northland Regional Council's 54% ownership of a company that owns half of Northland Port. No wonder Marsden Maritime Holdings' [NZX:MMH] share price has flatlined, he concludes.

Shoeshine discusss the aggressive approach the Financial Markets Authority is taking and finds some unintended consequences.

The technological developments threatening the value of electricity lines companies include the increasing use of solar panels installed on rooftops, increasingly effective batteries and electric cars, reports Jenny Ruth.

Court reporter Hamish McNicol checks in on a former bankrupt's 11-year battle with adjudication.

Maritime piracy and robbery incidents against all shipping categories, especially in Southeast Asian waters, are increasing at a worrying pace, reports Nathan Smith.

Farming will become unsustainable if producers can no longer meet their costs, writes Jacqueline Rowarth in her Heartland column.

In property, Chris Hutching traces immigration patterns and house prices.

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