Economy
OECD says NZ Super age needs to rise, recommends link to life expectancy
Agency supports Government's fuel crisis response, but flags need to consolidate finances.
Latest from Electricity
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
Mercury customers mistakenly told they hadn’t paid
Mercury sent payment warning texts to some customers who were not in debt.
'I used the money': What accused ex-lawyer told cops; judge refuses to ditch laundering case
Rohineet Sharma said he was seeking funds for a $1b solar energy project with Transpower.
Fran O'Sullivan: Nicola Willis needs to get into the political fight to win over voters
OPINION: The problem is that Willis also has a Budget and fuel crisis to manage.
War in Iran wipes $5b from KiwiSaver as markets lurch, then steady
Stock Takes: KiwiSaver assets fell $5b in the March quarter to $136.4b, Morningstar says.
App's new energy bill estimates stun Powershop customers
Meridian encourages worried users to talk things through with the energy provider's team.
Richard Prebble: Why energy policy needs less panic and more honest arithmetic
OPINION: When the Māui gas platform closes this year, dry-year power shortages may loom.
NZ Herald Afternoon Headlines | Wednesday, April 29, 2026
NZ Herald Afternoon Headlines | Government cracks down on sales of nangs, cheaper cannabis and more frequent use in NZ, Electricity Authority probes power price hikes.
Power bills tipped to jump another 8% as authority probes winter price hikes
More than 96,000 people have used the Billy website to hunt for cheaper power.
Green light for $47m rebuild to raise key Hawke’s Bay power hub out of way of floods
'We made a commitment to the people of Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.'
$3b Hornby hub reshapes Christchurch's industrial heartland
The company bought land two decades ago. Half of the 150ha site has now been developed.
Why NZ stocks are so detached from booming US markets
US consumer sentiment just hit its lowest level in a key survey's 74-year history.
What Genesis earnings upgrade and hydro lift signal for big power players
Genesis now tips 2026 ebitdaf of $515m to $545m, up from $490m to $520m.
'Disciplined portfolio management': Mercury upgrades, Ebos trims guidance
Mercury has lifted its 2026 ebitdaf guidance to $1.05b from $1.0b.
Why should mortgage holders be punished for Iran conflict with higher rates?
Inside Economics: Liam Dann takes a deeper dive into the week's economic news.
How soaring fuel costs are accelerating the shift to electric vehicles
Petrol prices jumped 18.6% in March, while diesel prices soared 42.6%.
Higher than expected inflation raises odds of May OCR hike
The biggest driver of quarterly inflation was fuel prices.
Power restored after major outage in Auckland suburb
The outage hit homes just north of Whitford from 5.43pm this evening.
What lower power futures and a wet year could mean for your bill
ASX forward power prices fell by more than 20% in the first quarter of this year.
'Betrayed': Electric vehicle user shocked after Meridian hikes his overnight power prices by 60%
John Crook feels he's being 'beaten over the head' for trying to save on energy costs.
Oliver Hartwich: Splitting the gentailers would not cut your power bill
OPINION: Combining generation and retail cushions households from wholesale price swings.
Electricity Authority using 2005 costings to measure economic loss of power outages
The Electricity Authority admits the figure may no longer be fit for purpose.
Liam Dann: Iran war is a wake-up call on how seriously we take energy security
OPINION: New Zealand's renewable resources put it in a strong position on energy security.
This NZ community plans to be solar-powered by Christmas
The island's 480 residents still rely entirely on diesel for their electricity.
The consequences of bombing Iran’s power stations
Iran relies on roughly 90 power plants, many near major northern cities.
Letters: Fossilised logic, drug wars and winning White Ferns
OPINION: More renewable solar energy is needed, not further reliance on fuel imports.
Hawke’s Bay CEOs’ biggest worry: The soaring cost of energy
A June summit aims to shape a regional energy strategy for Hawke's Bay.
LNG v pumped hydro: Will NZ choose to import risk or build cleaner resilience?
OPINION: Ditch LNG terminal and back Lake Onslow for true energy security.
How new financial year rules will hit your pay, benefits and household costs
Key policy changes take effect today, reshaping household budgets nationwide.
EV surge: Weekly sales hit 1540 as prices at pump bite
Iran War sees year-to-date registrations more than double.