The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026. We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead? Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.

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Shopping has become such a big part of our everyday lives, and the choices we make can influence more than we realise. If you’d like to make those dollars work harder for our local communities, consider choosing small. Households spend more than $110 billion with big businesses each year. Shifting a portion of that toward small, local retailers can make a huge difference for the wider small-business economy. Read business journalist Aimee Shaw's piece.

New Zealand homeowners are now more likely to sell at a loss than at any time since 2013, and if you’re in Auckland or Wellington, the odds are even higher. But there is a silver lining: buyers are still in a strong position when it comes to negotiating prices. So we’re curious… How are you feeling about the current property market? If you’re keen to dive into the details, Deborah Morris breaks down all the latest insights.