Business confidence rose for the fourth month in a row this month, despite a host of factors that might otherwise be expected to damp expectations for the period ahead, according to the latest National Bank Business Outlook survey.

Pacific Fibre, the local start-up looking to build a second internet cable linking New Zealand to the world, has signed up ASX-listed internet service provider iiNet Ltd. in a long-term international capacity deal.

There's nothing like a few hours temporary work here and there to boost people's finances. The Rugby World Cup will provide a great opportunity for Kiwis of all walks of life to get some temporary work.

The ambition of many in professional careers is to rise to the role of managing director, CEO, or another such senior position.

Small businesses are scrambling to get in on the social media act with figures showing twice as many using sites such as Facebook and Twitter in the past 12 months. A survey of 725 SMEs found 50 per cent are now using social media, compared with 29 per cent a year ago.

Exports exceeded imports by $600 million last month.  While the surplus was smaller than the $1 billion economists had expected, it represents $1.13 of exports for every $1 of imports, which is twice the average May surplus over the last five years by that measure.