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Latest The horticulture industry expects to become $ 10 billion a year next year.

Kiwifruit and wine exports have helped the horticulture industry continue to grow
Photo: RNZ / Carol Stiles

It says the increase in value is being driven by strong growth in exports.

The industry was valued at $ 9.2 billion last June, which is $ 400m more than the year before.

Kiwifruit and wine are the main drivers of export growth.

Vocus future unclear

The New Zealand operation of Australian telecommunication company Vocus is unclear as a Swedish company has made a concrete offer.

Vocus operates the Slingshot and Orcon brands in New Zealand.

The parent company, which is Australia's fourth-largest telco, has received a full takeover from the Swedish private equity company EQT Infrastructure – it's more than a third on the Vocus closing price on Friday.

Vocus New Zealand's chief executive has not returned calls.

There have been talk of multiple offers in the wings, but the Swedish interest is the only confirmed one.

Vocus has about 200,000 customers in this country with earnings of more than $ 60 million.

Expanded

The retail software company is moving into the North American market with a large increase in the number of sales and marketing staff.

The privately-owned company offers more than just 50 percent of the world's largest customer base, bringing in more than 50 new jobs.

Chief executive Alex Fala says the company is scaling up to meet the untapped potential in North America.

Blis Technologies delivers first profit

The biotech company has delivered a maiden profit, just ahead of expectations.

The Dunedin based company made a net profit of $ 381,000 for the March year compared with last year's million dollar loss.

Australia, for oral health probiotic products, especially in Australia.

The company expects to grow with an expanded product range, but there is a need for approval, and a limited budget.

E-Road posts bigger loss on previous year

The Transport Software Company says the loss is because of increased product investment and accounting changes.

It's reported a loss of $ 4.9 million for the March year compared with the previous year's $ 3.5m loss.

The company has software which tracks and uses them for trucking firms.

Revenue was up by 40 percent, just ahead of the growth in expenses.