** Shares of Freightways Group FRW.NZ rise 2.9% to NZ$11.3, their highest level since May 9, 2022

** New Zealand-based freight service provider posts NPAT of NZ$44.7 mln ($25.64 mln) for HY25 vs NZ$40.9 mln last year

** Attributes profit rise to strong results in express packaging business, which logged 13.2% jump in NPAT

** Co also declared dividend of 19 NZ cents, up from 18 NZ cents last year

** Stock up 6.2% YTD, including current session's moves

($1 = 1.7431 New Zealand dollars)

(Reporting by Nikita Maria Jino in Bengaluru)

((Nikita.Jino@thomsonreuters.com;))