The SME Stream

As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina Shrimpton each week as she gives you a rundown of the biggest stories that could impact on your business, so you can make informed decisions with expert advice.  In this weekly wrap, we discuss the all important 50 basis point cut to the Official Cash Rate and what that means for you...

This week's guest, venture capitalist, founder of PhaseOne and former early employee of Canva Mahesh Muralidhar, shares invaluable insights into the necessity for New Zealand's software startups to expand into the lucrative US market. He discusses the unique benefits of Kiwi founders on the global stage and some of the cultural things that might be holding them back.   Plus, the Auckland teen caug...

A token for the Northland community in the aftermath of the collapsed pylon calamity.   Power was cut to about 88,000 homes and businesses in June, when an Omexom worker unfastened three legs of a Transpower pylon.   The electricity provider and its contractor are now putting $1 million towards a regional energy package, to be used for community projects and economic development.   Transpower Chie...

Today's OCR announcement has got everyone thinking about what impact it will have on the housing market.  The Reserve Bank cut for a second time from 5.25% to 4.75%. CoreLogic's Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson joins Jack Tame to discuss when it will flow on to home loans.  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. A...

I went for a walk along K Road the other night and saw something I hadn't seen in the longest time: A new restaurant.  I didn't even step inside but it felt like a drink of cold water for a parched man in the desert. When was the last time I saw one of those?  It is, of course, a rarity. And hardly a sign that the entire economy is ready to take off. The number of new restaurants in that part of t...

Get the lowdown on how to perfect publicity. Georgia is joined by her publicist Tess Woolcock for bonus info on how to land your business promotion and media. With over 15 years media experience in both Australia and New Zealand, Tess started up her business, Pop Publicity , in 2020. Specialising in boosting established profiles to brand launches, Georgia picks Tess's brilliant and strategic PR br...

Over one hundred projects have been selected for fast tracking through the recently announced Fast Track Approvals Bill. Housing, energy, and major infrastructure projects will take priority.  Infrastructure NZ Chief Executive Nick Leggett and Environmental Defence Society Chief Executive Gary Taylor join Jack Tame to debate whether it's as good as it immediately seems. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts i...

Executives are increasingly optimistic now the Reserve Bank has cut rates. But how long can their companies hold out for the economy to improve? The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not necessarily shared by BNZ, or its related entities. BNZ is not liable for any losses resulting from the c...

The government has announced that they will temporarily underwrite private housing developments to support developers who are struggling to pre-sell enough dwellings to get developments off the ground.  The development must have a minimum of 30 houses and the developer must own or have legal use of the land.  CEO of Williams Corporation, Matthew Horncastle, joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Colle...

Financial author and advisor Lisa Dudson joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the long term value of your savings depending on where you put it.  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not necessarily shared by BNZ, or its related entities. BNZ is not liable f...

The Health New Zealand leader says their cost growth has plateaued.   Its report for the June quarter shows the preliminary result for the financial year is a $934 million deficit.   Earlier, in quarter three, a $299 million surplus was forecast.   Chief Executive Margie Apa told Heather du Plessis-Allan they've stopped their cost growth and have stabilised in the past quarter.   She says they nee...

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  New data from the 2023 Census reveals over half the country isn't religious? Is this surprising? What do we think changed? The Mood of the Boardroom Survey results came out today, revealing Kiwi business leaders are fee...

Business leaders have given their verdict on the Government in the Herald’s Mood of the Boardroom survey. Some experts have noted that as the country enters an interest-rate cutting phase, now is the time to have a discussion about the make-up of ongoing retirement savings. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says there's a clear mood for change as the economy enters a new phase. LISTEN A...

The Mood of the Boardroom is back today for its 22nd year. The annual survey of the country’s top CEOs and business leaders has seen a broad tick of approval for the coalition Government, with strong support for Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis and their economic plan. But they want to see the Government be bolder and set out their vision for New Zealand’s future, and that could include tacklin...

Senior business leaders are rating Christopher Luxon well on keeping his Cabinet focused on delivery, and Education Minister Erica Stanford well on performance.  More than 100 CEOs and board chairs have been quizzed for today's Mood of the Boardroom survey.  They've identified energy prices as their biggest concern, followed by the cost of living.  Dame Joan Withers, Chairperson for the Warehouse...

Genesis Energy has confirmed it will spend $64 million on taking a majority stake in ChargeNet - the nation's leading EV public charging network. Under terms of the agreement, Genesis will acquire a 65 percent stake in ChargeNet, which was founded in 2015 by tech entrepreneurs Steve and Dianna West.  Genesis chief retail officer Stephen England-Hall says decarbonising New Zealand's transport outpu...

The Government has continued its push to increase the use of remote building inspections to speed up the construction and consenting process. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has voiced disapproval with the current process - and claimed that remote inspections will make the building process more efficient and affordable.  NZ Certified Builders CEO Malcolm Fleming says this process wor...

A proposal to re-develop Marsden Point's decommissioned refinery is being considered. Channel Infrastructure NZ recently entered a conditional agreement with Seadra Energy to create a bio-refinery at the Northland site.  Seadra would purchase it for about $53-million and use some existing, decommissioned assets like tankage and jetties. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton unpacks what this co...

Real estate agents are among the businesses feeling more upbeat.  The Herald's latest Mood of the Boardroom survey shows that business owners are more optimistic than pessimistic about their industries, as well as the local and global economy.  Optimism varies across the different sectors, with the real estate industry topped the list with an average score of 4.33/5, a substantial jump from last y...

Mood of the boardroom survey, more than 100 of our top business leaders have had their say on the government, its ministers and the economy today. CEOs ranked the performance of the Cabinet Ministers with ‘1’ being not impressive and ‘5’ - very impressive. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon scored with 3.73 whilst keeping his cabinet focused on delivery and education, Minister Erica Stanford was top...

So Luxon is back in the news. Bryce Edwards written a piece saying our members of parliament own 2.3 homes per MP - more than most of us.  Jacinda made $330,000 on her property while Prime Minister. Luxon has made close to half a million dollars on his properties.  Now let's really talk about a capital gains tax, because we essentially have one on investment property - the bright line test.  You c...

The head of insurance giant Suncorp explains why it’s hiked premiums on all of its policies. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not necessarily shared by BNZ, or its related entities. BNZ is not liable for any losses resulting from the content of the podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown aims to disestablish the city's tourism and economic development agency. The mayor is progressing plans to fold Tātaki Auckland Unlimited back into council control and reduce its functions. He says the agency spent more than $700,000 on a campaign promoting Auckland to Aucklanders. He says these things need to stop happening with ratepayer money. Hospitality New Zealand...

The wine industry is hoping a new programme will help double production.  The Government is investing $5.6 million over seven years into the programme, Next Generation Viticulture. It aims to grow vines more efficiently, turning sunlight into grapes. NZ Winegrowers Research Centre CEO Dr Juliet Ansell says it will redesign canopy management. "It enables the vines to capture as much sunlight as the...

Over in China, regulators recently announced a range of monetary and fiscal stimulus policy changes aimed at fostering economic stabilisation and improving consumer confidence. Official interest rates were cut and the Government announced a number of central bank spending programmes aimed at stabilising housing and supporting consumption. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly unpacked these new p...