The SME Stream

The Green Party's announced a jobs guarantee programme for young people who've been out of work for 6 months, with unemployment at an 11-year high, and three times worse for younger people. The party says the country's infrastructure and nature need maintenance and care, but community services are short of the people needed - so they plan to give those roles to younger people. The policy aims to b...

Mortgage broker Squirrel targets $700m loan book and public float mid-late 2027; ASX listing in doubt for Firmus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Northland Regional Council moves staff to a nine-day fortnight on the same pay - effectively giving staff a pay rise by lowering their hours worked. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A view it's clearly time our political parties come together to tackle the issue of superannuation. National and Labour have agreed they'll support a cross-party political accord on the retirement system. Act and National are both campaigning on gradually raising the super age to 67. Labour and New Zealand First are both campaigning to keep it at 65. Superannuation expert Jonathan Eriksen told And...

Forsyth Barr analyst Andrew Harvey Green on the election’s competing energy policies, what they could mean for power prices, investment and the sector. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US 10-year bond yields hit highest level in 24 years, Forsyth Barr's Mark Richardson joins Herald NOW to explain why it could be good news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Future of New Zealand Debate delivered a buffet of current and future talent.. as well as dancing robots and G-D-Pizza. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US mid-term elections are set to take place in four weeks, and experts are speculating about what this means for the economy. Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen - and it's increased the likelihood that the Democrats could take the House. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explained what this could all mean for investors.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina O'Keeffe each week as she gives you a rundown of the biggest stories that could impact your business, so you can make informed decisions with expert advice.   This week … It’s all go on the campaign trail - National unveils its roadmap to help SMEs and Labour shares its...

How do you become the kind of leader people genuinely want to follow? In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Laurent Sylvestre to explore leadership, trust, human dynamics, executive development, and what it really takes to lead well.  Laurent challenges the traditional view of HR and People & Culture, emphasising that leaders ultimately own people and culture, while P...

Diving deeper on one of episode 8's topic. Mike and Scott dig into the real mechanics of funding a business - when you actually need outside money, and what trading time, margin or control really means. Over Garage Project's Mon P'tit Chou and a steak and mushroom pie from Gladstone Butchery, they map out loans, VC and everything in between. You'll learn: -The three ways to fund growth - revenue,...

In business, and in the innovation game, experience is valuable. But sometimes, not knowing how exactly things are supposed to be done can be a superpower. This week’s episode of The Business of Tech celebrates three young New Zealand designers tackling problems that established businesses have overlooked, with fresh eyes, tight budgets and a willingness to ask basic questions. Sophie West,...

You don’t need years of industry experience to build a successful product brand. I had never worked in a salon, formulated a haircare product or built an electrical product before starting Tidal Hair. In 2023, the brand did $5.6 million in annual revenue. In this episode of Make It Happen, I break down exactly how I entered an industry I knew almost nothing about and built a multi-million-do...

When the price of moving goods around New Zealand rises, who picks up the bill?  Increasing fuel prices are putting pressure on the trucking industry, with fuel now accounting for up to 30% of operating costs.  And that cost can travel far beyond the petrol pump, into the price of groceries and other everyday essentials.  So how much can freight companies absorb, and how much gets p...

Chris Hipkins reckons there was no easy answer to this week's leaders debate question on whether it's okay to be a billionaire.  Former Prime Minister Sir John Key says it's "nuts" to think billionaires are "morally offensive".  Key told the Herald's Future of New Zealand debate last night that we should be celebrating business success like we celebrate sporting and musical success.&nbsp...

Simpson Grierson Corporate Partner Anastasiya Gamble says global uncertainty is drawing investors back to familiar markets, keeping NZ firmly in the mix. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Agriculture and Trade reflects on PGG Wrightson’s 175-year history and the importance of farming to New Zealand’s economy. He also defends investment in AgriZeroNZ and discusses redirecting foreign aid funding toward medicines for Kiwis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wealth Watch with Generate - Is the economy turning a corner? Greg Smith KiwiSaver investment and Managed Funds specialist from Generate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historically, equities have done okay under left-leaning govts as looser policy sees stronger nominal earnings at least offset higher discount rates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 election campaign is a big topic for Kiwis, but it's not the only political topic impacting the economy. France and the US are facing their own mid-terms and the results are likely to have wide-reaching economic implications. Milford Asset Management expert Brendan Larsen explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tick of approval for the National Party's small business plan.  It's released a 47-point plan to cut red tape for them around things like employment disputes and health and safety.  Small Business New Zealand Founder Phil Wicks says it creates a fairly cohesive plan.  He told Andrew Dickens while any help is appreciated what businesses really want is a growing economy.  Wicks...

Labour has suggested that if elected, everyone in the public service would be paid the living wage of $29.90 an hour - $6 more than the current minimum wage. Economists have raised concerns with this proposal and claimed this could likely lead to inflation going up. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Pressure's on the next government to keep the momentum going on business confidence.  The NZIER's latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion shows 40% of firms expect the economy to improve in the coming months.  That's up from just 14% last quarter.  Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson told Andrew Dickens businesses want policies that lift productivity, and more cert...

New Zealand’s housing market remains subdued, but the building work hasn’t stopped. NZ Herald property editor Anne Gibson joins Liam Dann to discuss the housing slump, the opportunities for first-home buyers, and how falling property values affect the wider economy. They also explore the growth in build-to-rent apartments and hospital developments, signs of life in Auckland’s CBD...

Waitomo CEO Simon Parham says a law change giving up land for petrol stations would be helpful, but price gouging rules won't make much difference. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.