The SME Stream

Australasian venture-capital heavyweight Blackbird has closed a record $1.25 billion sixth fund – and its New Zealand general partner Phoebe Harrop Meadows says Kiwi companies are central to its investment strategy. The fund, described by Blackbird as the largest venture-capital raise in ANZ history, underscores the firm’s rise from a small Australian startup investor into one of the r...

Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins is waiting for the Government to release its pre-election fiscal update before explaining how Labour would fund a freeze to fuel taxes over the next three years. Speaking to Canterbury Mornings, Hipkins said Labour would need to wait until the government's books were opened to determine how it would fund the election promise, but he backed the party's plan to ease p...

The Reserve Bank Governor's defending the latest hike to the Official Cash Rate.  The central bank's raised the cash rate another 25-basis-points to 2.75%.  Anna Breman says they'll need to assess the impact of the past two OCR hikes before deciding whether to hike again.  But she told Mike Hosking yesterday's hike was needed to rein in high inflation.  She says if the OCR had...

The Reserve Bank has raised the Official Cash Rate 25 basis points, from 2.5 percent to 2.75. The Monetary Policy Committee agreed unanimously to the rise, broadly expected by economists and the market. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this could have an immediate impact on retailers, as people will now have less money to spend in stores.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

The Finance Minister says major gas user Methanex shutting up shop doesn't change the Government's argument for a Liquified Natural Gas terminal.  The methanol producer is closing its Taranaki plant after more than 30 years.  It cites the continued decline in domestic natural gas and no clear pathway to meaningful new supply.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking they'd already predicted...

An industry group for chartered accountants is putting a novel idea on the table to lower the cost of New Zealand Superannuation to the Crown, while keeping it universal. Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand is advocating for the next Government to allow people to delay the age at which they start receiving Super. According to NZIER modelling, this approach could reduce the annual cost of S...

More Official Cash Rate hikes are possible, but far from guaranteed. The Reserve Bank has raised the cash rate 25-basis-points this afternoon to 2.75 percent. Governor Anna Breman says they are moving it towards a neutral level, to around 3 percent. But she says nothing is set in stone. "Today's decision will allow us to assess the impact of these two OCR increases - and then we will see whether w...

The Reserve Bank has raised the OCR by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent, in line with economists' expectations.  Markets expected the cash rate would go up, but many had priced in a bigger increase - and there's still an expectation that the OCR could go up further down the track. Milford Asset Management's Remy Wisenberg explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

New Zealand’s economic data is finally showing some signs of life – but for many businesses and households, it certainly doesn’t feel like a recovery. Nearly 3,000 hospitality businesses ceased trading in the past year, liquidations remain elevated, and unemployment is likely to take longer to turn around. At the same time, confidence is improving and economists are increasingly...

New Zealand’s debt burden has nearly doubled in 10 years.  But, there are signs the country’s borrowing habits are becoming more sustainable.  New Zealand businesses have boosted their borrowings by more than $6 billion in the last year to $143b, which is a potential sign of rising confidence in the economy.  So, is debt really as bad as we think – or are the...

Christina Leung on why the NZIER Shadow Board sees rates rising further, and the balancing act between inflation control and a weak economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

herald Senior Correspondent Katie Bradford asks if businesses will be compensated as Auckland’s costly level-crossing removals bring years of disruption. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What were the standouts from the quarter? Roger Garrett from Craigs Investment Partners. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Centrix data shows households are still cautious about extra debt as borrowing costs rise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cyclenomics' Matt Carter on turning waste tyres into valuable materials while finding new ways to grow a small business in a tough economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank looks set to turn the screws on interest rates again today.  Most economists expect the OCR to rise from 2.5% when the decision is announced at 2pm.  One or two further hikes are forecast before Christmas.  BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking he expects the Monetary Policy Committee to reach a consensus on the increase, but it’s possible not every...

The Government's being criticised for giving the country the run-around with next year's fuel tax.   It's cancelled the 12 cent per litre hike and equivalent lift to road user charges that were set to take effect in January.   The next rise of five cents a litre now kicks in from January 2028.   AA Fuel Spokesperson Terry Collins told Ryan Bridge the Land Transport Fund has been und...

ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says a survey showing high business optimism is especially encouraging when it's matched with proven past performance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our country has been borrowing more money to fund stuff, including everyday spending and election promises. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not just nostalgia... it's also the framing one of the major ratings agencies has taken in affirming New Zealanders are still bankable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast, I speak with Sasha McLeod, founder of DoseBuddy , a reusable medicine syringe for kids, with numbers that never rub off and a cap that stops the mess. In this episode, Sasha takes us through the journey from that 2am frustration to a fully realised, regulated medical product. We talk about: 🍼  How she validated her idea 💸  Using PledgeMe to fund the first manufact...

How do organisations evolve without losing what already makes them successful? In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Monica Ayers, Chief People Officer at New Zealand Post, to explore leadership, organisational transformation, workforce capability, and the realities of leading people strategy inside one of New Zealand’s most recognised organisations. With experience span...

The Finance Minister says the Government has made the right move in delaying increase to the fuel tax at this stage. The excise was due to rise 12-cents a litre next January, but has been delayed to the following year - and will only be five cents. Nicola Willis says the Government is still on the path to returning to surplus, and they've determined they can fit this in as part of it. "Ultimately,...

The National Party will campaign on higher interest rates for graduates who move overseas before paying back their student loan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac's Matthew Kinney on the surge in scams targeting kiwi businesses and why bank impersonation scams are proving so costly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.