The SME Stream

Both National and Labour are banking on economic growth to help repair the Government’s finances. But could their spending plans undermine the recovery they’re counting on? With households reluctant to spend, property values under pressure and an ageing population putting more demand on public services, journalist and economic commentator Bernard Hickey says the numbers deserve a harde...

The escalating conflict in the Middle East has sparked concerns about the state of the economy. The conflict and resulting impact on fuel prices has altered the current inflation outlook, but there's calls for further assessment following the recent attacks over the weekend.   HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Our economy seems to be faring better than our neighbour across the Tasman.  The International Monetary Fund has issued a stark outlook for the Australian economy, as it’s dealing with some of the worst inflation in the developed world.  It’s forecasting GDP growth of just 1.6% next year, and the biggest rise in unemployment among developed economies – going from 4.4% t...

ASB says elections aren't usually a handbrake for business or household decisions.   Fresh analysis from the bank has found activity doesn't tend to slow down before an election or speed up right after one.   Senior Economist Mark Smith says there were two exceptions around the 2008 and 2020 elections but adds that was probably because of the GFC and the pandemic.  Business Canterbu...

What happens to the future of work if half your workforce gets left behind? In this episode of HR Unlocked , Lisa Oakley sits down with Rose Powell, General Manager People & Capability at Vitaco Health Group , to explore what future-focused People & Culture looks like inside a complex, vertically integrated organisation. Rose's leadership philosophy was shaped early in her career when she...

ACT Leader David Seymour discusses fiscal plan and tax cuts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party has confirmed it doesn't have a firm policy on the Super age this election. It's campaigned in the past on gradually raising entitlement to 67 - which is still the position.  But it isn't part of the Party's fiscal plan, out today.  Finance spokeswoman Nicola Willis says there needs to be consensus.  She told Heather du Plessis-Allan she can't dance alone - and wh...

National claims it has a credible path for paying down the country's debt.   The party plans to keep the Budget operating allowance at $2.4 billion —matching Labour's— and return to surplus in two years.   It would cut foreign aid and welfare spending to fund its election commitments, with $7.5 billion left over.   Tax cuts are off the table until New Zealand's in the bl...

Well, it looks like a matter of when, not if, given that Barbara Edmonds and Nicola Willis, Finance Minister and Finance spokesperson respectively, were appearing on Jack Tame's Q&A yesterday, and they've agreed they'll work together on the future of superannuation in this country. This is Nicola Willis: "We can afford superannuation right now, but in the future the settings are going to have...

UK based tech entrepreneur and investor Dr Oliver Hardick is at Auckland Startup Week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NBR Rich List estimated wealth of those on the list had grown to $129 billion. Herald Business Commentator Fran O'Sullivan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economist wonders if some political parties are too relaxed about the growing pension bill.  National's confirmed it's not campaigning on raising the Super age -- an issue it's campaigned on for the past three elections. ACT is the only other party with the same goal. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Heather du Plessis-Allan he's concerned some politicians are blind to the i...

Forsyth Barr's Zoe Wallis takes a ook at the week ahead for the markets, Monday 12 October. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A business think tank says there's not much different in National's fiscal plan from its budgets of the past couple of years.   The party wants to keep the operating allowance at $2.4 billion, with all commitments funded and $7.5 billion left over.   It suggests tax relief won't be on the table until debt's paid down.   New Zealand Initiative Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson told Mike...

Oct 12 marks 48 months in the latest bull cycle since generative AI started firing up markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tax expert suggests National's trademark tax relief seems a fair way off - with little wiggle room in its fiscal plan. The Party says it can't offer tax cuts - until it gets on top of debt.  It says all its commitments are costed - matching Labour's 2.4 billion dollar Budget operating allowance.  Tax expert Geof Nightingale told Andrew Dickens the 7.5 billion dollars left over arrives...

What if the skills you've spent years developing could become your next business? After nearly 20 years in broadcasting, from sports journalism and Seven Sharp to breakfast radio, Toni Street has turned her experience in front of the camera and behind the microphone into her own business, Confident Communication. This episode is particularly special because Toni was actually one of my Make It Happ...

More New Zealanders are looking to their Kiwisaver to get them to the future, or to their first-home with the property market on a down-turn.  Because of that, the election's become a more vested interest for voters, with the future of their KiwiSaver determined by what Government forms. So what are parties promising, where do they differ, and what would it mean for our funds? ACT's proposed...

Can likes and followers turn into a full-time income? On The Prosperity Project, Nadine talks to talent manager Molly about the business behind social media influencing, from brand deals worth thousands to valuable freebies and the work that goes into every post. They explore how creators earn money, why going viral doesn’t guarantee a lasting career, and what happens when the algorithm chan...

More and more kiwis are struggling to make ends meet at the moment, even people who are making good money are often only scraping by. Now more than ever budgeting your money is incredibly important but most people simply don't understand how to create a proper personal budget.  Tammy Barton created MyBudget in the late 90s when she was just 22 as a way to help the squeezed middle sort out the...

Chris Luxon says National's continuing to take the same fiscal approach, as it did under Sir John Key and Sir Bill English. National's fiscal plan - due out today - would involve a return to surplus a year later, than under Act's plan released yesterday. Luxon told Mike Hosking National is continuing to be gradual and disciplined He says the right will always call for harder, faster austerity, and...

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...