The SME Stream

ASB's latest outlook says New Zealand's economic recovery is back on track. Inflation is expected to hit 4.1% in Q2, but the bank says the overall economic picture as "markedly improved". ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Mike Hosking that, "We do think it will still be tight, but we do think that the Reserve Bank will lean on remaining on hold." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

The India Business Council isn't surprised to see the free trade agreement have an impact already, before coming into force. New export numbers show apples are in high demand -- volumes jumping 63 percent on the 2024 season when negotiations began.  Last month, Matariki Forests sent its first shipment of logs from Bluff to India since 2020.  Council Chair Edwin Paul told Ryan Bridge ther...

A former Trade Minister says he's very encouraged by National's election promise that it'll pursue trade talks with seven economies. It says it would prioritise trade talks with Brazil, Switzerland, Argentina, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uruguay and the European Free Trade Association. It's also promised to advance negotiations with a further six countries over the next decade. Tim Groser says if you don...

Trade watchers are already sounding the alarm that 7 deals would spread MFAT thin. Garth Bray 2degrees Business Wrap. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if culture doesn’t eat strategy for breakfast after all? In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with organisational culture expert and corporate anthropologist Michael Henderson to unpack one of the most misunderstood concepts in business: culture. With more than 40 years’ experience and over 300 culture transformation projects completed across four continents, Mich...

Everyone has an employment contract, but what should you be aware of when presented with a new one?  Some key parts that you'd think are a given may also be missing, so what shoud you make sure you have? MyHR's Chief Evangelist Sylvie Thrush-Marsh joins Tim Beveridge to answer your employment questions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Casey from Rewiring Aotearoa says solar can now pay off faster than many households realise, but the biggest savings come from understanding how your home actually uses energy. From gas hot water to EVs, batteries and green loans, Mike and Nadine break down what to weigh up before going electric. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party has just announced it's trade policy, should the party be re-elected in November.  They've said that the aim is to secure markets with seven new economies across Europe, Africa and South America, with more to be chased further down the line.  Trade Minister Todd McClay told Tim Beveridge that it's important to expand trade, as the target countries in Europe especially...

It's been a busy week between New Zealand and India.  The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to make his first official visit to New Zealand as the FTA gets over the line, however Winston Peters has raised concerns around Indian immigrants receiving unfair scrutiny at the border.  The Chair of India New Zealand Business Council Edwin Paul told Tim Beveridge that, 'This is a start...

How much of this rally is being carried by chipmakers and and does that make the market more vulnerable? S&P's Anu Ganti in New York.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US equities have just had their strongest quarter since the Covid rebound, while the NZX 50 has recovered after a difficult start to the year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Paris announces his departure from One NZ, as the government opts for auctions not rollovers of spectrum licenses.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National says it's targeting growing parts of the world with its latest trade policy. It is promising to attempt seven new deals in five years if re-elected - following the success with India.   These are Brazil, Switzerland, Argentina, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uruguay and the European Free Trade Association.  National's Trade Spokesperson Todd McClay told Mike Hosking that it takes advantag...

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,  more talk of green shoots, so when exactly will they become a garden? Petrol prices come down, but will they...

The Opportunity Party has outlined their new vision for the economy ahead of the election. The party's looking to invest more into technology and AI, strengthen the Commerce Commission to stand up to the supermarkets and gentailers and boost small Kiwi businesses. The party also wants to forgive student loan interest in order to draw local talent back into New Zealand. Leader Qiulae Wong outlined...

Seeing that exporter confidence growth in real time - Andrew Balgarnie Chief Strategy Officer of Trade Window. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation expectations fall in June ANZ Business Confidence survey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Centrix's Keith McLaughlin reveals what's behind the latest Centrix stats. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humanoid robots taking on factory jobs seemed like a sci-fi concept, but more businesses have made that concept a reality. These robots are powered by AI to make decisions, and Tesla's San Francisco production line is utilising more of them.   Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac’s done a deal to put that info on its app. Others advocating for central register of properties at risk. 2degrees Business wrap Garth Bray.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian startup Heidi Health has become one of the most visible examples of AI actually shifting the dial on healthcare productivity – and New Zealand is at the forefront of that story.  In this week’s episode of The Business of Tech, I talk to Heidi co‑founder Yu Liu about the company’s journey from student training tool to AI “care partner” for clinicians, a...

The Prime Minister on a buoyant primary sector and how New Zealand’s Michelin-star-winning restaurants benefit tourism. Plus, the OCR, how heavy machinery rules affect farmers, and the Treasury Performance Improvement Review. And how is Police Minister Mark Mitchell doing after breaking his ribs at a charity rugby match? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The International Monetary Fund is broadly happy with how the Government and Reserve Bank are steering the economy - but it's warned some changes need to take place. The agency says the Government will need to hike taxes, as well as continue cutting spending, to get the country’s finances on a more sustainable path forward. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained how...

2026 is halfway over, and experts have noticed which trends are leading investor conversations. The chips and computer hardware sector has seen some growth thanks to the AI boom, but the Middle East conflict has continued to generate concerns. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister believes all signs are pointing to economic growth this year.  The International Monetary Fund's recommending the country continue to hike taxes and make spending cuts.  It predicts the economy will grow by 2% throughout this year, rising to 2.7% next year.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking the IMF's quite optimistic about our growth this year, and she believes t...