The SME Stream

News from OpenAI, that two of its advanced models got out of a sandbox system, seems like proof of their power and our difficulty controlling it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 67, our guest is  Amelia Linzey, Group CEO of Engineering firm Beca.   Amelia Linzey has broken the mould in more ways than most of us. Firstly, if we think of large-scale infrastructure engineering as a ‘mans world’, then she has truly broken that particular glass ceiling. But her other main attribute is stickability. In an environment where...

What can HR and business leaders learn from paramedics who make life-and-death decisions every day? In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Ross Aitken, Clinical Operations Manager at Northern Rescue, and Mark Quin, Secretary of the New Zealand Ambulance Association. Together they explore leadership under pressure, resilience, decision-making in high-stakes environments, and wha...

New Zealand isn't exactly famous for producing automotive brands, but FTN Motion is trying to change that. In the latest episode of The Business of Tech, the company’s co-founders Luke Sinclair and Kendall Bristow recount how a backyard BMX hack led to them creating one of the country's most distinctive electric vehicle startups. That was almost a decade ago, when two mechanical engineering...

Finance minister Nicola Willis says while inflation has been largely driven by fuel prices, rates are also an issue that need attention. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HighGround Dairy's Stu Davison discusses the latest GDT auction prices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank’s senior agricultural analyst also comments on the GDT auction as well as Rabobank’s 2026 World Dairy Map, which shows New Zealand remaining the world’s largest single-country dairy exporter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent data has unveiled a silver lining in the latest June-quarter inflation figures. Rents rose at their slowest rate, annually, in 25 years, according to Stats NZ. The country’s stock of rents rose by 0.5 percent between the June 2025 and 2026 quarters, continuing the trend of softening increases that began towards the end of 2024. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny exp...

More people are becoming self-employed.   A Self Employment Report released by Hnry and the Simplicity Research Hub shows they produce 17% of the country's GDP.  That's around $78 billion per year – expanding faster than the total GDP per year.  Co-founder of Hnry, James Fuller told Mike Hosking the security of having control of your own finances is appealing.   He says t...

It's been an interesting time for the tech sector, with many big companies reporting their results. Tech stocks recently reversed some of the recent selloff last night - with the Nasdaq up 1.9 percent. Milford Asset Management's Andrew Curtayne explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fixed mortgage rates could be heading up “pretty soon”, says a New Zealand bank boss as wholesale interest rates rise on the back of volatility in the Middle East. Speaking on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, Co-operative Bank chief executive Mark Wilkshire said wholesale rates were up about 30 basis points (bps) in the past couple of weeks. “I think banks will have to start passi...

Trade watchers say this is a classic Trump tactic; a ticking offer with a big headline to inject some jeopardy.' 2degrees Business wrap - Garth Bray. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First it came for the groceries, the mortgage and the power bill. Now the economy is coming for our fun. From $12 glasses of wine and $27 movie tickets to streaming subscriptions that keep creeping up, the cost of enjoying yourself is becoming harder to justify. Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker unpack “funflation”, the latest inflation data, and whether bird flu could make chicken and eggs...

Inflation has hit 4.1% - the highest level in more than two years. Economists had expected it surge to somewhere between 3.9 and 4.1 percent.  However, the end result is well below some previous forecasts, which reached 4.9%.  If we ignored the surging fuel prices, Westpac economists reckon inflation would be about 2.8 percent.  So w...

In the absence of a sick Jo Luxton (and some Labour ag policy), the gloves come off with the trade spokesman and former Minister of Agriculture. Today we debate the RMA changes, the Indian FTA and wool. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An independent economist comments on New Zealand’s annual inflation rate hitting its highest level in more than two years on rising fuel prices. The consumer price index (CPI) increased 4.1% in the 12 months to the June 2026 quarter. The 4.1% increase follows a 3.1% increase in the March quarter. The largest upward contributor to the annual inflation rate was petrol, up 27.5%. See omnystudio...

Westpac economist Satish Ranchhod discusses what the latest CPI data will mean for households and businesses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister expects to see power prices start easing "soon".  Inflation's hit a two-year high of 4.1%.  It's been driven not only by the surge in global petrol and diesel prices thanks to the war in Iran, but also the 12% annual rise in household electricity bills.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking the increase in power generation is pushing down commercial power prices and...

The Consumers Price Index (CPI) has increased 4.1% in the 12 months to the June 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. As expected, the increase can be partially contributed to the US-Iran war as the largest upwards contributor to the annual inflation rate was petrol, up 27.5%. Finance Minister Nicola Willis is labelling annual inflation hitting its highest level in more th...

The market has been moving sideways, but there’s been a lot happening at sector level. Grant Cotty Craigs Investment Partners. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If a $60m surprise subsidy to Fletcher Building is such a good idea, why has there been scant engagement on it so far?' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to scale a New Zealand technology company into a truly global organisation? In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Rachael Satherley, Chief People Officer at Serko, to explore the realities of global growth, leadership across cultures, and building organisations that can scale without losing their identity. Drawing on experience from Expedia Group and now Serk...

Dan Gillett talks to Herald reporter Tom Raynel about adapting the wine industry to a digital first market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ could be slapped with a blanket 12.5% tariff on all exports to the US as early as Friday night. Fran O'Sullivan Herald Business Commentator. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SpaceX shares are now trading 10% below IPO. Shane Solly Harbour Asset Management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.