The SME Stream

Infrastructure and health are the big priorities in this year's Budget, as banks face a new levy, and cuts take shape.  There are no specific cost-of-living payments or Budget sugar hits - but Finance Minister Nicola Willis promises spending initiatives will create thousands of jobs.  And our books are set to return to surplus earlier than expected.  But, Opposition parties&nbs...

The Government says this year's budget especially strengthens Auckland's role as New Zealand's economic engine room. They point out that they're investing in health, including funding to purchase land for a future South Auckland Hospital, and a share of the Government's $5.5-billion health package. Additionally, they highlight plans for housing growth with a new $400-million fund for councils to e...

Not knowing what to sell is one of the biggest reasons people never start. In this episode I share the exact five methods I have used to identify every product that has made me millions, including the strategy behind my shapewear business that did $3.5 million in its first year and my supplement brand that hit $2.6 million. From finding what frustrates people to validating your idea before spendin...

“We choose our defence spending and no one else,” the Prime Minister says as the United States continues to pressure other nations, including New Zealand, to increase military spending. Speaking with Heather du Plessis-Allan on Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast, Christoper Luxon has backed New Zealand’s defence spending. Luxon denied New Zealand is “freeloading&rdq...

Move over ChatGPT, Claude is now the #1   Anthropic announced a new $65 billion funding round, bringing their valuation to $965 billion and making their company more valuable than OpenAI (valued at $852 billion in March). Now the race is on for the first AI company to grow to be worth $1 trillion.   I just can't stop thinking about the incredible wealth growth of their employees. We thou...

As far as Budgets in economically precarious times go, I thought it was a pretty good one.  And save yourself the 20 cents, anonymous texter. I can see you typing from here. "Well, you would say that, Tokyo Rose, wouldn't you?"  Well yes, come on, be fair though – what on Earth were they supposed to do? We were warned that there would be very little money to spend. The Government r...

While presenting Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nicola Willis shared a prediction that New Zealand will reach a $2.6 billion surplus by 2028-29. ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Heather du Plessis-Allan the prediction was 'a little bit rosy'.  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 no lolly scramble , but what has Budget Day delivered for business? The OCR holds steady, but for how mu...

So what would you rather? A little bit of pain now or a whole lot more later? The Reserve Bank yesterday opted to keep the official cash rate at 2.25%, but the decision to hold was a close-run thing. And we know that now because of the transparency around the decisions being made and a jolly good thing it is too. Governor Dr. Anna Breman had to use her casting vote. The Monetary Policy Committee w...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has described superannuation as a 'time bomb' that is here now and political parties need to be honest about it. Delivering the Budget today, Willis said National will enter the election with changes to ensure superannuation is affordable.  NZ First's Shane Jones has confirmed the party's not budging on this issue. "The reality is, our economic growth rate...is...

The surplus train's left the station early in Budget news today, with the country expected to be out of deficit by 2028/29, a year ahead of predictions. Government Ministers are trumpeting that figure, alongside a focus on health and infrastructure.  The Waikato Expressway will get 12 more kilometres, Whangarei a new hospital wing and new police stations are on the horizon for Whanganui and G...

Tonight on The Huddle, NZ Herald senior correspondent Katie Bradford and Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Budget 2026 was unveiled today - what did we make of it? Do we think we'll reach surplus by 2028/29? Will debt really come down? Nicola Willis also says we need to have a discussion around superannuati...

Over $1 billion allocated for KiwiRail's planned network investments in the Budget means “all the things we want to upgrade are going to happen”, Rail Minister Winston Peters says.  He told Mike Hosking they have not asked for more than they should get.  Peters says it’s based on the fact that it’s a business or industry that’s been turned around rapidly whe...

While everyone counts the dollars and tries to make sense of Budget 2026 – there are thousands of public servants staring down losing their jobs. In her pre-Budget speech, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced plans to slash the sector by about 8,700 roles by mid-2029. The overhaul will also include reducing the number of government departments and increasing the use of AI. The Public Ser...

Ryan Bridge interviews the RBNZ boss on her captain's on the OCR and rates expected to rise faster than forecast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie Bradford speaking to Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold about OCR yesterday and Budget today.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is not impressed by the Budget. The party's promising an alternative fiscal plan, but says it will be more than a few weeks away, as Labour goes line by line to criticise the spending. Hipkins says Kiwis are being hit hard by the cost of living, and this Budget is asking those with the least to make the most sacrifices. "I certainly wouldn't have prioritised raising ren...

It was more the RBNZ coming to what the market was expecting rather than any surprise.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruth Richardson weighs in ahead of today's Budget 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tax expert says it's good to draw a line under recent changes to charity rules. This year's Budget tweaks the Research and Development Tax Incentive, simplifies the fringe benefit tax, and expands the Foreign Investment Fund rules to all taxpayers.  It also caps the tax credits that can be received on not-for-profit donations.  Deloitte tax partner Robyn Walker says it's still very gen...

ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says the window for low mortgage rates has closed, with multiple Official Cash Rate hikes expected later this year following the Reserve Bank’s decision to hold the rate at 2.25% yesterday.  The RBNZ's Monetary Policy Statement said Official Cash Rate (OCR) increases would likely be required this year, predicting inflation would peak at 4.3% in the Septe...

Budget 2026 was unveiled today, and there's discussion about what these changes mean for Kiwi farmers. The Government's revealed it plans to extend the Waikato Expressway, and the 6-kilometre stretch will reach the intersection of State Highways One, and 29 at Piarere. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most households may not see any immediate direct benefit from the Budget.  It shows a return to surplus in the 2028/29 financial year, a year sooner than previously forecast. The forecast uses the OBEGALx measure, which excludes ACC.     Infometrics Economist Brad Olsen says it might be a tad optimistic, given the state of the world, but we could maybe use some optimism.  The B...

Starlink has quickly become the hero – and potential hazard – of rural broadband in New Zealand.  In a few short years, Elon Musk’s low-Earth orbit satellite service has gone from curiosity to default option for many farms, small towns and remote communities that never made it onto the fibre map. It’s racked up 58,000 subscribers and generated around $100 million in re...

Energy security. Financial security. International security. Social cohesion.  These are the government’s priorities for Budget 2026 that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon laid out earlier this month. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says this Budget will lay out a clear plan. Where the country is now, where we're headed, and the road we'll take to get there. So, what should we look out fo...