Best of Business

A would-be supplier says we've missed an opportunity for the supermarket industry.  The Commerce Commission concludes competition is not working well in the sector and recommends a mandatory code of conduct for suppliers.  But it stops short of requiring the industry to be broken up, as it hinted in its draft report.  Wānaka-based Bloomsberry Chocolate Company tried to get its products into superm...

The Commerce Commission has released its final report into our supermarket sector -- stating competition isn't working well.  It recommends freeing up land for supermarket development, a mandatory code of conduct for suppliers and the major operators offering wholesale supply on a voluntary basis.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Hamish Rutherford says told Nick Mills we shouldn't underestima...

The Commerce Commission has concluded competition is "not working well" in the supermarket sector, recommending a mandatory code of conduct for suppliers.  However, the competition watchdog has stopped short of requiring major structural change in the $22 billion sector.  Newstalk ZB Chief Political Reporter Jason Walls was at the briefing and he joined Tim Beveridge. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.c...

Central Otago's Lake Dunstan Trail is smashing all expectations.  More than 62,000 riders have used the track since it opened in May.  During January alone, 12,068 people passed the trail counter - almost as many people targeted for the entire year of 2028.  Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust Chairman Stephen Jeffery told Mike Hosking it's also helping out local businesses.  “I’ve alread...

In the last two years, we've heard countless stories about businesses needing to do business travel.  When it comes to making deals and trades, doing it on Zoom with dodgy Wi-Fi often doesn't cut it.  But economists are forecasting that business travel will resume at barely half the rate they once were.  General manager of corporate brands at Flight Centre Keely Alton joined Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN...

Wellington’s City Missioner is echoing National’s claims of a living cost crisis.   Christopher Luxon has painted a picture of New Zealanders being squeezed by rising taxes and high inflation.  If he becomes Prime Minister he’d repeal all of Labour’s taxes or added levies introduced since 2017.  Jacinda Ardern says she wouldn't describe the situation as a crisis, but says people are certainly feel...

An anxious wait for those with skin in the supermarket game.  The Commerce Commission will release its final report into the sector this morning.  Last year's draft findings found the $22 billion industry isn't working well for customers.  The commission could make a number of recommendations today, including introducing a third big supermarket chain.   Supie Online Supermarket Founder Sarah Balle...

New Zealand's supermarket industry could be in for a major overhaul today.  The Commerce Commission will release its final report from its market study of the industry this morning.  Last year's draft found a lack of competition between supermarkets.  The commission could make a range of recommendations, including asking supermarkets to divest their wholesale divisions.  Auckland University Market...

Sanctions applied to Russia in wake of the Ukraine invasion are starting to Russia hard. Although the Russian had built up very substantial foreign exchange reverses, these sanctions have left Russians unable to access a large proportion of them. This has substantially reduced the manoeuvrability the Russian Central Bank has, leading to rising interest rates and the Ruble collapsing. Many Western...

The ute sale figures for February are out. Out of 12,500 vehicles registered in New Zealand, the utes were the best-sellers. The Ford Ranger was the best-selling ute, followed by the Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton. Motor Industry Association CEO David Crawford joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government may be excluding exotic plantings from the carbon credit system.   Forestry Minister Stuart Nash has released a discussion document which would take exotic plantings like the radiata pine off the Emissions Trading Scheme.   He's cited a need for safeguards against risks such as pests, fire, and damaged habitats for native species.   But the Forest Owners Association says all these r...

Vladimir Putin is standing his ground on his invasion on Ukraine amid ever-mounting economic pressure from the west.  The Russian president has been addressing his people in a televised address claiming the reunification of the Russian and Ukrainian people is going to plan.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now requesting one-on-one talks with Putin saying it's the only way to end the wa...

There has been some discussion this week about the Brain Drain, and how with the world opening up for Kiwis again, we could lose a lot of workers overseas.  Employers are having to think of ways to make sure they don't lose their workers going on OEs.  Randstad NZ thinks they have worked it out.  They are giving staff the choice to work anywhere around the world, for up to four weeks a year and no...

Deborah Lambie from Milford Asset Management joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to breakdown the effects that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has had on global markets and commodities. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's only taken three and a half years, but the Sleepyhead Estate development at Ohinewai has finally been given the green light.  The Environment Court had been looking into a number of issues, but they've since said these have all been resolved and everything can now move forward.   Which is great news considering the development is expected to help the Waikato economy to the tune of $8.5 billio...

Wellington Mornings Business Panel with Zealandia CEO Dr Danielle Shanahan and businessman Paul Ridley-Smith on how a brain drain could impact Wellington, what we want tourism to look like when international visitors return, the protest at Parliament and their top spots in the Capital. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From this morning any Kiwis coming home from Aussie do not need to self-isolate and no MIQ.  But with the welcome mat opening for KIwis round the world, it also means we can leave New Zealand too.  ANZ economists are warning about 20,000 Kiwis will move to Australia alone.  With a large outflow of people, this is warned to increase our worker shortage and add demand to our labour market.  Infometr...

New Zealanders returning home will soon be able to do so without going into isolation - does this mean we are likely to have a brain drain? New Zealand and the UK have signed a free trade agreement overnight, is it a good one?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's praise all around for New Zealand rea$ching a free trade deal with the United Kingdom.  Trade Minister Damien O'Connor says our free trade deal with the UK is a gold standard agreement.  The UK has agreed to eliminate tariffs on our exports, with duties removed on 99.5 percent of current trade into the UK.  Kiwi exporters are expected to save about 37 million a year on tariff elimination a...

The Tourism Minister says he's working hard to rebuild brand New Zealand.   He says he should be able to make an announcement about the fate of overseas travellers from Australia and non-visa waiver countries in March .   Vaccinated Kiwis living around the world are able to return from Saturday with no isolation, those in Australia can head home isolation-free from Thursday.   Stuart Nash told Mik...

Hopes the hotel industry can shake the MIQ stigma.   From Thursday, vaccinated New Zealanders in Australia will be able to return home without isolating.   Kiwis from the rest of the world can come from Saturday under the same rules.   Sudima Hotels Chief Operating Officer Les Morgan told Mike Hosking while demand will be slow to return, hotels are raring to go.  “Hotels will be safe to occupy, th...

There has long been talk of government merging TVNZ and RNZ into a new public media entity.  Cabinet is said to have finally made it's decision on the matter, and is expected to announce the merger will go ahead.  Someone who has a keen interest in this is TVNZ's main competitor Discovery who owns TV3.  Senior Vice President and General Manager of Discovery Australia and New Zealand Glen Kyle join...

Damien O'Connor says securing a free trade deal with the UK was no easy feat.   The Trade Minister's signed the agreement in London with his British counterpart.  The United Kingdom's agreed to phase out all tariffs on New Zealand exports, saving Kiwi exporters about $37 million a year.   It also includes new duty-free quota access for beef, sheep meat, butter, and cheese products - with all quota...

Federated Farmers is welcoming the news of a free trade deal between New Zealand and the United Kingdom.  The UK has agreed to phase out all tariffs on our exports, saving Kiwi exporters about 37-million dollars a year.   It's also expected to boost our GDP by up to $1 billion.  President Andrew Hoggard told Kate Hawkesby free trade deals are always a win for New Zealand.  “We sign them and you ex...

Is junk mail still a thing? It’s mainly email these days, with specials and sales, etc. How many of us still pull a pamphlet out of the letterbox and then having pulled that pamphlet out and actually read it? Marketing Association CEO John Miles joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.