Best of Business

Air New Zealand’s debuting 'world-first' sleeping pods on ultra long-haul flights in November. Economy Skynests will be installed on six revamped Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, and open for Economy and Premium Economy passenger bookings next month. The six pods are laid out bunk bed-style between the two cabins, furnished with mattresses, bedding, ventilation and privacy curtains. Aviation commentator...

It's tougher than ever for jobseekers to find work, and one expert has revealed how people can get ahead in the current market. Employment expert Emma McLean has revealed that doom-scrolling job apps isn't the solution, and that networking is important to find opportunities. She joined the Afternoons team to explain further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ongoing Middle East conflict has seen Australia business confidence hit lows not seen since the Covid-19 pandemic. The US has today moved to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, and the supply shock is likely to hit households hard, according to experts. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra has named Richard Allen as its new chief executive, succeeding Miles Hurrell. Allen - who joined Fonterra as a graduate in 2008 and has worked in various roles across the dairy co-operative - will take over next month. Hurrell will remain in a transition advisory role until September. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

New Zealand's growing a reputation among the global tourism industry for its difficult inter-island travel.  Industry workers who attended the world's leading travel trade show in Berlin have made claims that ferry disruptions are leaving tourists and travel companies wary about the possibility of getting stuck while here.   Destination Marlborough general manager Tracey Green says it's...

Another bank is predicting an upcoming OCR raise.  ANZ has already picked three consecutive Official Cash Rate hikes in July, September, and October. Now Westpac says it's becoming more of a possibility next month - but is more likely in September.  Chief economist Kelly Eckhold says the Reserve Bank will work from specific indicators.  "They're looking for indications that the peak...

The Iran war is prompting Qantas to scale back flights within Australia, but it's flying more to Paris and Rome. The airline's scaling back domestic Qantas and Jetstar flights about 5 percent. Qantas says fuel prices have more than doubled since late February, and remain highly volatile. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the airline's projected to make a loss amid the ongoing conflict - an...

While many may not have heard of ‘Viva la Dirt League’, their kids probably have.  Self-described as a ‘bunch of nerds who play games and make comedy sketches about games,’ they’re a YouTube sketch comedy group and independent production company based in New Zealand.   But what was once a channel that made a couple of hundred dollars a month has grown into a multi-million dollar business...

Global oil prices have shot up again, with Donald Trump gunning for authority over the Strait of Hormuz. The President's announced a naval blockade on Iranian ports, after peace talks collapsed in Pakistan yesterday.  Despite the ceasefire, he's looking at resuming strikes.   Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Concerns have been raised over the new Wellington water entity, as its board members will be paid twice as much as their Wellington Water counterparts. The group's new chair will be paid $110,000 - a higher figure than the $60,000 Wellington Water's previous chair was paid. The entity's CEO will also be paid $645,000 - a higher amount than the previous Wellington Water CEO got. Wellington mayor An...

There's growing concern about the impact of the Middle East conflict, and at least one major bank has forecasted increases to the OCR. ANZ has revised its outlook, with forecasted increases to the OCR bringing rates up to 3 percent by October. Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop says skyrocketing fuel prices will have a flow-on effect on the New Zealand economy - and it's likely inflation will...

A warning Iran has more ways to inflict economic pain if war resumes with the US, other than in the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump's threatening a navy blockade of the shipping lane from 2am NZT after talks in Pakistan have brought no deal. Iran says military vessels approaching the Strait will be dealt with severely. Reuters Middle East correspondent Alexander Cornwell says UAE and Saudi Arabian...

Concern from pharmacists over revelations Chemist Warehouse is planning to double its sites in the next decade.  BusinessDesk reports a confidential briefing for Regulations Minister David Seymour shows it's aiming to have 140 stores. Independent Pharmacy Group Co-founder John Saywell says corporate chains are squeezing out small local chemists. "Bigger and cheaper isn't always better, and in...

The country's largest bank is now forecasting three Official Cash Rate hikes before the election. ANZ is predicting three consecutive increases in July, September, and October - bringing the OCR from 2.25 percent to 3 percent. A week ago, most economists were expecting the central bank to keep the OCR on hold until December. But the Reserve Bank's hawkish tone is prompting most to change their for...

President Donald Trump named Kevin Warsh as his choice for Federal Reserve chair earlier in the year, and he's set to have an impact on the US economy. Warsh's confirmation hearing is set to take place next Wednesday and there's speculation growing about what this means for interest rates.  Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Federated Farmers says farmers are experiencing fuel shortages, with some two to three weeks behind their normal fuel drops. The US and Iran have reached a two-week ceasefire, and negotiations are planned in Pakistan this week, on a longer term settlement. Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Karl Dean says there's no signs of this going away amid the ongoing uncertainty. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/...

New Zealand sheep and beef farmers are set to see strong returns for the 25/26 season, but there's global factors impacting the outlook. Concerns have been raised over the US tariffs situation and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumer NZ says ongoing mechanical problems put Fords to the top of its list of the worst cars to own. The US brand produced the two least reliable cars - in its survey of almost 6,000 owners. The Focus and Escape Models won the top spots. Product test journalist, Bryan Wall, says out of all cars, they had the most major faults reported. "Their cars were off-road for, probably, an extended period...

Flat whites are out and iced coffees are in - and there's a wide range of factors behind this change. Cafes across the nation have noticed an uptick in younger customers reaching for cold drinks over hot. Flight Coffee co-founder Richard Corney says there's been a rise in people buying iced drinks, as well as chilled RTD coffees. "I don't have stats off the top of my head in terms of value now, bu...

It's important to make the right choices where it counts - and downsizing for retirement is one of those key decisions. One expert says it's important to make sure you start planning the journey before you're ready, in order to make the right choices. Age Brightly founder Hannah McQueen joined the Afternoons team to explain further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank says it's still unclear what today's Iran ceasefire announcement - and resulting dramatic fall in oil prices - mean for New Zealand. The central bank's held the Official Cash Rate unchanged, at 2.25 percent. It's working off the assumption inflation will surge to 4.2 percent this quarter. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omn...

Both US President Donald Trump and Iran have portrayed the last minute ceasefire deal as a victory for their nations. The nations accepted Pakistan's proposal to pause fighting two weeks and Iran's agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Milford Asset Management expert Brendan Larsen says shares in the US, Australia and New Zealand have gone up off the back of the news. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio....

AI is taking up a significant role in New Zealand's employment operations, and one Kiwi company has opened up about the process. Employment Hero, which specialises in recruitment software, has revealed that AI has screened tens of thousands of CVs each month and overseen 1000 job interviews in March. Employment Hero's Neil Webster says business owners have revealed prospective employees have also...

The two residents of Australia's smallest town have decided to sell up and move on. Cooladdi is a nine-hour drive west of Brisbane, and the new owner will be expected to keep busy - working as a postie, publican, motelier, restaurateur and shopkeeper. One of Cooladdi's residents, Carol Yarrow, says the town is on Australia's longest road, and it sees lots of people come through every day. LISTEN A...

The Reserve Bank says there are still plenty of unknowns, after today's Iran ceasefire announcement and resultant oil price drop. It's held the Official Cash Rate at 2.25 percent, but is forecasting inflation could surge to 4.2 percent this quarter. Governor Anna Breman says that figure could be much lower if things settle in the Middle East. But she says if not, fuel costs could rise more, pushin...