The SME Stream

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Economists are divided on whether unemployment is finally starting to fall.  Stats NZ is releasing its latest employment update at 10.45.  Economic conditions are improving, but that's also prompting more people to re-join the labour market.  Most bank economists expect the unemployment rate to remain unchanged from three months ago at an historically high 5.3%, but ASB economists t...

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Many Kiwis re-fixed their mortgage last year and will be re-fixing their mortgage again this year too.  Four in five borrowers have re-fixed in the past year – a 13-year high.  And more than two-thirds of fixed rate loans are due to come up for renewal this year.  Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold told Mike Hosking most people have been opting for one-year or 18-month term...

New Zealand's biggest bank, ANZ, has downgraded its forecast for property prices this year.  It says its previous forecast of 5% is looking unrealistic as the OCR looks to be making a turn soon and market prices are already falling - now saying a 2% rise is more likely.  Meanwhile, economists are laying out their predictions for when we'll see the OCR make that turn.  Many say it wo...

Rabobank’s senior ag analyst previews the bank’s NZ Agribusiness Outlook 2026 - titled "Keeping one move ahead". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A view that increased employment will be the key to our economic bounce back.   Infometrics says there's worrying indicators which show economic momentum is fragile.  But more signs of improvement are expected by midyear, when labour market conditions should be turning.   Infometrics’ Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge that they are expecting the economy to pick u...

The Minister for Trade's attempting to put to bed concerns about our Free Trade Agreement with India, repeatedly voiced by the NZ First leader.  Winston Peters claims it will let tens of thousands more Indian migrants enter the country.   The Prime Minister has denied the assertion.   Todd McClay told Mike Hosking there are no rights around migration in the agreement – instead it al...

The economy is still struggling to gain momentum.   Infometrics says a lot of the indicators suggest that economic recovery is looking unconvincing. Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan says most have taken the possibility of further Official Cash Rate cuts off the table, and some are forecasting a hike. He told Mike Hosking that things are improving, but the problem for households in particular i...

Winston Peters claims our proposed trade agreement with India would let visa holders bring family members with them.  The Trade Minister denies the FTA could allow 20,000 to 25,000 more immigrant arrivals. Peters says Todd McClay admitted the loophole himself to a select committee.   "He had to concede that there were those people who had the right to bring their spouses and their childr...

In this episode of Make It Happen , Iyia sits down with Charlotte, founder of &Breathe one of Make It Happens students, to unpack how she went from paediatric ICU nurse to building a fast-growing education business reaching over 15 million organic views in six months. Charlotte shares how solving a real problem for parents led to sell-out online and in-person trainings, the exact social media...

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Economists are expecting the Official Cash Rate to rise sooner rather than later, flattening forecasts for the property market.  Cotality's latest report shows almost three quarters of local respondents expect house prices to rise this year.   Meanwhile, ANZ's slashed its house price inflation forecast for 2026 from 5% to 2%.  ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Mike Hosking the...

Two Kiwi engineers who helped build the future of self‑driving cars in Silicon Valley are now quietly laying the foundations for the next great tech wave: physical AI.  In the latest episode of The Business of Tech, I talk to Harry Mellsop, co‑founder of simulation startup Antioch , and Adrian Macneil, co‑founder and CEO of data platform Foxglove , for a fast‑paced tour of where robotics is r...

The Reserve Bank spent most of 2025 lowering the OCR, leaving experts to speculate how these changes impacted the economy. Since then, economic and business confidence has gone up for the start of 2026, but inflation data for the December quarter has raised some concerns Milford Asset Management expert Brendan Larsen explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

The Official Cash Rate is expected to rise this year, although forecasters say predicting when is tricky. Inflation was stronger in the December quarter than expected, at 3.1 percent. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen is picking a hike in November - with an outside possibility of one in May.  He says other signs in the market signal a possible increase.  "Actual bank rates for l...

A possible sign of the economic recovery with Michael Hill's New Zealand operation reporting its first positive result in more than two years.  In the six months to December the jeweller made $62 million worth of sales, increasing by 2.4%.  First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson says jewellery's a good sign of discretionary spending and consumer confidence.  He told Mi...

Despite Labour raising some concerns with the Government's trade deal with India, the move has been welcomed by rural economists. Trade analyst Stephen Jacobi says the Government timed the deal perfectly - and might have had to wait years if they prolonged the negotiations. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's trade Spokesman discusses the India FTA, roads, trucks, and the latest RNZ Reid Research poll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Justice Minister's dismissing suggestions there's an issue within the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime amid resignations.  Three of the five members have resigned in recent weeks including Michael Bell, Lindsay Rowles, and Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young.   Young says her relationship with its chairman Sunny Kaushal became untenable.  Kaushal's refu...

There's been growing debate over how Auckland's CBD can be revitalised after years of uncertainty and economic decline. The $5.5 billion City Rail Link is due to be built at the second half of the year and it's promised to bring in economic benefits, but it's unclear if it'll get the city in motion.  Kiwi entrepreneur Andrew Barnes says a lot of shops and businesses have been closed, and it's...

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Normally when property comes up in discussion, it's focused on the plight of the youngsters who are fighting to get on to the property ladder. But today, we're switching it up a bit. Your house is likely the most expensive thing you own, that applies for everyone who's lucky enough to own one. So how do you manage your money with it? How old is too old to be investing in property? Are you worried...