The SME Stream

There are concerns that Labour's trying to fix a capital problem that kiwis don't have.  The party's pitching a $200million Future Fund that re-invests dividends from specified Crown assets,  into businesses and infrastructure projects. It'll invest solely in local projects.  Icehouse Ventures CEO Robbie Paul told Mike Hosking the policy is agreeable and directionally correct, &nbsp...

After yet another OCR cut, economists and mortgage holders alike are holding their breath for December - the last announcement of the year.  A new report from Infometrics suggests the Reserve Bank may be taking the cuts too far, and risking an overstimulated economy.  Most forecasts have predicted more cuts coming, but it's possible that Dr Anna Breman may have a different way of handlin...

Tech stocks have been leading the charge recently, and with the way AI is headed, it's unlikely it will slow down any time soon.  So if you're a KiwiSaver investor, now would be a good time to start asking yourself what your long-term strategy is, and how you're thinking about risk.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent cuts to the Official Cash Rate and the potential for more to come will be a relief for many borrowers, but the real game changer in getting mortgage free faster isn’t the interest rate. Shelley Palman, financial advisor at enableMe, joins Nadine to share the tips that could see you saying goodbye to your mortgage sooner.  The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general inform...

Economic consultancy Infometrics says the impacts of the latest OCR cut probably won't be felt until mid to late next year - by which point the economy will be growing.  It could mean greater inflation - with predictions the OCR will rise again as early as late next year.  Independent economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge that caution is needed. He says if the economy does kick into...

There are fears that inflation could come back into the picture as the OCR falls.  Infometrics expects the OCR to fall to 2.25% next month - it's 2.5% at the moment.  Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan says they expect to see growth hit 2.3% annual growth in 2027.  He says alongside stoking inflation, it could create other problems.  Kiernan says it risks stretching ca...

As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina Shrimpton each week as she gives you a rundown of the biggest stories that could impact on your business, so you can make informed decisions with expert advice. This week, Kiwis are still leaving New Zealand in droves but we’re on track to beat pre-covid tourism numbers. Food prices...

The call for dedicated regulations governing artificial intelligence has grown louder as the technology’s power to disrupt industries and society becomes ever more apparent.  But this week’s guest on The Business of Tech podcast, Brainbox Institute director and co-founder Tom Barraclough, warns against rushing into bespoke artificial intelligence regulation. He instead argues that...

The Reserve Bank recently disputed the idea that Covid-era money printing programme caused sky-high inflation, which cost the Government billions. Staff at the bank have published new research that concludes the bank’s $55 billion Large-Scale Asset Purchase (LSAP) programme didn’t 'meaningfully' contribute to above-target inflation following the pandemic. NZ Herald Wellington business...

New reports indicate the Reserve Bank of Australia won't be cutting interest rates until at least February 2026. Employment remains high and inflation is still at target, and experts claim the central bank has no reason to do anything big. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or pro...

The Reserve Bank's continuing to change its approach to preventing risky lending.  It's further easing loan-to-value-ratio restrictions, allowing banks to lend more money to low-deposit borrowers.  It follows the roll-out of debt-to-income restrictions last year, restricting how much banks can lend to people who already have a lot of debt relative to their income.  Squirrel Mortgage...

Thinking about hiring your first team member? Get it wrong and it can drain your cash and slow your growth. Get it right and it can transform your business. In this episode of Make It Happen (thanks to Uber One), I share the 5 signs you’re ready to hire, who your first hire should be, and how to do it without the overwhelm. If you’re stuck doing everything yourself and wondering if it&...

The Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner recently penned an opinion piece in defence of DEI amid ongoing concerns about the measures. Winston Peters and Judith Collins have taken aim against these policies, with Collins aiming to remove diversity requirements from the Public Service Act. Gail Pacheco revealed how DEI standards can boost productivity. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Str...

The IRD is set to be cracking down harder on those who don't pay their taxes properly, and they've unveiled new measures for people who ignore correspondence. The department will start taking money out of people's bank accounts if they owe over a certain amount - and they've recovered at least $17 million so far. The IRD's Tony Morris says they aim to phone people at least twice before they start...

Fletcher Building's issued a gloomy trading update, marked with trading slumps, market falls and low sales volumes. The company's now aiming for a further $100 million dollars in cost cuts. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in t...

An interesting report came out this week about budgets: the average household spending has only gone up two dollars a week since 2023. 50-percent of respondents said they're actively seeking out discounts and promotions - and 30-percent downgrade brands. It's one thing to be spending less on non-essentials, eating less, or wearing cheaper clothes, but sometimes that can chip away at our mental hea...

We like to think about money in terms of simple maths: earn more, spend less, invest the difference. But the main influence on your bank balance goes beyond just whats coming in and going out. The Money Mentalist, financial coach Lynda Moore, joins Nadine to discuss how our money mindset is what sets the tone for our entire relationship with finance. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain&nbs...

The Reserve Bank's continuing to walk a fine line, with its move to cut the OCR 50-basis points to 2.5%.  Economic data suggests inflation has now hit 3%.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis is blaming rising rates, saying they’re having a disproportionate impact on overall inflation, whereas other sectors are stabilising.  NZ Herald Business Editor Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham we...

Hopes for an economic recovery have been given a significant boost by yesterday's decision from the Reserve Bank to frontload cuts to the official cash rate. The RBNZ delivered a 50 basis point cut to the OCR and indicated it was prepared to cut again in November if required. After that, they're kind of starting to run out of ammo.    Dropping mortgage interest rates though is not the pa...

Artificial intelligence technology continues to attract attention from investors, but there's growing concerns over an 'AI bubble' situation. Officials at the Bank of England recently flagged the risk that tech stock prices pumped up by the AI boom could burst. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explained further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not f...

The Reserve Bank's cut the OCR 50-basis-points to 2.5%, despite acknowledging inflation is above or almost above where they'd like it.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis says they've factored in broader economic conditions.  She says the central bank clearly thinks any fluctuation in inflation will be constrained by spare capacity in the economy.  Labour's Finance Spokesperson Barbara...

As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina Shrimpton each week as she gives you a rundown of the biggest stories that could impact on your business, so you can make informed decisions with expert advice. This week, another mammoth cut to the OCR but is it enough to bring our economy back to life, NZ Post is in for a shake up, and...

Wellington artist and animator Chelfyn Baxter has turned the darkest year of his life into a pioneering experiment in human-AI partnership, one fuelled by grief, healing, creativity and ethical ambition. In this week’s episode of The Business of Tech podcast, airing during Mental Health Awareness Week, Baxter shares how the sudden loss of his wife and creative collaborator, Helen, led to the...

For the final episode of season eight,  Liam is joined by Money Talks producer Jane Yee to look back at the best bits of the show for 2025.    A huge thanks to all our guests for sharing their money journeys with us. Thanks also to editor Richard Martin for bringing the show to life. See you in 2026! The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial...

The Finance Minister says she's okay with a short spike in inflation.  The Reserve Bank has slashed the cash rate 50-basis-points to 2.5% and is leaving the door open to further cuts.  It expects inflation to reach or surpass 3% in the short term but believes the economy is weak enough to push inflation back down again next year.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking we won't see another...