The SME Stream

In this bonus episode of The SME Stream, brought to you by BNZ, host Wilhelmina Shrimpton sits down with tech expert Paul Spain to talk all things cybersecurity, what the biggest risks are and how to best protect your business. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not necessarily shared by...

Broadcaster, author and Taskmaster NZ star Bree Tomasel reckons her whole job can be summed up as “talking shit for a living.”  But behind the laughs is grit, hustle and a surprisingly conservative approach to money. She chats with Liam Dann about farm life, broke uni days, indulgent splurges and whether she'd take a million right now or risk it all for a 50/50 shot at a billion....

The Reserve Bank cut the OCR by 25 basis points to three percent today, but the markets still saw some surprises. Today's cut was divisive, with 2 of the 6 committee members voting for a 50 basis point cut. Remy Morgan from Milford Asset Management explained further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any op...

As the global race to develop quantum computers heats up, New Zealand is working on specialist areas of technology that could add crucial elements to the quantum supply chain. That’s according to the University of Oxford’s Professor Andrew Daley, a principal investigator in the UK’s national quantum programme tasked with developing more accurate and functional quantum computers....

The Reserve Bank Governor is defending not going harder with cuts to the Official Cash Rate.  The cash rate has been cut 25 basis points to 3%.  But it's signalling more cuts than it was before, and has revealed two of the six Monetary Policy Committee members actually wanted a bigger cut.  Christian Hawkesby told Mike Hosking he stands by the central bank's decisions.  He says...

A steady slide to the OCR is gently flowing through to households.  The Reserve Bank's cut the cash rate from 5.5% to 3% over the past 13 months and is also signalling further possible cuts on the way.  Assistant Governor Karen Silk says many people have been fixing on higher short-term rates while they hold out for lower long-term rates.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Ryan Br...

The Reserve Bank is signalling further OCR cuts, but making no promises. It's slashed the cash rate 25 basis points today, to 3 percent. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this is a sign that the screws are off the economy. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in...

The Reserve Bank is widely expected to cut the OCR tomorrow, according to new reports. The OCR is currently sitting at 3.25 percent and the major banks have already been dropping their mortgage interest rates in anticipation. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham outlined his predictions. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professio...

Former economist and investment manager Gareth Morgan was caught off-guard by an AI deepfake using his voice and likeness, and he's warned people to be careful. The investment scam made the rounds on Facebook and Instagram and encouraged Kiwis to invest in a vaguely-defined US-based scheme. Gareth Morgan says his daughter showed him the scam - and it almost had him fooled.  "The only giveaway...

There are tentative signs of recovery, as a troubled construction sector looks to turn the corner.  A new report shows the sector generated $94 billion in revenue in the year to March, down slightly from $99 billion the year prior.  Despite this, the report shows residential consents have levelled off, government infrastructure projects are restarting, and falling interest rates are supp...

Financial results are coming in thick and fast.  a2 Milk is reporting a 21% rise in profit alongside announcing it has bought the Yashili  plant in Pokeno.  It's also sold its majority stake in the Mataura Valley plant in Gore to Open Country Dairy.  Contact Energy's profit is up 13% after a surge in geothermal generation.  Freightways' profit is up 12.9%.  Chief exec...

Financial results are coming in thick and fast. a2 Milk is reporting a 21 percent rise in profit - alongside announcing it bought the Yashili plant in Pokeno. It's also sold its majority stake in the Mataura Valley plant in Gore - to Open Country Dairy. Contact Energy's profit is up 13-percent, after a surge in geothermal generation, and Freightways' profit is up 12.9 percent. Harbour Asset Manage...

Tax deductions can be confusing, especially when you’re trying to figure out what you can and can’t claim if you're running a business or are self-employed. So, what’s a legit deduction and what’s not? How do you make the most of what you can claim without crossing the line? And what happens if the IRD think you've crossed that line? Catriona Knapp, director at Future Focus...

New Zealand could secure a place in the global AI economy with a sustainable data centre Research by the Maxim Institute has looked at leveraging the country's renewable energy, cool climate, and strong privacy laws to become a hub in the Asia–Pacific.  Researcher Thomas Scrimgeour says high energy costs must be tackled in order to seize the opportunity.  He told Mike Hosking AI se...

We are well on our way to a collective one trillion dollars in debt. In the year to the end of May, New Zealand hit just over 870-billion in gross debt - up 5.4 percent from almost 830-billion last year. It represents an average of just over 160-thousand dollars in raw debt for every person in the country. At the current rate of growth, New Zealand will hit the trillion dollar landmark,  insi...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY]  Power generator Mercury is investing $550 million into three of its historic hydro stations, aged between 64 to 75 years old. Come on a tour of one of the oldest energy assets with me and the CEO! The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcast...

New Zealand exporters are remaining upbeat.  The latest Export New Zealand DHL Export Barometer shows about four in five have maintained or increased export volumes over the past year.  Exporters say it's been getting cheaper to do business, but they're getting more worried about trade wars.  NZ International Business Forum Executive Director Felicity Roxburgh told Mike Hosking the...

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, We’re quite literally running out of gas, so what’s the solution? Banks have already started slash...

As US tech companies double down on artificial intelligence, pouring billions into new data centres and offering eye-watering compensation packages to secure the best talent, a different path is emerging for New Zealand. Catalyst Cloud co-founder Don Christie returned to The Business of Tech podcast this week to lay out his vision for sovereign AI, one where open source models and local infrastruc...

US inflation held steady in July, with consumer prices rising 2.7 percent - depite the ongoing concerns around import tariffs. Figures are better than economists feared, but underlying pressures make the Federal Reserve's next move unclear. Milford Asset Management's Michael Luke explained further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial&nbs...

Chef, TV host and farmer Mike Van de Elzen has worked in some of the toughest kitchens in the world, from London’s high-pressure restaurant scene to running his own award-winning eateries in Aotearoa. He joins Liam Dann to talk about growing up on a Henderson poultry farm, funding his first motorbike with chicken manure sales, surviving on scraps in London and why the term “celebrity c...

The Reserve Bank is moving to cut 20 percent of its staff in a bid to unwind the hiring spree by former Governor Adrian Orr. The restructure will see the net reduction on 142 roles, including 35 vacant positions. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or profession...

Major gas users are looking to the Government for help, with many struggling with high prices.  A survey by energy management company Optima and Business NZ reveals gas prices have risen by more than 100% on average in the past five years.  Nearly half of industrial and commercial users have had to make cuts as a result.  Resources Minister Shane Jones is seeking advice whether rati...

Resources Minister Shane Jones is investigating whether to ration gas to keep some businesses going. Fertiliser co-operative Ballance last week revealed it's considering a four-month temporary closure after it failed to renew its long-term gas deal. It was outbid by Contact Energy, which is supplying homes. Jones says he'll be focusing on what's doable, to help solve the shortage. "We're not makin...

Spark New Zealand is selling 75 percent of its data centre business for about half a billion dollars. Australian-owned Pacific Equity Partners is taking the controlling share of the $705-million-dollar business. Spark will move its data centre assets and operations into a new stand-alone company. Devon Funds Head of Retail Greg Smith explains what this could mean for the business. LISTEN ABOVE The...