The SME Stream

A growing number of businesses are reporting losses and economists have voiced concerns. IRD data shows that in the 2023 tax year, 107,360 companies out of 475,010 reported a current loss. Another 40,670 were carrying a loss over from a previous tax year. Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan says these figures are consistent with the current deterioration of the economy. LISTEN ABOVE The po...

There's a view businesses have been taken by surprise by surging gas prices.  Energy management company Optima and Business NZ's joint survey reveals gas prices have risen by more than 100% on average in the past five years.  Nearly half report it's led to them reducing operations, increased prices, or cutting staff.  Business NZ Energy Council Executive Director Tina Schirr told Mi...

The next US Consumer Price Inflation report will be out this week, and economists are speculating about what this could mean going forward. Markets are keeping an eye on things, as inflation continues to be an issue in the US. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professiona...

Most New Zealanders consider themselves only “average” with money.  In fact, a new study from Partners Life finds less than a quarter of New Zealanders rate their financial knowledge as "excellent". Nearly 60 percent find it tough to pay monthly expenses, and just over half reported stress or losing sleep due to money concerns.  At the same time, many are reportedly using cre...

Amid the soaring cost of everything from butter and cheese to rates and insurance, tips on how to trim your budget abound. But once that budget's cut to the quick, the only alternative is to earn more. While the need for side hustles can be controversial, Tracy Hemingway – who used them to escape $94,000 of debt and buy her first home in just four years – says they can serve a purpose...

Anduril has a plan to protect Western waters, involving extra-large autonomous submarines and torpedoes. Go inside the US$30.5b defense hardware company’s headquarters in California to meet the Australian engineer leading its expanding underwater division. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed i...

Two new seasonal visas have been unveiled, allowing the likes of rural contractors or chairlift operators to return for up to three years or stay for up to seven months. It follows the unemployment rate reaching a five-year high of 5.2-percent.  Malcolm Pacific Immigration Director David Cooper told Mike Hosking it's hard to get New Zealanders into domestic seasonal work. LISTEN ABOVE The pod...

Cost of living and the economy remains top of the agenda for National. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s already touting his leadership as one that’s a “clear choice” for New Zealanders at next year’s election, saying the government “inherited a mess and sorting it out”. However, commentators have been quick to out the issues facing National ahead of the...

2025 has been regarded as a challenging year for economic forecasting, with experts stumped about what decisions to make. Traditional indicators have been regarded as contradictory, but one expert's developed a workaround. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional ad...

Higher unemployment could continue to be a handbrake on the country's economic recovery.  More Kiwis are out of work, with unemployment now at a five-year high.  And Kiwis that are working are earning less, with wages not keeping up with inflation over the past 12 months.  Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young told Ryan Bridge that's having ripple effects.  She says if consum...

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, Unemployment is up, so what will that mean for the OCR? Property values are still taking time to budge, and Kiw...

The number of mortgage holders refinancing their loans is the highest ever recorded.  More than 3,500 borrowers refinanced in June, and experts are expecting to see the trend continue through to the end of the year.  Finance specialist Amanda Morrall joins Tim Beveridge for Smart Money.  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or p...

Property investment has long been thought of as  the way to make passive income.  It's money coming in without the 40 hours a week - but is it really as passive as we all think?  Investment coach Debbie Roberts from Property Apprentice joins Tim Beveridge for the OneRoof Radio Show.  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or...

The Prime Minister's blaming New Zealand's rising unemployment on the last Government's economic management.   The rate's hit a five-year high of 5.2%, just shy of Treasury’s predicted 5.4%.    Christopher Luxon told Kerre Woodham when inflation rises, interest rates go up, the economy shrinks, and people lose their jobs.  He says Labour had a lovely big spend-up party, b...

Crimson Education has been valued at NZ$1 billion (US$600 million) - but could its core business, getting kids into Ivy league, be destroyed by AI? Co-founder Jamie Beaton takes me to Columbia University to see inside the changing world of education institutions. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the pod...

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chair Kate Acland joins Tim Beveridge to discuss the impacts of the newly announced 15% tariff on exports to the United States.  LISTEN ABOVE 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 BNZ, or its related entities. BNZ is not liable for any l...

The latest unemployment statistics for New Zealand are due out tomorrow, and experts are divided ahead of the announcement. Many are projecting the market will have deteriorated further, but some are hoping things would have picked up. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advi...

The Trade Minister's hitting the phones, as it's confirmed US tariffs on New Zealand will be higher than when they were first announced. The Trump administration has confirmed base tariffs will now be 15 percent -- up from 10, in a decision that impacts countries including New Zealand. It's believed the new rate applies to those with a trade deficit with the US. Todd McClay told Heather du Plessis...

There was little this country could do to dodge the latest  tariff - this from a former trade minister Donald Trump's raising tariffs on New Zealand goods to 15 percent, while keeping tariffs on Australian and British goods at 10-percent. Tim Groser has dealt with the US extensively -- as our trade minister during the Barack Obama administration, and ambassador to the US during the first Trum...

It’s about that time of year when it feels like winter really starts to drag.... and it must be feeling that way for Christopher Luxon, too. It‘a cold and dark and we just want to be at the beach like our poser friends in Bali or Europe.  But we endure this gloomy season safe in the knowledge that one day, in a month or so, springtime will come, the days will get longer and everyt...

This week's episode of The Business of Tech marks a historic moment: the 60th anniversary of Datacom, New Zealand’s largest homegrown IT company.  I was joined by Datacom’s Group CEO Greg Davidson, who has overseen nearly two decades of remarkable change, steering the Christchurch-founded company through tidal waves of technological innovation.  “It is older than me, I'...

This week, prolific board director Wayne Boyd shares his best and worst money stories with Liam Dann, including pivoting from his planned legal career to helping break up Telecom, and his other high-profile board roles. 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 BNZ, or...

Private Equity is starting to become part of the asset mix for an increasing number of KiwiSaver providers, with Fisher Funds the latest to ramp up their Private Equity offering.  Many people may think of corporate raiders when it comes to private equity - the type that sell the business off for parts - but how does that image fit with these new changes? And what are the opportunities, and th...

From tomorrow, there’ll be a 15% tariff on New Zealand imports for US businesses. The announcement of the arbitrary amount saw us frantically send our chief trade negotiator over to Washington in a last-ditch effort to plead our case. Trade Minister Todd McClay was also dispatched. But, will that actually do any good – when larger economies have already signed on the dotted line and ac...

Economic recovery is taking longer than many hoped.  Unemployment's risen to a five-year high of 5.2%, up from 5.1% in the March quarter.  New Zealand officially moved out of recession last year.  The Herald's Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham the job market is taking longer to catch up, so many people may not be feeling better off.  He says economists can tell us numbers are improv...