The SME Stream

Wellington City Council is being called on to review its rating system over fears increased rates are driving businesses out of the capital. Newly released figures show Wellington’s average commercial rates bill is $47,881. That compares to $20,716 in Auckland, $18,059 in Christchurch, $24,768 in Hamilton, and $25,670 in Tauranga. Director of The Wellington Company, Ian Cassels, says there's...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY] Zuru CEO Nick Mowbray takes us inside its empire in Los Angeles, where thousands of toys are on display. Could tariffs destroy the Chinese-based manufacturer? 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 BN...

Tim Beveridge is joined by Koura Wealth founder, Rupert Carlyon, to discuss the inner workings of a KiwiSaver fund and how to best use KiwiSaver. 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 f...

Sharemarkets have been like the wild west this year. We’re told to ‘buy the dip’ because that’s when shares are on a big briscoes-esque sale, but before you know you’ve blinked, and the dip is done So if you’re just getting started dabbling in investing and have been thrown by the year's events so far, what do you need to know about the mechanics of it? How do y...

Wellington, once a vibrant hub for New Zealand’s tech innovation, has faced stagnation in recent years.  Last week, a packed audience at a Vision for Wellington event on Wellington’s waterfront heard from the city’s tech luminaries about how the city can embrace its strengths, particularly in technology, and foster a more supportive, connected ecosystem. Sitting in the audie...

Inland Revenue's cracking down on unpaid tax bills.  It's been allocated an extra $35 million in Budget 25 to boost its tax compliance and collection activities.  The tax department expects to return an additional $4 for every dollar in the first year, and $8 in year two.  IRD Commissioner Peter Mersi told Mike Hosking it's hard to estimate how much tax is owed across the board.&nbs...

Labour has slammed the Government for not getting a better trade deal out of the current Trump administration. New Zealand currently has to pay a 10 percent tariff on all imports on New Zealand products out of the US. But the opposition has claimed the Government is failing Kiwis by 'being comfortable' with a 10 percent tariff. Former trade negotiator Stephen Jacobi says the Government is watching...

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, the economy is slowly emerging from the doldrums but company liquidations are still up, there’s more touri...

A panel discussion hosted by Vision for Wellington on the future of the city and how tech and innovation can help reinvigorate the city's fortunes - featuring Rod Drury, Brooke Roberts, Serge van Dam, and Stephen Cummings. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not necessa...

This week, the chief executive of 2degrees, Mark Callendar, shares his best and worst money stories with Liam Dann, including his unusual path to running a major company, and the current state of the telco industry.  The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not necessar...

A new study suggests that another Pike River mine disaster is likely. The Victoria University of Wellington researchers say the failures that lead to the disaster that killed 29 men could happen again at any other organisation. One of their "potentially disturbing observations" is that health & safety training, auditors, and well-qualified staff were not enough to prevent failure – and m...

Business leaders across New Zealand have voiced concerns that Donald Trump's tariffs could have a more severe global impact than the Covid-19 pandemic and the Global Financial Crisis.  The months since Trump’s 'Liberation Day' announcement have seen sustained market volatility, tit-for-tat trade wars and fears of a resurgence in inflation. New Zealand Initiative executive director Olive...

Homeowners need to brace for another cost increase, this time to help fund the state disaster insurer, the Natural Hazards Commission. The minister responsible for the commission, David Seymour, says levies will 'almost certainly' need to rise, with Cabinet set to decide the changes in the coming months. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podca...

Leeann Watson, CEO of Business Canterbury, joined John MacDonald to give a quarterly update.  Are we seeing signs of recovery in Canterbury? What would a commuter train mean for the city business scene?  And will the Government’s new approach to WorkSafe make a difference for local businesses and how they operate?  LISTEN ABOVE  The podcasts in the SME Stream co...

Tonight on The Huddle, Rob Campbell and Maurice Williamson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Will we read Jacinda's new book? What are we expecting? Are we annoyed there's no apology over the Covid response? The new WorkSafe changes kicked in - are we glad the Government is dialling back on the health and safety enforcement or do we think this is a step to...

If there’s anyone who shouldn't be told they can wind things back on the health and safety front, it’s a New Zealander.   Because generally, we are absolute shockers when it comes to this sort of thing and our health and safety laws are the only thing standing between our “she’ll be right” attitude and misery and tragedy.   Especially when you consider that...

Career progression is a significant thing to consider for most people - whether they could develop as much as they'd like at their current job, or if they would need to look elsewhere. So how can employers spot and support an employee who wants to progress? LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any op...

Owning a pet can bring aso much joy to your life - but it can also bring some big expenses.  Some people can spend a fortune on their pets, and as they get older, those costs often increase. And that's before you factor in breeds and how that can impact what you spend.  To talk about some of the costs that you need to be prepared for, this week Nadine is joined by Michelle de Long, chief...

Make way for Beatrice Thorne , beautiful brain that founded Eve Wellness - yes, the brand with the colourful jars! Grab your  Suntory Boss Coffee - It's brewed hot, chilled fast and perfect for an on-the-go podcast listen. In this empowering episode of Bored to Boss , host Georgia Patten chats with Beatrice Thorne, the trailblazing founder behind Eve Wellness & Supplements . Known fo...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY] From Invercargill to Alaska, this iconic New Zealand aluminium boat business is expanding into North America with private equity funds. 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 entit...

A US federal court's blocked Donald Trump's global tariffs from going into effect - ruling the President overstepped his authority. The Court of International Trade says an emergency law invoked by the White House doesn't provide unilateral authority to impose tariffs on nearly every country. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains what this means for the economy. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in 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, the OCR came down again, but don’t get used to it, our shaky economy leaves more people without work,...

This week, Liam is joined by singer-songwriter Georgia Lines, who shares her best and worst money stories - from starting her own businesses as a teenager, to how money has impacted her art.  Georgia is nominated for four Aotearoa Music Awards, being handed out tonight, and will perform Under the Stars with Friends at the Auckland Live Cabaret Season - tickets and details available here: http...

If the novelty of seeing AI-generated videos popping up in our newsfeeds has started to wear off, Google has something new for you to feast your eyes on. Last week, the AI giant released Veo 3, the latest version of its AI content generator. Its claim to fame? Veo 3 not only generates short video clips based on prompts from users, but also audio, syncing sound effects and character dialo...

The Reserve Bank has cut the Official Cash Rate 25-basis-points -- to 3.25 percent. That's the lowest it's been since August 2022 – though there were discussions about holding it. Today's move is in line with most economists' expectations, and is another positive sign of the growth of the economy. But there remains global uncertainty over President Trump’s policies and what impact his...