The SME Stream

The Finance Minister says the Government is still looking to alleviate the impact of the US' tariffs on New Zealand. New Zealand's current rate is at 10 percent - in line with a majority of other countries. Nicola Willis says officials are determined to engage with their American counterparts to work out a solution. "We're pointing out that our tariff regime is very limited towards the US...we hav...

Kiwi toy entrepreneur Nick Mowbray says businesses in the US are pressing pause on major purchasing decisions.  There's ongoing uncertainty about Donald Trump's tariff plan.  The US President says he might temporarily lower tariffs on the auto industry following temporary reductions for Chinese electronics and goods from most other countries.  Zuru Toys co-founder Nick Mowbray told...

The Trump administration's tariff announcements have left a notable impact on financial markets - and experts fear we may not be out of the woods yet. Smartphones, computers and some other electronics from China will face 20 percent tariffs, rather than the 145 percent imposed on other Chinese goods. The White House says the exemption is not permanent. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explai...

Demand is outpacing supply in the small business market, as sellers wait out tough trading conditions while buyer interest is at record levels. Recent data shows new business listings fell 10 percent in the year ended March, compared to a 10 percent increase in completed sales. ABC Business Sales managing director Chris Small says there's been an uptick in migrants gravitating to smaller businesse...

Just when they should be at their peak, older generations are being discriminated against for their age.  Do we no longer value experience?  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 lia...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY]  Volatility in stock and bond markets following President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement has refreshed investor memories of the global financial crisis and dot-com crash, but a top strategist says this is not the same - it's deliberate, but poorly executed. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only,...

When the US President Donald Trump announced a pause on reciprocal tariffs last week, prompting a massive rally on the markets - he admitted he did so after watching the bond market.  So, why is the bond market so significant, and what do you need to know about how it works - especially given you likely own some in your KiwiSaver fund! Today, Nadine is joined by Matt Logan from Fisher Funds t...

China appears to beattempting to form a united front against Washington, by drawing on support from other nations. President Donald Trump has temporarily backed down on his initial tariffs on most nations except for China. Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis talks to Ryan Bridge about the latest out of China, China’s President Xi Jinping heading to Southeast Asia, and why Japan might be...

The Trump administration has announced it will exclude electronics like smartphones and laptops from his 125 percent reciprocal tariffs on China  It means American's may be spared a price hike on electronics that aren't usually made in the United States.  Processors and chips are included in the exemption.  Devon Funds Management's Greg Smith joins the show to discuss the decision.&...

Trump’s tariffs have been wreaking havoc on share markets around the world.  As a result, investment funds and KiwiSavers have been taking a hit, with Ed McKnight’s own account going down by $6.5k over the last month.  He joined Jack Tame to discuss the impacts on Kiwis, and whether people are actually in the right type of fund for their needs.  LISTEN ABOVE  The po...

Keir Starmer is fast becoming a new political hero.  For a bloke who stumbled into office not on his brilliance or a nationwide passion for the Labour Party, but more because the Tories had spent 14 years slowly messing the place up, he turns out to be quite the operator.  He is reforming public health because it's fat and useless. He is trimming welfare because there are too many layabo...

In this bonus episode of The SME Stream, brought to you by BNZ, host Wilhelmina Shrimpton sits down with BNZ’s Head of PayTech and Emerging Payments, Joe Rastrick, and MIKA co-founder, John Mika, as they explore emerging payment tech - covering mobile donations, frictionless payments, and the future of open banking and biometric payments.   The podcasts in the SME Stream conta...

A week after announcing his Liberation Day tariffs and causing global market chaos, US President Donald Trump has done a 180. He has announced on social media that he has paused tariffs against 75 countries for 90 days – but has doubled down on a trade war with China, announcing a 125% tariffs on goods from the country. US stocks rocketed higher after the declaration – the S&P 500...

A US markets analyst suspects Donald Trump is trying to buy time by lowering tariffs on most countries to a blanket 10 percent for 90 days. But the US President's hiked them for China - to 125 percent. Scott Shellady says 75 countries are reportedly seeking an audience with the President.  "The 90 day pause is so he can get through the backlog of countries that said they want to do a deal." L...

It's been an interesting week for global markets - with figures dropping or rising at a rapid rate. As Donald Trump's tariffs spark fear - or elation - among investors, questions have been raised over how we can make smart financial choices during a turbulent time. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains how people can make investments amid the chaos. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME S...

US President Donald Trump today forged ahead with tariffs of 125 percent against Chinese goods - escalating the US-China trade war. Trump’s sweeping tariffs have unsettled the global economy since coming into force over the weekend, and China has vowed to fight back with tariffs of their own. Mahon China Investment Management CEO David Mahon says China won't blink first in the stand-off. "Tr...

I saw a brilliant cartoon the other day which had America’s founding fathers sitting around a table writing up the country’s constitution - and they had agreed that the US wouldn’t have a king, but they were thinking about having a drama queen instead.   And after what we saw overnight, I think it would be pretty hard to argue that the current US president is anything but a...

The OCR dropped 25 basis points again yesterday - but many homeowners have wondered why their mortgage rates haven't followed. Many people currently on floating rates have yet to see the impact of the cuts materialise, and there's usually a week-long delay OCR changing and banks following suit with their various mortgage rates. Kent Duston from the Banking Reform Coalition says it's unclear why it...

The Reserve Bank's keeping a watchful eye on global trade developments.  It's lowered the Official Cash Rate by 25-basis points to 3.5%, with another cut expected next month.  But it's still waiting to see how trade barriers affect inflation before deciding what to do after that.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Andrew Dickens the central bank is right to take a wait...

Donald Trump's turning up the heat on China but throwing a tariff lifeline to most others.  He's authorised a 90-day pause which will see tariffs dropped to 10% for many countries.   However, China's rate has been increased from 104% to 125%.  Eric Crampton —Chief Economist at New Zealand Initiative— told Mike Hosking it's a rapidly changing situation.  He says it&r...

Reports indicate the bond market ultimately prompted Trump to pull back on his stream of tariffs. The US President announced on social media that he paused tariffs against 75 countries for 90 days - with China being a notable exception. NZ Herald business editor Liam Dann explained further - and unpacked the market reactions since Donald Trump made his u-turn. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the&nbsp...

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 Official Cash Rate and Trump's tariffs are dominating headlines - there’s good news for mortgage holders, b...

Microsoft is marking its 50th anniversary, celebrating five decades since Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded what would become one of the world's largest technology companies.  In this week’s episode of The Business of Tech, the managing director of Microsoft New Zealand, Vanessa Sorenson, reflects on the company's journey and its vision for the future.  Featuring the hits and misse...

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Jack Tame from Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Reserve Bank has cut the OCR, and Labour is advocating for Government to step up and do its bit by spending more. Is there really a case for this? UOA researchers found that higher EV uptake has actually been linked...

Donald Trump says the changes to his tariff policy show he's flexible.   He's put a 90-day pause on additional tariffs and lowered tariffs on all countries to 10% – except China.   Instead, Trump hiked China's rate from 104% to 125%.   He's thanked Americans for bearing with him and promised better days are coming.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking things...