The SME Stream

At what point, when you're a business owner, do you decide that you've had enough? There was Covid, then there were the boom times, then there was the recession that seems to have gone on and on, there's a crisis in consumer confidence, there's global uncertainty that too has gone on and on. There are problems finding staff, there are problems keeping staff, there are problems finding work, proble...

Many businesses that limped through the pandemic are now going under.  Insolvency practitioners have been reporting a sharp rise in the number of insolvencies since mid-2022.  Smaller retail, hospitality, construction, transport and manufacturing operators are failing far more now than they were before the pandemic.  Waterstone Insolvency Principal Damien Grant told Kerre Woodham a...

Artificial intelligence is growing and changing and reshaping industries, but there's growing concerns about the harm it could bring. Trust is a valuable asset in the digital space, and many businesses are concerned about how the online experience could change - and how it could impact their output. Former White House CIO and Fortalice Solutions CEO Theresa Payton says it's going to get harder for...

Business NZ believes further action is still needed to address compliance costs for small businesses.  It says the Government's making good on its promise to cut red tape, but its new progress report shows several compliance burdens across sectors, including construction.  The Ministry for Regulation’s engaging with businesses, councils, and industry bodies to begin removing incons...

The Prime Minister has indicated trade talks with India are progressing well - and speculation claims both nations could have a trade deal by next year. Trade Minister Todd McClay has been hosting Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Auckland for a fifth round of talks on a trade deal. Finance Minister Nicola Willis won't disclose too much, but she says good progress is being made. LISTEN ABOVE The p...

Businesses are being encouraged to plan ahead as talks of an India-New Zealand trade deal continue. Prime Minister Chris Luxon says both regions are making progress on a new trade agreement, as Trade Minister Todd McClay holds talks with his Indian counterpart. India New Zealand Business Council chair Edwin Paul says discussions indicate it's likely we'll get an FTA by early 2026. LISTEN ABOVE The...

The Reserve Bank shocked a lot of us last month when it cut the OCR by 50 basis points down to 2.5%. Analysts have said that the RBNZ was reading the room and giving kiwis a much needed breather after years of high rates.  Early signs are showing it's starting to have an effect - with the GDP estimate for the September quarter pointing to 0.6% growth and many banks forecasting an optimistic r...

There's a lot of uncertainty around the property market at the moment.  In the past decade alone, we've seen the introduction of the brightline test, the relaxing of the brightline test, countless policies making life harder for investors and landlords, and now the looming question of capital gains tax.  But how much does the government actually influence whether we buy and sell, and at...

AI stocks have exploded, with Nvidia soaring past a $5 trillion valuation. But is this growth justified, or are investors repeating the mistakes of the dot-com era? Mark Lister, investment director at Craigs Investment Partners, joins Nadine to talk about whether AI’s rally is a genuine revolution or a sign of market froth. Together they unpack the risks of over-exposure, the importance of d...

In this episode, I break down the exact strategy that took my shapewear brand from a $300-a-week side hustle to $3.5M in the first year. Then how I went on to scale multiple seven and eight-figure product brands. You’ll learn: The Accidental Discovery Method - how one impulse purchase led me to a winning product and how you can find yours. The Social Proof Snowball Strategy - the organic mar...

Chris Luxon says India and New Zealand are continuing to get closer to reaching a free trade agreement. Trade Minister Todd McClay hosted Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Auckland last week for a fifth round of talks on an FTA. The Prime Minister says it's been good to see Goyal coming here when he's so in-demand around the world. Luxon told Mike Hosking that McClay will head to India this week f...

With Christmas on its way, the season of spending is fast approaching.   The allure of credit cards becomes stronger at this time of year as people try to figure out how they can afford everything they need to.   Financial planner Lisa Dudson joined Jack Tame to give some advice on how best to balance credit cards and build good habits.  LISTEN ABOVE  The podcasts in the SME St...

Many businesses that limped through the pandemic are now going under. Insolvency practitioners have been reporting a sharp rise in the number of insolvencies since mid-2022. Smaller retail, hospitality, construction, transport and manufacturing operators are failing far more now,  than they were before the pandemic. BWA Insolvency Founder Bryan Williams told Mike Hosking that many have burned...

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, it’s on the up again, but have we finally hit peak unemployment? A growing number of people are making hardship...

The 2025 China International Import Expo has gotten underway in Shanghai and some familiar Kiwi brands are making an appearance. Fonterra, Zespri, Silver Fern Farms and Comvita are among the big names showcasing their output on the world stage. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or prof...

Concerns too many young people are finding it too hard to find a job.  15.2% of young people in the labour force are now unemployed, while 13.8% of all young people aren't in any employment, education, or training.  Youth Inspire works to get young people in Lower Hutt into jobs.  Chief Executive Zainab Ali told Ryan Bridge many of the people they're working with are really struggli...

Chinese smartphone maker Oppo is making an assertive play to shake up the $1.3 billion smartphone market in New Zealand, aiming to disrupt the long-standing duopoly of Samsung and Apple with a mix of tech innovation and brand-building efforts. In this week’s episode of The Business of Tech podcast, Oppo New Zealand Managing Director Morgan Halim shares insights on how the challenger brand, w...

Today's rise in unemployment isn't unexpected.  Latest Stats NZ data shows the unemployment rate has reached an almost nine-year high of 5.3% in the September quarter.  160 thousand people have been looking for a job, while another 138 thousand have been wanting more work.  The Herald's Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham today's figures are exactly as forecast by economists.  He says...

The Economic Growth Minister's confident the economy will turn a corner soon.  Unemployment's reached 5.3% in the September quarter – the highest it's been since 2016.  160 thousand Kiwis have been out of work and looking for a job, the most since 1994.  Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking unemployment may rise further this quarter, but there are positives, like the increase in ho...

The US share market took a hit this week, with leading AI companies seeing a decline. Market darlings Palantir and chip behemoth Nvidia were among the big names that saw a drop. Milford Asset Management expert Jeremy Hutton explained further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the p...

Those who are in work are taking more sick leave.  New research by Southern Cross Health Insurance and Business NZ has found an average staff member took almost seven days of sick leave last year, up 1.4 from two years earlier.  It's costing the country about $4 billion a year.  Business NZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich told Mike Hosking the rise in leave entitlements has had an im...

Assurance news of a rise in Kiwis calling in sick indicates a positive cultural shift.  A Business NZ and Southern Cross report shows workers are taking an average of 6.7 sick days a year, up from 5.5 in 2022.  Employers and Manufacturers Association Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Ryan Bridge while it is a cost, most employers recognise it stops infections spreading.  McDonald...

A chance for New Zealand to lead change the world in ‘ethical investing’. As of last year, more than half a billion dollars of New Zealanders’ KiwiSaver and other retail investments were lent to countries on ‘high alert’ for human rights violations. The new paper from Motu Research urges fund managers and industry bodies to lift standards. But what does ‘ethical...

Unemployment has hopefully almost reached its peak. Latest Stats NZ data is expected to show unemployment has reached 5.3% in the September quarter. That's up from 5.2% in the June quarter. BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Andrew Dickens they expect another rise in the December quarter, before the job market starts to recover next year. He says there's still a bit of slog ahead of us, but there...

Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  New research out of Australia has revealed the cost of unpaid labour - and it's sparked discussion and backlash. How much housework do we do? Is it more than our partners? Dame Noeline Taurua went out on multiple intervi...