The SME Stream

The Building and Construction Minister's confident changes to insulation rules will give builders and designers more flexibility.  Chris Penk's proposed changes to reduce building costs, including examining the whole building instead of individual components.  Penk told Andrew Dickens he believes there's currently too many regulations.  He says when you add up the extra costs, it do...

Most New Zealanders are still keen on using physical cash, a new Reserve Bank consultation has found.  Their online survey drew in over 18,000 respondents, with many worried digital money would replace banknotes and coins. The central bank's Director of Money and Cash, Ian Woolford, says people are worried about privacy and control when it comes to money. "It's a personal choice - money is qu...

Australia's central bank has opted to keep rates on hold in its final meeting of 2024 - the same position it's held all year. The RBA did soften its language a bit, and revealed the board had 'some confidence' that inflation was heading back to target. HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham predicted rates would come down by 2025. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information...

There's no Christmas gift for Australian mortgage holders - as the central bank has left rates unchanged again. The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the OCR in place at 4.35 percent, in line with expectations from economists. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this will come as a blow to Prime Minister Albanese - as the cost of living crisis is set to be a hot-button issue for voters ahea...

The Finance Minister is determined to ensure New Zealanders get access to more competitive banking services. A Commerce Commission report on banking has found the sector isn't competitive enough - and the Government is looking to make some changes. Nicola Willis says she doesn't want to threaten the banks, but she's hoping for better results for Kiwis. "That means fairer prices, that means more in...

[VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY]. This deep tech hub in Auckland is where entrepreneurs Sir Peter Beck and Sean Simpson started Nasdaq-listed companies. Now new ventures are underway with their guidance. 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 rela...

The Government is looking to shake up how builders can meet insulation standards for new homes in a bid to reduce building costs. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has proposed several new changes - with a consultation period set to take place until February. New Zealand Certified Builders Association CEO Malcolm Fleming says this shows the Government is taking industry opinions into a...

Employers are in favour of ACT's plan to allow them to withhold pay for workers on partial strikes.  Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden wants to reverse a previous Government move which prevented pay being docked if workers continued to do some work during a strike.  Currently pay can only be withheld during a full strike.  Employers and Manufacturers Association Head of Advocacy Alan...

A higher than forecasted jobs report has been undergone in the U.S. The year’s economy created 227,000 non-farm jobs in November, which is above estimates of 214,000. Retailers continue to come to the party with earnings reports. Shares in Lululemon soared 16% on stronger than expected sales. The eurozone economy expanded by 0.4% in the third quarter, doubling the previous quarter’s growth rate. T...

I’ve been reading a report the OECD released this morning, and it’s occurred to me that, if we want our businesses to survive, there is a very simple thing we could or should be doing to help.   When I say we, I’m meaning the government upfront. But, for this to happen, I think we’d all pretty much have to agree to it as well.   That’s because it would mean giving businesses a better deal on somet...

Open banking firm ‘Revolut’ has applied to become a registered bank in New Zealand. Revolut already offers a “one stop-shop" money management app here with payment, card and money management services. It says with a banking license it could further offer things like credit cards, consumer loans and mortgages.   Massey University Banking Expert Claire Matthews joins the show. LISTEN ABOVE. The podc...

It looks like kiwis with mortgages are hedging their bets for interest rates to keep falling. In the month of October alone 90% of mortgage holders were on very short term rates. David Cunningham of Squirrel Mortgages & Investments joins the show to discuss.  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions express...

2024 is coming to a close and with it the Coalition Government’s first year in power.  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike Hosking for the last time this year to reflect on his first year as Prime Minister.  In response to the reports that say New Zealand faces an investment gap with a growing population, Luxon says that it's a marvellous set of challenges. "The last 30 years, what we've...

[VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY]. More than 400 million customers have visited Scentre Group’s Westfield shopping malls in Australia and New Zealand this year. Its chairwoman explains its winning formula. 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 rel...

The Government is looking to crack down on merger rules. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is reviewing the Commerce Act - which could lead to blocking more proposed mergers and acquisitions.  It's also hoping to give the Commerce Commission more teeth. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayley says they're making sure the laws are fit for purpose. "We've got a number...

Dairy giant Fonterra has raised its forecast milk price payout to a midpoint of $10 - the second rise in less than a month. The company says this new forecast reflects strong international demand, particularly from China and Southeast Asia. Fonterra's CFO Andrew Murray says this news has been received positively by farmers. "US production is very flat and European production is down - so the deman...

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. In this weekly wrap, we chat about the impact the latest OCR announcement is having on mortgage rates, we unpack the latest reta...

Steve Vamos' career in tech has spanned decades, starting with IBM straight out of university in the 1980’s, followed by stints at Apple, NineMSN, Microsoft, and Xero. He says that connecting with people and being open to criticism are key skills for leaders navigating through times of major change. Vamos also shares more specific advice on navigating change, having hard conversations, and the imp...

[VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY] The country’s largest gateway is replacing its 60-year-old domestic jet terminal. Is it an infrastructure play or a real economic boost? 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 fo...

Charities are going to be seeing some changes to their taxes from next year.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that there will be tweaks to the charity tax regime, but she is mindful of striking the right balance.  They want to ensure that people can’t structure their affairs as charities while building up funds that aren’t used for charitable purposes.  Best Start and Sanitarium were...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is promising tax changes ahead for charities and the closing of loopholes, and the details of that will be announced in next year's budget. And not before time, you'd have to say.   There's about $2 billion, it's estimated, in untaxed profit in the charitable sector, and politicians of varying hues have been eyeing up that revenue potential for some time. I think bot...

It hasn't been a great year for the NZX, but one expert believes things are in place for a better 2025. The reduced interest rates could lead to a better outlook for investors going forward, according to new reports. Milford Asset Management's Sam Trethewey explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opin...

Energy Resources Aotearoa says gas producers were severely damaged by the previous ban on oil and gas exploration.  It's asked the Government to underwrite the risk of oil and gas exploration.  Government ministers say they've made no decisions.  Energy Resources Aotearoa chief executive John Carnegie says it would only protect the sector from pernicious future policy changes.  "Oil and gas explor...

One expert has offered a theory about why SolarZero met the end that it did. The Kiwi-founded solar and battery firm was placed into liquidation - costing over 160 employees their jobs. Lightforce Solar owner John Harman says SolarZero offered an 'amazing' deal for consumers - but economic factors have created additional trouble for the sector.  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain ...

President-elect Donald Trump's latest policy announcements continue to have an impact on capital markets. Trump's pick of Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary sent long-term Government bond yields lower and the US share market higher - as investors felt more confident in a 'seasoned' choice taking on the role. However, his threated tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico created a divided response amon...