The SME Stream

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...

Christopher Luxon remains hopeful the latest cut in the OCR isn't the last.  The Reserve Bank's dropped the Official Cash Rate 25 basis points to 3.25%, and is now forecasting it will reach a low of 2.9 percent in December.  But the Monetary Policy Committee wasn't able to reach a unanimous decision to cut the cash rate.  The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking Acting Governor Christia...

Labour's yet to rule potential coalition partners in or out.  New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is refusing to work with Chris Hipkins next election, but has not entirely ruled Labour out.  On social media, Peters posted a Government of Labour, the Greens, and Te Pati Māori would be a "circus" and a "radical woke show".  Hipkins told John MacDonald that they actually ruled out...

Don't bank on further cuts to the Official Cash Rate.  The Reserve Bank's dropped the OCR 25 basis points to 3.25%, and is now forecasting it could reach a low of 2.9% by the end of the year.  But Governor Christian Hawkesby says further cuts aren't guaranteed.  He told Mike Hosking they're taking things one step at a time, as they wait to see how global developments affect the econ...

The Reserve Bank delivered their quarterly update on the OCR - but there was a hawkish undertone this time round, according to experts. The central bank cut the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent, in line with expectations from economists. Despite this,  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny noted there were some concerns about the economic future. LISTEN AB...

The Reserve Bank cut the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent. The markets had already priced a rates cut in - but there was some uncertainty emerging after the announcement took place.  Milford Asset Management's Remy Morgan explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice...

The 2025 Budget has come and gone, but the Finance Minister has confirmed raising the superannuation age was still on National’s radar after they campaigned on it in the last election. She's explained it was not on their mandates or the coalition agreement - but changes need to be phased in. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen weighed in on the ongoing debate. LISTEN ABOVE The podcast...

The Police Minister is attempting to clarify the meaning of a memo to staff on lower-value retail crime cases. The nation-wide directive told staff not to investigate shoplifting worth less than $500 dollars - and less significant petrol, online and retail theft.  Mark Mitchell says that's not explicitly what the memo intended. He's promised police will respond to crime, and says the directiv...

BNZ's the latest bank to drop its home loan rates, anticipating a change to the Official Cash Rate this afternoon.   The Reserve Bank's expected to cut the OCR 25 basis point to 3.25%.  Already BNZ's cut its fixed rates to as low as 4.89%, and its standard variable rate to 6.44%.   BNZ chief economist Mike Jones told Mike Hosking today's decision should indicate the Reserve Bank's g...

All eyes will be on the Reserve Bank tomorrow afternoon, when stand-in Reserve Bank Governor Christian Hawkesby delivers the bank's latest monetary policy statement. A 25 basis point cut to the OCR to 3.25 percent is taken as a given - but experts are wondering what the future path of interest rates will look like. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explained further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in t...

Georgia welcomes Margo Flanagan , one of the sisters of Two Raw Sisters for a real and raw chat! Grab your  Suntory Boss Coffee - It's brewed hot, chilled fast and perfect for an on-the-go podcast listen. In this inspiring episode of Bored to Boss , Georgia Patten sits down with Margo, half of the powerhouse sister duo Margo and Rosa Flanagan . They are the founders of the plant-based fo...

Nicola Willis says National still hasn't decided on its superannuation policy ahead of next year's election. The Finance Minister says keeping eligibility at 65 is increasingly expensive - and Prime Minister Luxon has expressed interest in making changes. Willis says discussions will need to take place about the matter as a caucus. "What that will look like will be different from the last election...

The Police Minister is reassuring retailers officers will still turn up to reports of shoplifting.  RNZ reports staff have been directed to not investigate retail crime below $500 and online fraud below $1000.   Police may not take further action if the reports don't have enough evidence, such as CCTV.  However, Mark Mitchell told Kerre Woodham every crime deserves a response. ...

Police say they can't get to all retail crime - after revelations revealed they won't investigate some lower-level crimes.  RNZ reports staff have been directed to not investigate shoplifting below $500 dollars and online fraud below $1000 dollars.  Police say they may not take a further look into crime below the threshold - and lacking evidence.  Superintendent Blair Macdonald says...

Retailers are seeking clarity on a Police directive on shoplifting.  RNZ reports police staff have been told to not investigate allegations of theft below $500.   Police may not take further action if the reports don't have enough evidence, such as CCTV.  Chair of the Ministry of Justice's Retail Crime Advisory Group Sunny Kaushal told Mike Hosking retailers are concerned.  He...