The SME Stream

On Friday, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 50 percent tariffs on the EU from June 1 due to slow progress on discussion. He also threatened to put a 25 percent tariff on Apple (-3%) and other device makers if they don’t start moving production to the US. Harbour Asset Management spokesperson Shane Solly revealed how the markets responded. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the S...

Infometrics' Principal Economist says the Government's not entirely ignoring the lack of budget funding allocated for lifting KiwiSaver employer contributions.  The Greens say the Government hasn't accounted for the cost to public services, which could cost more than $700 hundred million.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis says that's being worked on - and will be in next year's Budget.&nbs...

It is suggested Peter Dutton in Australia lost the election because of his nuclear issue and work from home policies. I personally think he lost because they ran a hopeless campaign. But it is more than possible that he floated a couple of ideas that the voter simply could not stomach. I am wondering if Chris Luxon is heading in a similar direction here with superannuation. Nuclear makes sense. Wo...

The Government is increasing the default KiwiSaver contributions for employees and employers, while halving their own contributions.  Employee and employer contributions will raise from 3% to 3.5%, while the Government's contributions will drop from $521.43 to $260.72. But should the Government be halving their input? LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general...

Data shows New Zealand could be losing out on foreign capital with uncertainty around residential property rules for overseas buyers.  So what are the drawbacks to loosening property restrictions and opening borders?  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcas...

This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Brad Olsen and Wilhelmina Shrimpton to discuss changes to Kiwisaver and Jobseeker benefits from the budget.  Suspension of Te Pati Maori MPs being deferred, Trump's chat to Ramaphosa, proposed EU tariffs, Smith & Caughey's closing and more! LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not fi...

The Government has unveiled the latest Budget, and it is full of things that are likely to affect your back pocket in one way or another – with changes to KiwiSaver, Best Start, JobSeeker benefits, and Working for Families.  If all the headlines sent you a bit cross eyed, don’t worry - today we’re going to step you through the detail so you know what you’re dealing wit...

Today Megan Woods and Matt Doocey joined John MacDonald following the release of the budget. They discussed the key aspects of it including changes to KiwiSaver, will there be an announcement on the retirement as it sound like Matt is hinting towards? Should parents really support 18 and 19 year olds if they aren't working? And what is in the budget for Canterbury? LISTEN ABOVE.  The podcasts...

The Budget didn't bring any changes to the pension - but Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has doubled down on his support for raising the age.  Luxon and his soon-to-be Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, are on the same page when it comes to raising the pension age to 67, but Seymour says Winston Peters is standing in the way of changes.  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME ...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis talks to Mike Hosking about the week's big issues after the budget announcement last week.  Health New Zealand's aiming to perform more than 30-thousand elective surgeries by June 2026 by outsourcing more straightforward cases to private hospitals.  Willis says getting doctors and specialists on longer term contracts will get more people the care they need...

New Zealand's economic recovery is now forecast to be slower than the half year update.  Unemployment is slated to peak at 5.4 percent in the June quarter. Job ads in April increased for the second consecutive month, this time by 1.1 percent.  LISTEN ABOVE.  The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any...

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins wouldn’t confirm his party’s commitment of returning the $13 billion taken from pay equity schemes by the National Party. Half of the new spending in the budget came from these cuts. His colleague Barbara Edmonds, however, says Labour’s committed to finding the money. Political Editor Jason Walls talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the confusio...

In a bid to boost Kiwis' retirement savings, the Government is increasing the default KiwiSaver contribution rate to 3.5 percent next year and then 4 percent by April 2028.  The scheme will also be extended to 16 and 17-year-olds from April 1, 2026 - they will need to opt in, as the automatic enrolment will remain at 18. The Government contribution rate, however, will reduce by half, from 50c...

It’s one of the curious things about the structure of modern liberal democracies.  Whether its sharemarkets or political cycles or even media coverage, a lot of the big forces that shape our society are influenced by short-term incentives.   It gets us into all sorts of pickles. Take the Three Waters and the crisis with water infrastructure in New Zealand. The main reason we find o...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hit go on commercial building developments, oil and gas exploration, dam builders and more. In a new investment boost programme, businesses can now deduct twenty percent off the cost of a new asset. There’s no cap on how much the asset can cost. Deloitte Tax Partner Robyn Walker talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the new scheme. LISTEN ABOVE. The podca...

A view that new sanctions for beneficiaries failing to meet jobseeker obligations, are "sensible." The changes, as part of the Government's traffic light system, are being rolled out today. It includes money management - which puts half of someone's benefit onto a payment card, that can only be used at approved stores for four weeks. Former Welfare Expert Advisory Panel Member, Phil O'Reilly told...

Let's talk about this business with the pension age. Chris Luxon has said today twice that he wants the pension age to go up to 67. He said it once on Kerre’s show this morning, and then at a post-budget lunch speaking to business leaders, he repeated it and he told them that this is basically going to be election policy for National next year. Now, regardless of how you may feel about this,...

KiwiSaver.  I was thinking about this at the weekend. I get why the government is doing the old switcharoo. I get it. Means test the government sweet we, halve it for everyone else… save some money.  Then we workers… and our employers… will slowly put more into the scheme… So that when it all comes out in the wash, we’re at least no worse off than before...

An increase in default KiwiSaver contribution rates announced in Thursday's Budget could leave some households better off for retirement - but experts warn not everyone will benefit. The Government will halve the member tax credit available to people who contribute at least $1042 in a year to $260.72. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains further.  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME&...

The Prime Minister's keen to raise the retirement age -- but it's not possible in coalition with New Zealand First. The Government is halving its KiwiSaver contribution rate -- and canning if people earning more than 180-thousand dollars. The default rate of worker and business contributions to KiwiSaver will rise over time. Chris Luxon told Kerre Woodham pushing out the retirement age to 67 makes...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY] Tourism Holdings rushed hundreds of camper vans across the Canadian border to dodge reciprocal tariffs. But it’s now battling another issue – a decline in US tourism. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not nece...

The coalition Government has unveiled its second Budget. Over 20 billion dollars in savings has been found over the next four years, more than half from controversial changes to our pay equity scheme. There are changes to KiwiSaver contributions, means testing for support for parents, and a major new tax incentive for businesses. Finance Minister Nicola Willis said that it is a “responsible...

The Finance Minister is defending her budget and growth agenda, despite a surplus being some years away. The Government's books aren't set to return to surplus until 2029. Nicola Willis says that surplus is coming despite disruption on the world stage. She told Mike Hosking alongside spending cuts they're also investing to encourage businesses to grow. Willis says the biggest risk to getting back...

Isn't it cruelly, cruelly ironic that yesterday we were talking about just how tough it is in retail, and we have the news that after 145 years, Smith and Caughey's, the last of the great, grand department stores, famous for the high-end goods, the beautiful Christmas window displays, will close its doors for the final time by July 31st. Ninety-eight jobs will be lost, but it's more losing a basti...

Officially dubbed the “Growth Budget” - unofficially, the “no BS Budget” - Finance Minister Nicola Willis has unveiled where New Zealand's dollars are being spent.  From the outset, she promised no frills or excess – saying for months there’s very little left in the kitty.  Big changes include cuts to Government KiwiSaver contributions, means testing o...