The SME Stream

Trump's tariffs are coming tomorrow - and he's basically playing God with the global economy. I've found the stuff we should know: The presser is 4pm Eastern time in the Rose Garden at the White House. That's 9am NZT. The reason it's late over there is because they want markets closed when he announces it. This is big league stuff. This guy has the power to make or break countries, marke...

Tomorrow at 9am NZT, investors, economists and financial experts will be tuned in to watch Donald Trump's much-anticipated update regarding tariffs.  Many nations are bracing themselves for the potential economic impacts - but there's hope New Zealand could escape the worst of it. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton speculated ahead of the big day. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the S...

The UK is expecting to be hit by new US tariffs on Wednesday, with Downing Street indicating a new deal with the US won't be reached in time.  President Donald Trump is set to unveil a raft of tariffs tomorrow - and it's widely believed they'll hit all countries, not just those with the biggest trade imbalances with the US. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Prime Minister Starmer doesn't plan...

Australia's Reserve Bank has kept its Official Cash Rate unchanged - as it waits for the impact of tariffs expected from Donald Trump tomorrow. New Zealand's Central Bank is still expected to drop our Official Cash Rate 25-basis points next week. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the uncertainty around the economy has created complications for the Central Bank. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in...

The Australian Reserve Bank has moved to hold the OCR steady at 4.1 percent following this afternoon's meeting. Interest rates started to drop in February - but the Central Bank opted to hold off on going further for the time being. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explains what inspired the market to make this move. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general infor...

It's back baby! Bored to Boss has returned for another season of inspiring business stories from all your favourite entrepreneurs. Grab your Suntory Boss Coffee - It's brewed hot, chilled fast and perfect for an on-the-go podcast listen! In this episode, Georgia Patten, the founder and designer behind bored.george Sunglasses discusses the staggering pace at which her fully bootstrapped business ha...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY]   Canadian-listed OceanaGold’s global president & CEO explains its $1 billion investment to mine under New Zealand land, despite controversy and a high cost to get to it. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts...

President Donald Trump is set to unveil a barrage of tariffs on April 2nd - and industry experts have voiced concerns. The day has been dubbed 'Liberation Day' by the President and his aides, and business experts and economists are worried it will cost jobs and create economic turmoil.  Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains what could come out of this - and what risks it holds for N...

The Reserve Bank appears to have caved to pressure with its decision to review its capital requirements.  The central bank introduced stricter rules in 2019, requiring banks to hold capital to buffer them against a 1-in-200-year financial crisis.   The rules have been criticised for driving up lending costs.  Former Reserve Bank economist Michael Reddell told Mike Hosking there's be...

Small businesses will have less health and safety obligations under new reforms.  Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has revealed her first changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act.  She says small businesses will only need to manage risks relating to death or serious injury to reduce compliance costs.  BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says it wil...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY]   Snowflake co-founders Benoit Dageville & Thierry Cruanes explain why they quit Oracle to build a company that became the biggest software IPO in US tech history; and the one reason why they almost didn't do it. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any...

The average hourly wage is $42.57, the average annual salary is $88,500.  The average home is worth $912,904, the average mortgage is $318,151. The average KiwiSaver is $37,079, depending on your age.  But does it really matter if you stack up to the nations averages?  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or...

Recently, the price of gold has been hovering near record highs at over NZ$5000 an ounce - that’s less than 30 grams for those of us only versed in the metric system! It’s commonly thought of as a ‘safe haven’ asset, but why is that? How does it help your investments when the world is an uncertain place? How do you make money out of it? How do you own it? And does your jewe...

US consumer confidence is feeling the economic and tariff uncertainty, as Lululemon shares fell 15%, and inflation expectations are picking up. It comes as Kiwi consumer confidence is still challenged according to a latest read.  Greg Smith of Devon Funds Management talks to Mike Hosking.  LISTEN ABOVE.  The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only,...

In this bonus episode of The SME Stream, brought to you by BNZ, host Wilhelmina Shrimpton sits down with Jason Ennor, the co-founder and co-CEO of MyHR to discuss HR and people management, offering expert insights on how structured HR helps SMEs stay compliant, minimise risks, and build strong teams. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial&nbsp...

The Finance Minister says they've over-delivered on their promise to save money from public sector job cuts.  Latest Public Service Commission data shows the core workforce decreased 4% in the year to December 2024.  Public Service Minister Judith Collins says the Government's expecting to save $800 million by June – double the initial target.  Nicola Willis —the coaliti...

The Indian stock market is catching the attention of investors - and experts are claiming there's plenty of potential. The economy is also attracting positive attention - but one expert is warning there's a notable Achilles heel. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professi...

President Donald Trump has recently announced he will be putting 25 percent tariffs on auto imports into the US. Trump explained this move would foster domestic manufacturing - but economists are concerned about the wider implications of this move. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann unpacks the outcomes of this - and warns more changes could come as the Trump administration is set to ann...

A former associate finance minister believes public sector job cuts are needed to grow the economy.  Latest Public Service Commission data shows the core workforce reduced by four percent in the year to December 2024.   The Tertiary Education Commission, Archives New Zealand, and Department of Corrections yesterday earmarked further cuts.  But former Minister Sir Lockwood Smith told...

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, what will changes to the RMA will mean for building more efficiencies across our cities, did Winston Peter&...

The Government is busy pushing its growth agenda, but what’s the best way to pursue sustainable growth that produces higher-value jobs and more export earnings? A new report by Boston Consulting Group  says it involves taking a more strategic approach to New Zealand’s economic future, identifying five key ecosystems that could drive the nation's growth and global standing by 2050....

Revenue Minister Simon Watts this month unveiled plans to change the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) regime to give some foreigners with illiquid investments offshore an additional, possibly more advantageous, way of paying tax. He said the Government would also consider exempting more Kiwis from the FIF rules, which incentivise domestic investment, but can be an administrative nightmare. NZ Herald...

New data shows a significant number of Kiwis are working past the retirement age. A new report from Stats NZ shows there are almost 200,000 New Zealanders aged 65 or older that are still in the workforce. This research also reveals at least 1200 Kiwis in their 90's are still working. Financial adviser Martin Hawes says many of these people will need the extra money - and plenty are just used to wo...

New research shows investors looking for the best returns might be better off putting money into whisky or Lego, as opposed to the share market.  University of Auckland finance lecturer Gertjan Verdickt has released new research into alternative investments, including Lego, instruments, classic cars, wine, whisky and baseball cards. Verdickt says there's value in adding an additional componen...

A leading Australian economist says more focus needs to be put on productivity to pull Australia out of a deficit.  The federal Budget announced yesterday included tax cuts and cost of living relief for households.  HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham told Mike Hosking with big spending measures announced in the lead up to the election, deficits to the tens of billions are forecast for yea...