The SME Stream

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, great news for businesses as we finally come out of recession, can Christopher Luxon’s trade mission...

18 councils and three council-controlled organisations have recently had their credit ratings downgraded by S&P Global Ratings. The credit rating agency has expressed concern that councils aren't receiving enough revenue to cover rising costs, including investment in infrastructure.   NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in...

In 2022, the Government signed an historic agreement granting Māori a share of radio spectrum suitable for 5G mobile services and a 20% share of all future commercial radio spectrum rights. As the Chief Executive Officer of Tū Ātea, Antony Royal is putting that 5G spectrum to good use, with a major project underway to build and deploy the country's first commercial private 5G network. On The...

The US stock market is still undergoing a turbulent period, with more investors aiming to cut their losses. Donald Trump's tariffs still loom large over the market, with numbers dipping into the red after a short rebound. Milford Asset Management's Andrew Curtayne explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or pr...

There’s a belief better pathways to industry and trades training are needed.  A report from the New Zealand Initiative has found just 6% of 16-to-19 year-olds participate in workplace learning, while 11% are unemployed.  It states schools are geared toward university education, even though only about a third enrol in degrees.  Report author Michael Johnston says apprenticeship...

The OECD has downgraded its outlook for the global economy as a result of President Trump's escalating trade wars. Canada and Mexico are predicted to see the biggest impact, with Canada's growth outlook being halved and Mexico being expected to see a recession. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explains further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY]  This episode takes you inside one of the largest privately owned data centre operations in Australia and the story of how one entrepreneur built the A$17b business from nothing. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not...

The Finance Minister's dropped a few crumbs on what's shaping this year's budget. Nicola Willis will unveil her growth budget on May 22. She says the public service won't get more funding, for doing the same thing. Willis says there's only more money if people are going to benefit from additional services - or improved impact from those services. But she says she won't be doing away with entire de...

Nearly one billion dollars is still owed as the deadline for Covid-era loans approaches.  Inland Revenue says many Small Business Cashflow loans will default in June if not paid off.   About 130,000 businesses were issued the loans, totalling $2.4 billion.   ABC Business Sales Managing Director Chris Small told Mike Hosking he's not surprised so many owners haven't paid it back yet....

Is it worth working after the age of 65? Or is it more of a need than a choice?  Martin Hawes joins The Weekend Collective to discuss the finances of retirement.  LISTEN ABOVE 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 en...

New data from CoreLogic shows we're at the best level of property affordability since before Covid.  While rent costs are waiting to catch up, the difference between mortgages and annual salaries is closing in.  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are...

 [VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY]  Australia’s bounce back in underway thanks to rate & tax cuts, but companies are still under pressure with profits normalising and investors proving tough to please. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not n...

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 for any losses resulting from the content of the podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, a number of foreign investors are on our shores and the government is pulling out all the stops, can New Ze...

NZ's economic woes are complicated and many-headed, but business guru Andy Hamilton has exactly 26 ideas for ways it could be improved. Some of them, like becoming part of Australia, are a bit dumb – but there are others that could have a lot of potential. Hamilton also looks back at what it was like going through the We Are Indigo and Manaaki v Callaghan Innovation stoush, and talks through...

The International Monetary Fund is cautioning the Government against bending over backwards, deregulating banks in a bid to spur more competition in the sector. Finance Minister Nicola Willis is getting advice on whether she should make the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) loosen the way it regulates banks. The Commerce Commission has also suggested the rules could be changed to make it easier f...

Investors have voiced concerns over declining US market growth - resulting in a significant drop. US President Donald Trump also didn't rule out a recession in a recent interview, which led to further pullbacks this week. Milford Asset Management's Stephanie Batchelor explained further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial ...

There are hopes proposed changes to the Foreign Investment Fund will boost our own productivity.  The changes will allow new migrants to be taxed on a realisation basis for interests not easily disposable and acquired before coming to New Zealand.  Revenue Minister Simon Watts says the legislation for this will likely be introduced in August.  Phase One Ventures chief executive Mahe...

Expectations we'll have a strong showing of investment opportunities for our venture-hungry guests.   More than 100 offshore firms are making an appearance at the Government's Infrastructure Investment Summit in Auckland over the next two days.    Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges told Andrew Dickens expects to see the opening up of public-private partnerships...

The Revenue Minister's confident changes to the Foreign Investment Fund will greatly benefit tech and startup companies.  The Government's working on changes which would see new migrants taxed on a realisation basis for interests not easily disposable and acquired before coming to New Zealand.  It applies to migrants who became tax residents here on or after April last year.  Simon...

The Economic Growth Minister is making it easier for New Zealand businesses to win government contracts.  Nicola Willis is scrapping 24 requirements in the Government's procurement rule book, including a requirement for the company to pay cleaning, catering, and security staff a living wage.  She's also adding a new economic benefit test.  Willis told Mike Hosking they're encouragin...

The US economy is in chaos as Donald Trump continues to push ahead with his tariff plan.  The US President's confirmed Australia won't be exempt from new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, and has announced 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium imports.  This is in response to Ontario's now-suspended 25% surcharge on electricity exports.  US Correspondent Richard Arno...

Stock markets across the US have taken a significant hit over concerns about the negative economic impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs. After the President refused to rule out a recession, the S&P 500 dropped 2.7 percent, the Nasdaq fell 4 percent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2 percent. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says US markets have a right to be worried...

Some changes to the Government's procurement rule book are being welcomed.  Currently, there are 71 rules a business must follow to be awarded a government contract, but the Finance Minister is bringing that down to 47.   It's also introducing a new economic benefit test which will consider the wider benefit to New Zealand when awarding contracts to Kiwi firms.  Wellington Chamber o...

The Government’s focus on economic growth and foreign investment is back in the spotlight this week. Later this week, the much-anticipated Investment Summit will take place in Auckland. Businesses from over 14 countries, with six trillion dollars of capital, will be in attendance across Thursday and Friday, with Government Ministers and Labour representatives in attendance. It comes at a cri...