The SME Stream

Demand for our dairy exports is expected to remain stable despite volatility in the global market.  A report commissioned by DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association has found dairy exports reached almost $29 billion in 2025 and supports more than 51 thousand jobs.  It finds the dairy sector is a backbone of much of regional New Zealand's economy, wages, and job market.   DairyNZ...

The NZX reporting season is underway and results have improved, but some concerns have been raised. The numbers are moving in the right direction, but there's growing frustration around the state of the Iran conflict and increasing fuel prices. Milford Asset Management expert Jeremy Hutton explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stanely Druckenmiller lets rip at Scott Bessent's efforts to try to curb the rising cost of borrowing by expanding debt buybacks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Financial Times says Auckland has solved its housing crisis — but has it really? Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker look at why housing affordability has improved, the economic pain sitting behind falling Auckland house prices, why older workers may be particularly vulnerable in the current jobs market, and what mortgage holders can expect from next week’s Reserve Bank decision. The Econo...

Chris Hipkins says he'd let councils enforce their own bed tax. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Managing director of Bagrie Economics on rising global bond yields, China’s two-speed economy and why the OCR may need to move closer to neutral. Plus, election-year tax and spending choices, regional property market trends, and the impact of rising farm inflation on food prices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Development West Coast's Heath Milne on what's behind the region's 1.6% jobs growth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig's Mohandeep Singh unpacks what the NZ earnings season has revealed so far about the state of the market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers board member Mark Hooper explains the modeling that shows farmers could be up to $48k worse off under Opportunity's tax system. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail's been taking a hit since the Iran war began, with people staying home to save money and fuel.  Stats NZ data shows the June quarter's inflation and seasonal-adjusted sales volumes fell 0.5% on the three months to March, but after accounting for surging fuel prices, petrol station sales actually plunged 13%.  The only significant growth was in computer and appliance store sales, w...

Labour's fallen into a cunning wee trap set by Nicola Willis a few weeks ago. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you ready to serve? Because we could all being drafted into this one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What separates truly high-performing organisations from everyone else? In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Estelle Curd, Chief People Officer at Kami, to explore leadership, organisational culture, startup growth, and the role people leaders play in building exceptional workplaces. Drawing on experience across Rocket Lab, Armstrong's and Kami, Estelle shares practical lesson...

National is committing to no new taxes if re-elected – but the jury is still out over whether that means no tinkering to existing taxes. This means the party is scrapping both a bed tax and bank tax – something that's disappointed Mayors in tourism hotspots around the country. Meanwhile, Labour's banking on its capital gains tax to get us back to surplus by 2029/30. They released their...

National's Nicola Willis refuses to rule out an increase to the ACC levy if she's returned as Finance Minister. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party has confirmed it's not going to introduce any new taxes if elected for a second term. Earlier this month, it indicated  it was looking at new bank tax settings and progressing a bed tax, but they've ruled those out. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the party was very clear two weeks ago - and they've clarified these new taxes have been ruled out. "The three parties of th...

Labour’s fiscal strategy, debt promises and how it compares with National’s approach. Herald Business Commentator Fran O'Sullivan.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yep, it was all about taxes over the weekend. Labour pinned its colours to the mast over the weekend and wants to tax more to spend more. Taxman from the Beatles was written by George Harrison in 1966 when Harold Wilson came to power in Britain. He imposed a super tax of 95% on the extremely wealthy, of which the Beatles were on paper, but their accountants warned them they were about to become ba...

Why long-term US bond yields remain stubbornly high. Shane Solly Harbour Asset Management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is National’s promise of no new taxes as good as it sounds? If you ask Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, he’ll say no. Because he’s been pushing for a bed tax for tourists and, yesterday, Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis announced that that won’t be happening under National. Wayne Brown won’t be the only person upset, either. You ask anyone in tourism or local government...

Some think the India Free Trade Agreement will produce more benefits than even the Government expects.   The agreement is moving through Parliament, before it's ratified. The International Business Forum and Westpac have released new research on how the deal will contribute to value. Forum Executive Director Felicity Roxburgh says it shows Government forecasts of 0.1% GDP growth in the next d...

How often should you review your KiwiSaver — and what should you actually be looking at? In this episode of The Prosperity Project , we talk through what matters when reviewing your KiwiSaver, from your retirement goals and contribution levels to fees, fund types and provider performance. Financial commentator Russell Hutchinson explains why you shouldn’t just chase last year’s t...

Labour's staying tight-lipped on whether it would make more cuts to the public service if elected, but assures it's focused on protecting it. The party's latest election promise sets out to achieve surplus by 2030, and reduce net debt to 20 percent of GDP over time. It will aim to keep Government spending and revenue at around 33 percent of GDP once its Capital Gains Tax is fully implemented. Fina...

Most people think building wealth is about earning more. But what you do with your money matters just as much as how much you make. In this episode I’m sharing my 9 money habits that have shaped how I’ve built my wealth and how I think about money altogether. I’ve learned that looking wealthy and being wealthy are two very different things. From refusing to spend $20 on a drink w...

No regrets from National's Leader, as he backs down on new taxes this election. It's a sudden switch up from recent weeks with the National party discussing both a bed tax and bank tax as potential prospects.  Christopher Luxon says the party's unable to deliver either without creating cost for New Zealanders.  He told Mike Hosking that he stands by that decision, saying 'no new taxes, n...