The SME Stream

In May, we launched this season of Money Talks with Nigel Latta - clinical psychologist, author, broadcaster, and friend of host Liam Dann. With the sad news of Nigel’s passing, we’re reissuing that conversation to honour his voice and perspective. The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in...

The state of central cities is a big issue as local body elections loom.  Both Wellington and Auckland’s CBDs are suffering, with the percentage of empty retail spaces jumping.   In Auckland, major retailers such as DFS Galleria and Smith & Caughey have left or closed their doors.  So how do you rejuvenate a city?   Leeann Watson, CEO of Business Canterbury, and Viv B...

The Government's opted against a significant energy shake-up - rejecting calls to re-nationalise or split up the big gentailers.  Instead, it'll offer the Crown-controlled companies more capital to invest in generation projects. Energy Minister Simon Watts explained the changes further here today. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial...

The Government's opted against a significant energy shake-up -- rejecting calls to re-nationalise or split up the big gentailers.   Instead, it'll offer the Crown-controlled companies more capital to invest in generation projects.  It will also establish a Liquified Natural Gas import facility, give the Electricity Authority greater power, and speed up consenting renewable energy project...

The Government finally unveiled its plan to address issues impacting the energy sector, and it's prompted a mixed response. The country's largest power companies have responded positively, and their shares have jumped on the NZX as a result. Meanwhile, consumers and other businesses have voiced concerns this doesn't address the status quo. Consumer NZ CEO Jon Duffy has criticised this announcement...

The Government recently unveiled its highly-anticipated energy sector announcement and it's prompted good news for the energy companies. The share price for New Zealand's major gentailers raised on the NZX, with Meridian seeing a 5 percent increase. Milford Asset Management's Michael Luke explained further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not fina...

Disappointment the Government's energy reforms haven't prioritised keeping electricity prices down. Changes include allowing Crown-controlled gentailers more government capital for projects, plans for a new gas import terminal and giving the Electricity Authority more power. Electric Kiwi CEO Huia Burt told Ryan Bridge this could result in wholesale prices reducing by about 2% per annum. She says...

Much has happened this week, so National’s Hamish Campbell and Labour’s Tracey McLellan joined John MacDonald to delve into the biggest issues.  They discussed whether the Government should underwrite power prices to reduce bills, the viability of Treasury’s solutions to the financial crunch, and the results of the Herald’s annual Mood of the Boardroom survey.  Pl...

The Reserve Bank has been learning lessons from its handling of the Covid pandemic.  Chief Economist Paul Conway says they now have a deeper understanding of supply shocks and the structural drivers of inflation and are better equipped for future shocks.  He says in hindsight, going earlier or harder to OCR hikes would have reduced inflation sooner.  New Zealand Initiative Chief Eco...

The CTU's head says excessive dividends for shareholders are stopping power companies investing more in generation.  The union says the partially Government-owned gentailers should re-nationalise.  Energy Minister Simon Watts will make an announcement tomorrow on sector reform.  Richard Wagstaff says gentailers have their priorities wrong.  "Between 2016 and 2020, there's 1.2 b...

There's hopes that investment will flow into the energy sector once Government reforms are announced.  Energy Minister Simon Watts will unveil the changes this morning, targeting issues the market hasn’t been able to resolve on its own.  The Government ordered the review last year after gas supply issues and soaring wholesale prices.  Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge told Mike Hos...

The energy sector's hopeful that Government reforms will be bold,  and address their concerns. Energy Minister Simon Watts is expected to announce reforms today, which will focus on issues the market hasn't been able to solve itself.  Major Electricity Users' Group Executive Director, Karen Boyes, says told Ryan Bridge Liquefied Natural Gas could be an option - as we're running out of do...

A fresh blueprint has been developed to boost Dunedin's future.   Business South's new targets include delivering more than 15 thousand high-value jobs by 2034, welcoming 150 new businesses a year by 2029, and growing Māori-owned businesses by 129% in four years.   CEO Mike Collins says the goals may be stretched, but are going to be remarkable, with many motivated people backing the gro...

Now, we need to talk about the Reserve Bank's excuses for how it completely stuffed up its job and let inflation get away on it during Covid. We spoke about this on the show yesterday, it's done the review and it says, quote, - "in hindsight, an earlier and more aggressive tightening might have reduced inflation sooner." Yeah. Really, Sherlock?  But this would have been difficult given t...

There’s nothing quite like watching a well-thought-out strategy come together and work. And hats off to South Korea this morning — they’re absolutely smashing it when it comes to tourism. The government set a goal: 30 million visitors a year by 2030. In 2005, they had 6 million. Last year? 16 million. This year: they’re on track to hit 20 million. This isn’t happening...

A new governor has been appointed for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand - all the way from Sweden.  Dr Anna Breman has already received criticism from economists who find themselves concerned that someone with such little knowledge of the New Zealand economy will hold such a high stakes position.  LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financ...

The Kiwi dollar continues to weaken against the Australian dollar, hitting a three-year low last week. The NZD is currently trading at 88 cents off the back of soft GDP growth and rate cuts, and concerns are raising as China's economic rebound could widen the gap further. Investment director for Craigs investment partners Mark Lister told Mike Hosking that New Zealand's rate cuts are having a stro...

A former Finance Minister's discussing the Superannuation age in the wake of an alarming Treasury report.  Treasury's long term fiscal statement notes the importance of responding to challenges with an ageing population.  It suggests the cost of NZ Super could be kept stable by steadily increasing the age of eligibility, requiring it to rise to 72, by 2065.  Steven Joyce told Kerre...

What’s your message to the new Reserve Bank Governor?   Dr Anna Breman is moving from Sweden to take up the job and will begin her five-year term at the start of December.   I thought it was interesting to hear her say yesterday that one of the first things she plans to do is to travel around the country to meet and listen to people.   She says she wants to meet people in regu...

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 …it’s in with the new at the Reserve Bank with a fresh face taking the helm, leave entitlements ar...

The way the New Zealand government buys technology is about to change in a big way.  A Cabinet paper from Judith Collins, the minister for digitising government, has outlined and approved a plan to centralise IT and digital-related government procurement decisions within the Department of Internal Affairs. Facing up to $13 billion in planned technology spending, with only two-thirds of it fun...

Nicola Willis admits the economy isn't where the Government would like it to be.  The Herald's annual Mood of the Boardroom survey shows business leaders are less optimistic about the economy than they were a year ago.  Only a third of respondents back the Government's current growth agenda.  The Finance Minister told Mike Hosking they're hearing the call for harder, faster action,...

The new Reserve Bank Governor is pledging to build trust and credibility. Sweden's Anna Breman has been announced to lead  the central bank, taking over from interim Governor Christian Hawkesby in December. She'll be the first woman to ever hold the role - selected from more than 300 candidates who were initially identified. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says Breman has revealed the new...

Business leaders aren’t sugarcoating their messages for the Government.   The Herald's annual Mood of the Boardroom survey shows business leaders are less optimistic about the economy than they were a year ago.  Only a third of respondents back the Government's current growth agenda.  Forsyth Barr Managing Director Neil Paviour-Smith told Mike Hosking concerns are being expres...

AI and technology stocks are continuing to have a significant presence in the market - but which companies are leading the charge? Broadcom and Oracle are among the companies that have generated positive results, and Nvidia made headlines following its $100 billion investment in OpenAI. Milford Asset Management's Andrew Curtayne explained further. LISTEN ABOVE The podcasts in the SME Stream contai...