The SME Stream

The Minister of Trade and Agriculture celebrates the ratification of the Indian FTA. Could it be, as the Prime Minister suggested, a free trade agreement that far exceeds expectations? And does he face a challenge from Andrew Hoggard for his agriculture portfolio? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins on his landlord tax deduction See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pulse of NZ Business Survey shows recovery continuing but it's uneven across sectors, regions and business sizes. Ben Crozier Forsyth Barr. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a belief we're underestimating how high interest rates will go.  ANZ has revised its forecast for the next six months, now predicting three hikes to the Official Cash Rate, bringing rates from 2.75% to 3.5%.  Independent Economics Commentator Tony Alexander told Mike Hosking they'll likely climb even higher, sitting somewhere between 4% and 4.5%.   He says the Reserve Bank p...

There's some defence of the Reserve Bank's pandemic response - after a new report was released. The independent report into its Covid monetary policy finds it began well, with swift OCR cuts, but was slow to respond when the economy bounced back. Former Reserve Bank economist Michael Reddell says most private sector forecasts were similar to the RBNZ's incorrect predictions.  He says that doe...

A tax expert believes Labour's changed stance on interest deductibility makes complete sense.  Labour's confirmed it won't change the current Government's rules allowing landlords to deduct 100% of interest in tax returns.   It had previously criticised the policy as a tax cut for landlords, but Chris Hipkins believes their proposed Capital Gains Tax will address the issue.  Deloitt...

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ANZ joins BNZ picking October's RBNZ meeting will be live, after GDP growth came in higher for the June quarter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fifty-one business leaders have signed an open letter from business think tank the New Zealand Initiative, urging political parties to drop interventionist policies.  It responds to campaign proposals to structurally reform the grocery sector.   National and New Zealand First propose splitting Foodstuffs.  Labour wants grocery brands split into separate retail and wholesale arms, an...

Over in Australia, the Reserve Bank is set to make their next announcement about the OCR in the coming days - and speculation indicates it will go up again. Australia's official cash rate is currently at 4.35 percent, but the RBA will be putting it up at least one more time this year, according to one expert. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham outlined his predictions further. LISTEN ABOVE See omny...

Labour has finally seen the light on interest deductibility. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's unveiled plans for a new National Events Strategy.  It follows an independent review that found New Zealand's a strong events host, but lacks a coordinated, long-term approach.  The industry's backing the move, saying international competition for major events is getting tougher.  Business Events Industry Aotearoa CEO Lisa Hopkins told Mike Hosking we've missed out...

How can HR professionals stay relevant as AI changes the way work gets done? In this episode of HR Unlocked , Lisa Oakley sits down with Alex Howieson , a senior People & Culture leader with experience across aviation, banking, media, healthcare, consulting, governance, and complex workforce environments. Alex shares a clear view: HR should not simply be part of the AI conversation. It should...

Labour is promising it won't change interest deductibility for landlords, and the Finance Minister has been quick to condemn this development. Leader Chris Hipkins said that since the party has already pledged a capital gains tax, it'll keep deductibility as it is, despite reducing the claimable interest last time they were in Government.  Nicola Willis says Labour and Hipkins have been consi...

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Spokesperson Arena Williams on Labour's supermarket policy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Forsyth Barr's Zoe Wallis with an update on the NZ dollar, oil prices, and local data to watch this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trade Minister says business with India could grow more over time. Parliament passed our Free Trade Agreement last week and it's being ratified today, with Royal Assent from the Governor-General. Prime Minister Chris Luxon says since starting speaking positively about trade with India - it's gone up 72 percent. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says there's a lot of suppor...

Cost of living issues are centered on grocery bills - Banking, insurance, airlines, energy 'are not caught by this'. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle Isemonger, Loan Market Mortgage Adviser, on a subdued mortgage market, cautious borrowers, lender competition and the election effect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan both made headlines over their recent moves to lift official cash rates, leaving experts to wonder what could be next. Investors are wondering if there's a longer hiking cycle to come, especially off the back of the ongoing Middle East conflict. Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Labour's u-turn on interest deductibility is being seen as a huge relief for both landlords and renters.  The party's confirmed they won't make changes to current rules, which were changed by the Coalition to allow 100% of interest to be claimed on landlords' tax bills.    Hipkins said yesterday it doesn't need changing back because under Labour, landlords would pay a Capital Gains...

A suggestion consumer spending is recovering - but essential costs are leaving less for the fun stuff. Kiwibank research reveals more than 71 percent of card transactions in August was on credit cards - the highest share since records began in 2002. A decade ago, credit cards made up less than half of card spending. Independent economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge power bills and rates are ea...

Treasury's debt management office borrowed $8.2b at 0.5% for five yeas... it rolled over in May. Garth Bray 2degrees Business wrap. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What separates change that leaves people exhausted from change that actually energises an organisation? In this episode of HR Unlocked , Lisa Oakley sits down with Roz Urbahn, Chief Corporate Services Officer at Pāmu , for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, transformation, mindset, resilience, and the changing role of HR. Roz's career has spanned complex transformation and senior leader...