The SME Stream
Episodes
Shane Solly: Harbour Asset Management expert on the latest economic data revealing things are still shrinking
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New data suggests New Zealand's economic turmoil is far from over. New economic data from Stats NZ prompted BNZ to increase its estimate of the size o...
Katherine Rich: Business NZ CEO on the services sector contracting for the 18th consecutive month
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our largest sector is continuing to do it tough. Latest data from BNZ and Business NZ shows our services sector —which makes up almost thr...
Rupert Carlyon: KiwiSaver is unaffordable as it is
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters announced plans to campaign for compulsory KiwiSaver at the next election, and increase the minimum...
What to do with a windfall
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sudden money can feel life-changing, or like a trap. Financial planner Liz Koh joins Nadine to discuss how to handle a windfall without blowing it, fr...
Mike's Minute: Here's the truth on working from home
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hasn’t working from home become funny? Seek have produced a thing called Money Matters, and they look at work-life balance. Actually...
Sam Dickie: Fisher Funds expert on the rise in global retail giants moving into New Zealand
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last few years, more international retail giants have moved to establish themselves in New Zealand. Costco opened its first store in West Auc...
Nick Clark: Local Government Business Forum Secretary on the call for referendums for major council spending
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Voter turnout could be an issue for a proposal to introduce binding referendums on major council spending projects. The Local Government Busines...
Ankit Sharma: Master Builders CEO on the State of the Sector Report, consumer confidence
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's cautious optimism in the construction sector and hopes the economy will improve. The Master Builders State of the Sector Report cites r...
SME Stream Weekly Wrap - 12 September
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Lee Marshall: Hunter Campbell Managing Partner on the results of the Mood of the CFO survey
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand’s finance leaders are more confident for the year ahead. A new report from the Hunter Campbell Group shows an uptick in confid...
Turn science into value: Aussie’s lessons for a stronger economy
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Australia has grown wealthy by exploiting its vast mineral resources, but successive governments have also identified the need to move beyond extracti...
Health cover premiums are rising. An insurance CEO tells us why
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What’s really behind rising health insurance premiums? Southern Cross Medical Care Society CEO, Nick Astwick, joins Liam to talk about the chall...
Samantha Barrass: FMA chief executive on the decrease in Kiwi workers contributing to their KiwiSavers
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The cost of living crisis is hitting New Zealanders hard, with many putting retirement savings on the backburner. The number of people contributing to...
Nicola Willis: Finance Minister weighs in on NZ First's idea for KiwiSaver contributions
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand First is backing major changes to KiwiSaver ahead of the election and it's sparked discussion about what this could mean going forward. Th...
Shamubeel Eaqub: Simplicity chief economist on the feasibility of NZ First's proposed KiwiSaver reforms
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An economist has raised concerns over NZ First's proposed reform for KiwiSaver contributions - and claimed they're not feasible. NZ First recently pro...
Jo Townsend: New Zealand Super Fund CEO on the fund generating returns of nearly 12% in the past year
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The New Zealand Super Fund has bucked economic trends. It's generated returns of nearly 12% over the past year, growing to $85 billion, and it&r...
Max Whitehead: Is it always the squeaky wheel that gets the oil?
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are two different types of employees - one who stays low profile, gets what they need to get done, done, and goes home. Then there's the o...
'It's amazing what people will fight about' - why you need a will
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s one of those jobs many of us put off - but dying without a Will can leave your loved ones in legal and financial chaos. In fact, if yo...
“Absolutely abysmal”: Unpacking Amazon’s trainwreck cloud launch
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon Web Services’ highly anticipated launch of its New Zealand cloud region unravelled this week as it nonplussed journalists and the public ...
Nick Miller: International Tax Specialist on the report looking into taxing multinational corporations
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a view that large tech companies could be challenged to pay more tax. A report from tax expert Nick Miller says companies like Go...
Sam Dickie: Fisher Funds expert on equity markets taking a turn for September
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Equity markets have taken a turn this September, and it's prompted concerns among experts. Markets are softening a bit, which is a remarkably regular ...
Geof Nightingale: Independent Tax Expert on the impact of higher taxes on multinational tech companies like Google, Meta
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A separate argument against major tech firms paying more tax. A report from tax expert Nick Miller says companies like Google are able to skirt ...
SME Stream Weekly Wrap - 5 September
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor on the concerns for what Government building overhaul means for homeowners
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are fears the Government’s proposal to change who is liable for shonky buildings risks leaving homeowners in the lurch. The Government is ...
Jeremy Hutton: Milford Asset Management expert on the winners and losers from NZX results season
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A busy reporting season has concluded for the NZX-listed companies, with some doing better than others. A2 Milk stood out as a success story from this...
Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Does Amazon want to play us for fools?
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Now, we need to talk about that Amazon announcement yesterday. These guys have taken us for fools in this country. They've looked at us in New Ze...
No upgrade needed: Rimini St’s cost-saving pitch to CIOs
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nasdaq-listed tech services company Rimini Street is challenging the status quo in New Zealand’s enterprise IT market, offering a striking alter...
From hippy to peanut butter hero: The wild adventures of Pic Picot
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pic Picot has lived his life like it's one big experiment. He's tried a bit of this, had success with a bit of that, lived on a commune, sailed the Pa...
Chris Hipkins: Labour leader on ACT's call to leave the Paris Agreement, Foreign buyers, ditching open-plan classrooms
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Labour and National appear to be aligned on the Paris Climate Agreement. Yesterday ACT called for New Zealand to leave unless the terms of the ...
Jeremy Andrews: Key Mortgages broker on more people getting mortgages approved
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
More people are getting mortgages approved as they prepare for the Official Cash Rate to fall further. Latest Centrix figures show mortgage enquiries ...
Christopher Luxon: Prime Minister on lifting the foreign buyers ban under new investment visa settings, Amazon date centres going live
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Prime Minister is celebrating tech-giant Amazon's continued moves into the New Zealand market. Amazon Web Services' data centres are now ope...
Winston Peters: NZ First Leader on the changes to investment rules that allow foreign investors to buy property
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters says he wasn't dragged kicking and screaming into a new foreign investors deal. The Government’s a...
Manuel Bohnet: Amazon Web Services' NZ country manager on Amazon's $7.5 billion investment plan for New Zealand
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's hopes the promised 1,000 new jobs created from Amazon's locally based data centres will go to Kiwis. The tech giant's investing $7.5 billion i...
Carolyn Young: Retail NZ CEO on the impact of Temu on the value of New Zealand's imports
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The growing volume of purchases from the likes of Shein and Temu are hitting New Zealand’s import economy hard. Stats New Zealand has revi...
Paul Bloxham: HSBC chief economist on trade figures showing economic growth
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stats NZ came out with the latest trade data for New Zealand - and the results show good news for exporters. Exports were up 9.9 percent in the year t...
Brent Linn: Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers CEO on the changes in the market, export growth
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is this a turning point for the wine industry? Data shows export volumes are expected to grow 4% to 285 million litres in the year to June 2025....
Shamubeel Eaqub: Reconsidering which insurance you use
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's no secret that the cost of living has gone a bit crazy these past few years, but insurance seems to be one of the hardest hit. Insurance prices h...
Nichole Lewis: Making housing affordable without ruining the economy
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Bishop has openly called for house prices to fall, saying we need to be channeling more money into the economy rather than having it locked up i...
A thousand dollars hidden in your wardrobe
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Overflowing wardrobe? It might be worth more than you think. Aidan Bartlett, CEO of Designer Wardrobe, joins Nadine to talk about the booming sec...
Inside Australia’s Strategic Data Centre Expansion
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Macquarie Technology Group stores 42% of the Australian Federal Government’s information in its data centres. Its CEO and Founder says that make...
Claire Matthews: Massey University Banking Expert on the number of green loans
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kiwis have racked up more than a billion dollars in green loans for energy efficient items like EVs, solar panels, and heat pumps. BNZ, ASB, and...
Chris Nixon: NZIER Principal Economist on the slowing Chinese investment in NZ
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chinese investment in New Zealand is growing, but slowly. The New Zealand China Council’s annual report shows China ranks 12th as a source...
SME Stream Weekly Wrap - 28 August
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Kerre Woodham: Surely this visa can only be good for New Zealand?
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new visa to attract businesspeople to New Zealand has been established by the Government, and really, it's only a matter of days, perhaps weeks, bef...
Chris Small: ABC Business Sales Managing Director on the new Business Investor Visa
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
More money could soon circulate through the economy as the Government opens up the country to more overseas businesspeople. Under its new...
Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor on the warning letter the RBNZ chair sent to Treasury
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's been revealed the Reserve Bank chairman sent a warning letter to Treasury in the wake of Adrian Orr's resignation. Neil Quigley warned that it wo...
Andrew Curtayne: Milford Asset Management expert on the market reactions to the Federal Reserve changes
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The state of the US Federal Reserve has always prompted responses from financial markets, but recent actions from the Trump administration have raised...
Simon Bridges: Auckland Business Chamber CEO on the new Business Investor Visa
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
More foreign investors could soon flock in to work hard on Kiwi businesses. The Government's new Business Investor Visa will give foreign busin...
Dellwyn Stuart: Mind the Gap co-founder on the gender pay gap at the lowest it's ever been
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Belief an improving gender pay gap is due to a weaker labour market. Stats NZ's revealed the difference in pay between women and men fell to 5.2% in t...
Kelvin Davidson: Cotality Chief Property Economist on the housing value-to-income ratio reaching its lowest since mid-2019
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lower mortgage rates and income growth have helped improve housing affordability. Cotality NZ’s new report finds the national value-to-inc...
Brad Olsen: Infometrics Principal Economist on NZ's gender pay gap narrowing to record low
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A build-up of industry income changes could have driven the pay gap between men and women to a historic low. The pay gap for the June quarter is...
Quantum tech's next era – A Kiwi quantum physicist on its potential
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the global race to develop quantum computers heats up, New Zealand is working on specialist areas of technology that could add crucial elements to ...
Robbie Paul: Icehouse Ventures CEO on the number of young Kiwi start-ups and investors
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do younger Kiwis still have that No.8 wire mentality? While some are concerned the younger generation is settling as opposed to striving and inv...
Erica Stanford: Immigration Minister on the new Business Investor Visa
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The number of people coming in on the Government's new Business Investor Visa could be limited. It'll fast track residency for any foreig...
John MacDonald: The KiwiSaver divide that needs sorting
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I think it would be very easy to push-back on Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson’s call for changes to the KiwiSaver scheme to make it easie...
Geof Nightingale: Independent tax expert on the new migrant tax rules
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A view that new migrant tax rules will put us on par with other countries. The Government's proposing a bill to stop migrants being taxed on est...
Jamie Mackay: The Country host on the Reserve Bank's decision to review bank capital rules
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Reserve Bank's move to review banking capital rules has been welcomed by Federated Farmers. Banking spokesperson Mark Hooper says the stricter rul...
Matt Goodson: Salt Funds managing director on the increased overseas interest in NZ companies
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to new reports, overseas interest in NZ-based companies is at a record high. A new survey by Simpson Grierson says 49 percent of internation...
James Fuller: Hnry CEO on the number of self-employed people opting out of KiwiSaver
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Self-employed people are opting out of KiwiSaver, putting their retirements at risk. A new report from the Retirement Commission and accounting ...
Sam Stubbs: Simplicity Founder on the potential changes to banks' capital requirements
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A reassurance that banking won't be much riskier even if capital rules are changed. The Reserve Bank's put out two proposals to loosen capital ...
Neil Quigley: Reserve Bank Board Chair on the review of capital requirements
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Reserve Bank says it wasn't dragged kicking and screaming to a review of capital rules. It's put out two proposals aimed at loosening capita...
Dr Claire Matthews: Head of Massey University's Finance school on the Reserve Bank's proposed changes to capital lending
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A banking expert believes changes to capital requirements would impact home loans and other lending. The Reserve Bank's seeking feedback on proposals ...
Shane Solly: Harbour Asset Management on the US Federal Reserve hinting at rate cuts
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has indicated rate cuts could be on the cards soon. Powell indicated the tariffs were making an inflationary im...
Jane Wrightson: Retirement Commissioner on the number of self-employed people contributing to their KiwiSaver
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Self-employed Kiwis are prioritising their businesses rather than thinking about retirement. A report by the Retirement Commission and accountin...
Andrew Bascand: The OCR won't solve anything
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The OCR got another cut this week, now down to 3%. While there have been questions for a while around whether banks are passing the cuts down to...
Why moving up the property ladder is harder than getting on it
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You got into your first home unscathed, so buying again will be a breeze, right? Wrong. When it comes to moving up the property ladder, goin...
John Battersby: The balancing act between our economy and our alliances
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Government has announced a $2.7 billion defence spending boost to upgrade the aircraft fleet. The money will be spent on five Seahawk helico...
Todd Stephenson: Finance and Expenditure committee member says barriers need to be lowered for foreign banks
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Parliament's finance and expenditure committee released the findings of its banking inquiry today, making 19 recommendations - 14 of which have cross-...
Behind DroneShield’s Major Military Expansion
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
[VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY] Drones were harmed in the making of this episode, and that’s exactly the point. This episod...
Sam Dickie: Fisher Funds expert on the success of Tencent
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While experts are weighing up the results of US-based tech giants, one Chinese company is dominating markets. Tencent is a Chinese multinational techn...
Jordan Boyle: employment lawyer on the House passing new pay transparency laws
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Workers are now able to speak freely about their salaries, and it's got experts speculating about what this means for Kiwis. The House passed a new la...
Adrienne Begbie: Prospa Managing Director on the impact of the latest OCR cut
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Will the latest cut to the Official Cash Rate provide some much-needed stimulus to the business sector? The central bank's cut the OCR 25 basis ...
Mike's Minute: We're still talking about working from home
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the "never the twain shall meet" moments that came out of Covid was working from home. Here we are, five years on, and the battle has not...
Bonus Episode - Cybersecurity
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode of The SME Stream, brought to you by BNZ, host Wilhelmina Shrimpton sits down with tech expert Paul Spain to talk all things cyb...
SME Stream Weekly Wrap - 21 August
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Bree Tomasel on being a "shit-talking hustler"
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Broadcaster, author and Taskmaster NZ star Bree Tomasel reckons her whole job can be summed up as “talking shit for a living.” But b...
Remy Morgan: Milford Asset Management expert on the market reactions to the OCR cut
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Reserve Bank cut the OCR by 25 basis points to three percent today, but the markets still saw some surprises. Today's cut was divisive, with 2 of ...
Quantum tech's next era – A Kiwi quantum physicist on its potential
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the global race to develop quantum computers heats up, New Zealand is working on specialist areas of technology that could add crucial elements to ...
Christian Hawkesby: Reserve Bank Governor on the OCR cut, inflation
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Reserve Bank Governor is defending not going harder with cuts to the Official Cash Rate. The cash rate has been cut 25 basis points to 3%.&n...
Nicola Willis: Finance Minister on Reserve Bank cutting the OCR
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A steady slide to the OCR is gently flowing through to households. The Reserve Bank's cut the cash rate from 5.5% to 3% over the past 13 months ...
Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on the Reserve Bank cutting the OCR to 3 percent
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Reserve Bank is signalling further OCR cuts, but making no promises. It's slashed the cash rate 25 basis points today, to 3 percent. Newstalk ZB s...
Paul Bloxham: HSBC chief economist on whether the OCR will be cut tomorrow
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Reserve Bank is widely expected to cut the OCR tomorrow, according to new reports. The OCR is currently sitting at 3.25 percent and the major bank...
Gareth Morgan: former economist and investment manager responds to investment scam deepfake
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Former economist and investment manager Gareth Morgan was caught off-guard by an AI deepfake using his voice and likeness, and he's warned people to b...
Carl Taylor: Combined Building Supplies Co-Op CEO on the signs of recovery in the construction sector
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are tentative signs of recovery, as a troubled construction sector looks to turn the corner. A new report shows the sector generated $94 b...
Mark Troughear: Freightways CEO on the rise in net profits for the year
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Financial results are coming in thick and fast. a2 Milk is reporting a 21% rise in profit alongside announcing it has bought the Yashili p...
Shane Solly: Harbour Asset Management spokesperson on the financial results coming through this week
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Financial results are coming in thick and fast. a2 Milk is reporting a 21 percent rise in profit - alongside announcing it bought the Yashili plant in...
To claim or not to claim? Tax deductibility explained
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tax deductions can be confusing, especially when you’re trying to figure out what you can and can’t claim if you're running a business or ...
Thomas Scrimgeour: New Zealand could secure a place in the global AI economy with a sustainable data centre
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand could secure a place in the global AI economy with a sustainable data centre Research by the Maxim Institute has looked at leveraging the ...
Brad Olsen: Infometrics Principal Economist on debt nearing $1 trillion
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We are well on our way to a collective one trillion dollars in debt. In the year to the end of May, New Zealand hit just over 870-billion in gross deb...
Inside a 1950’s Hydro Power Station!
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
[VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE & SPOTIFY] Power generator Mercury is investing $550 million into three of its historic hydro stations, aged...
Felicity Roxburgh: NZ International Business Forum Executive Director on exports, impact of trade wars
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand exporters are remaining upbeat. The latest Export New Zealand DHL Export Barometer shows about four in five have maintained or incre...
SME Stream Weekly Wrap - 14 August
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Sovereign or sidelined?: Making the case for Kiwi-controlled AI
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As US tech companies double down on artificial intelligence, pouring billions into new data centres and offering eye-watering compensation packages to...
Michael Luke: Milford Asset Management expert on what the new US inflation data means for the economy
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
US inflation held steady in July, with consumer prices rising 2.7 percent - depite the ongoing concerns around import tariffs. Figures are better than...
Michael Van De Elzen: From chicken manure to celebrity chef (but don’t call him that)
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chef, TV host and farmer Mike Van de Elzen has worked in some of the toughest kitchens in the world, from London’s high-pressure restaurant scen...
Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor on the Reserve Bank looking to cut 20 percent of staff
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Reserve Bank is moving to cut 20 percent of its staff in a bid to unwind the hiring spree by former Governor Adrian Orr. The restructure will see ...
Len Houwers: Major Gas Users Group spokesperson on businesses struggling with high gas prices
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Major gas users are looking to the Government for help, with many struggling with high prices. A survey by energy management company Optima and ...
Shane Jones: Resources Minister reveals he's focusing on how to ration gas to keep businesses afloat Minister reveals he's focusing on how to ration gas to ke
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Resources Minister Shane Jones is investigating whether to ration gas to keep some businesses going. Fertiliser co-operative Ballance last week reveal...
Greg Smith: Devon Funds Head of Retail on Spark selling 75 percent of its data centre business to Australia’s Pacific Equity Partners
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Spark New Zealand is selling 75 percent of its data centre business for about half a billion dollars. Australian-owned Pacific Equity Partners is taki...
Gareth Kiernan: Infometrics Chief Forecaster on the number of businesses reporting losses
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A growing number of businesses are reporting losses and economists have voiced concerns. IRD data shows that in the 2023 tax year, 107,360 companies o...