Best of Business
Best of Business is the home of all things business at Newstalk ZB, from morning market updates right through to incisive interviews with New Zealand’s top business leaders and decision makers. Whether you’re a small business owner or interested in what’s going on in the Big End of Town, this podcast encompasses the sharpest voices and minds in the world of business.
Episodes
So, was our government too relaxed about the tariffs then?
Cause this is a shock today – isn't it? To find out that we’ve just been bumped up to 15% while Australia and dozens of other countries have stayed on 10%.
Now, it seems to be related, most likely, to our balance of trade and that the US has a trade deficit with us. So we get 15%, but then a trade surplus with Australia, so they get 10%. So perhaps it was inevi...
US President Donald Trump has announced an increase to the current 10% tariff on NZ goods.
As of today, the President has raised these tariffs to 15%, leaving exporters concerned about their businesses.
President Trump says that this increase is a 'reciprocal' tariff. Senior Business Journalist John Weekes says that this comment has left confusion, as New Zealand does not impose tariffs on US products.
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2025 is nearly halfway over - and it's been a memorable one for the markets so far.
Between new developments in AI, ongoing economic uncertainty and Donald Trump's string of tariff announcements, investors have had to contend with a lot of unique factors.
Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains further - and reveals what investors can expect for the months ahead.
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The latest Farmer Confidence survey shows farmers are seeing one of the highest lifts in confidence in recent memory.
The July survey shows the rural mood has improved significantly this year, rebounding from record lows 12 months ago.
The Country's Hamish McKay explains further.
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An Auckland company is part of a consortium which has secured nearly $18 million in UK Government funding to help Jaguar Land Rover recycle old EV batteries.
Mint Innovation, along with LiBatt Recycling and Warwick University, will help develop technology to extract lithium, nickel and cobalt from used batteries.
Mint Innovation CEO Dr Will Barker says the company is scaling to be one of the leaders in recovering valuable metal fro...
Agriculture is leading the way as the country's top performing industry.
Xero’s latest Insights report shows consistent under-performance in New Zealand’s small business sector in the past year, with sales falling by 0.1% in the June quarter.
Country manager Bridget Snelling told Mike Hosking sectors that are more sensitive to consumer spending and interest rates are being hit hardest.
She says construction is d...
After years of a historically strong labour market, there are now growing signs of softening beneath the surface.
Work opportunities in the US are dwindling amid ongoing economic uncertainty, with the Trump administration's policies contributing to high unemployment figures.
Milford Asset Management expert Brendan Larsen explains further.
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The New Zealand Chambers of Commerce have warned that the Government’s proposed ban on retail payment surcharges risks hitting small businesses with higher costs.
Simon Bridges, CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber, acknowledged that the Government was trying to protect consumers from additional fees - but voiced concerns about what this ban could do for smaller operators.
He says the ban isn't a cost-free exercise - and someone wi...
Air New Zealand's new CEO appointment isn't a shock within the sector, according to one expert.
Chief Digital Officer Nikhil Ravishankar will step up to replace Greg Foran in October.
Forsyth Barr Head of Research Andy Bowley says he's unsure whether this appointment suggests a lack of international interest.
"There's been a reasonable understanding that he was one of the leading - if not the leading - internal candidates. So in th...
The Finance Minister's floating the idea of listing KiwiBank on the stock exchange.
Cabinet has given KiwiBank's parent company the green light to raise an extra $500 million.
However, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says this won't occur without an electoral mandate.
"That will be for individual parties to take a position at the election - but I've been advised that any potential public offering could take place before 2028."
...Jeremy Williamson, head of private wealth and markets at Craigs Investment Partners, recently claimed there was momentum building for Kiwis to move away from investing in property - but one expert has suggested differently.
Matt Ball from the Property Investors Federation acknowledged people were getting more savvy about outside investments and that the property market was changing, but claimed the nation's love affair with propert...
A top lawyer working with the plaintiffs in a large-scale banking class action is calling for a formal investigation into the 'serious civil service process failures' by MBIE.
Rachael Reed, KC, has outlined her objections in a letter to Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche and Attorney-General Judith Collins, voicing concerns with the Reserve Bank's risk assessment.
She says the $12.9 billion figure is 'fantastical' and says...
Australian exporters may face tariffs of up to 20 percent as US President Donald Trump keeps flagging higher baselines.
Trump revealed the range for the new minimum tariff earlier this week, and the pressure's on the Albanese-led Government to strike a better deal.
Australian correspondent Murray Olds says it's unclear how the Government will proceed here.
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One investment expert says New Zealand would be a lot better off if people sold off their property investments and put money into assets that helped boost the economy.
Jeremy Williamson, head of private wealth and markets at Craigs Investment Partners, recently claimed the time has come for the nation to move away from its 'love affair with property'.
He joined the Afternoons team to discuss further.
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There is much that this coalition government is dealing with that is not of their own making – they are mopping up, cleaning up the mess. Then there are the own goals that should not be happening 18 months into office – and I would argue that the announcement trumpeted yesterday afternoon is an example of an own goal.
The Government is planning to ban merchants from adding surcharges to in-store card payments, a change they ...
BNZ is taking advantage of the Government’s ban on in-store card surcharges to promote its new banking platform.
Payap, an open banking platform, allows customers to pay directly from their bank account.
It provides a lower-cost alternative with transaction fees of just 0.39% or 0.59%, and is compatible with all major NZ banks.
BNZ Head of Payment Development Jonathan Dale told Kerre Woodham with yesterday’s surc...
The Commerce Minister says he's disappointed in businesses who say they will pass on the cost of surcharge scrapping.
Most in-store surcharges on card payments will be banned, with the changes set to kick in next May.
Scott Simpson says this is a win for consumers.
He told Mike Hosking they've also taken action on the fees banks charge businesses.
Simpson says those rates will be lower following regulati...
President Donald Trump recently announced that the United States and the European Union reached a framework for a trade deal.
Trump reportedly had talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland.
Harbour Asset Management spokesperson Shane Solly explains further.
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Recent data shows there were 27,850 fewer jobs in New Zealand in June compared to the year before, and young Kiwis are being hit hard by a tightening labour market.
Over 12,000 of those lost jobs came from the construction sector, manufacturing lost 5850 jobs, professional, scientific and technical services lost 5150 jobs and admin and support services lost 4860 jobs.
Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen explains what's behin...
The Finance Minister has hinted changes are on the way for the supermarket sector, with a further update due out by the end of August.
Speculation indicates the Government will make an announcement to address the situation.
Nicola Willis says Prime Minister Luxon has confirmed the Government will be making an announcement this quarter.
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