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
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 to June and imports were up 3.2 percent.
HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham explained further.
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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 into the Auckland-based centres, which go live today.
It'll mean New Zealand customers can use the new cloud region to run workloads and store data locally.
Amazon Web Services country manager Manuel Bohnet says they're taking a long-term view with this project.
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A luxury real estate agent says there's huge interest only in two areas of New Zealand, with the Government's planned loosening of the foreign buyers ban.
By next year, Active Investor Plus visa holders will be able to build or buy homes worth at least $5 million.
They’ll still need to invest another $5 million separately to qualify.
Forbes Global's Anthony Mosinkhof says Auckland and Queenstown are the main options for foreign buy...
A tech commentator has weighed in on the arrival of Amazon's new Auckland-based data centres, which are set to be built in Auckland.
The tech giant's investing $7.5 billion dollars into the centres, which go live today.
It'll allow New Zealand customers to store data locally and speed up cloud-based services.
Peter Griffin joined the Afternoons team to explain further.
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New economic data impacting the US came out last week and it's got experts speculating over whether rate cuts will come.
Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explained further.
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There's relief for regional airlines, as they receive help to battle soaring costs.
The Government's offering up to $30 million in loans from the Regional Infrastructure Fund.
It's also approved funding to allow digital upgrades to be made in order to integrate regional bookings with the platforms of major carriers.
Air Chathams CEO Duane Emeny says this is good news for the sector.
"We're looking to hopefully roll out a dome...
There are questions over whether TVNZ cut too many jobs as it turns a surprisingly strong profit.
The broadcaster's reported an after-tax profit of nearly $26million dollars - after an $85million dollar loss last year.
But it comes after the broadcaster cut jobs - including canning production of programmes like Fair Go, Sunday and the midday and night-time news bulletins.
Talking to Heather Du-Plessis Allan, CEO J...
Luxury spending has been booming over the last couple of decades, but many high-end brands have been taking a financial hit.
Gucci, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton have been seeing significant revenue falls since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fisher Funds' Sam Dickie reveals what could be behind the downturn.
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Pāmu, formerly Landcorp, recently reported a net profit after tax of $120 million for the year ended June 2025, which will see it return a $15 million dividend.
It's a significant turnaround compared to last year, when the company posted a loss of $26 million.
The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.
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Pāmu, formerly Landcorp, is seeing a significant financial turnaround, having reported a net profit after tax of $120 million for the year ended June 2025, which will see it return a $15 million dividend.
It's a significant turn compared to last year's results, where the company posted a loss of $26 million.
Chief executive Mark Leslie says he's 'thrilled' to be reporting these results.
"It's great to post the result - but equally,...
There's frustrations over yet another delay to a possible extension of the Port of Tauranga wharves.
The Stella Passage development fast-track application has been halted, days before an expert panel was due to begin discussions.
A High Court judge has directed it must not be considered, pending further orders from the court.
Tauranga Business Association CEO Matt Cowley says this is down to the application missing a fe...
The Government hopes businesses will be in favour of an alcohol regulation shake-up.
It's allowing breweries and wineries to have both an on and off license - and is also letting businesses respond to objections around them having a license.
Objections need to come from the local community.
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says it's important for people to have concerns to have a real voice - but there's been plenty of outsi...
A former supermarket leader agrees New Zealand's lacking competition.
The Government's aiming to put supermarkets that would improve competition up for being fast-tracked in new reforms.
It comes as the Minister of Finance confirms there's been talks with Costco to potentially expand across the country in the coming years.
Former Costco NZ managing director Patrick Noone says their West Auckland store's provided some savings.
"In t...
The boss of Air Zealand says he's proud they've made even two cents of a dollar this year - as profits drop 13.7 percent.
The airline's being hit hard by a sluggish domestic economy, with costs like landing charges, wages, and engineering material rising much faster than inflation.
Outgoing CEO Greg Foran says he appreciates it's been a difficult few years.
"Whether it was starting when Covid began and doing capital rai...
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 would 'immediately destroy the goodwill' between the two entities if it publicly released details of the fateful meeting.
NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further.
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The state of the US Federal Reserve has always prompted responses from financial markets, but recent actions from the Trump administration have raised eyebrows.
Trump recently came out and said he was going to fire Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook earlier in the week.
Milford Asset Management's Andrew Curtayne unpacked the market reactions
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The recent energy crisis has rippled out to the big companies, with Meridian the latest to take a significant financial hit.
Meridian Energy recently confirmed a $452-million-dollar loss, after being hit by periods of low wind, two major droughts, and a shortage of gas.
CEO Mike Roan says the company's been through a tough year, but they managed to shield customers from the high prices.
"We took a hit, no question about that - but ...
The Government expects new supermarkets to pop up in months, rather than years - with planned reforms.
It's introducing legislation to pass before the end of the year to allow supermarkets that boost competition to be up for fast-track approval.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says supermarkets can also apply for streamlined building consents.
"Really, it's just a matter of how quickly they can build."
Costco's confirmed its l...
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 sitting at 5.2 percent, down from the 8.2 percent seen a year ago.
It's the smallest margin seen since Stats NZ began collecting the data in 1998.
Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says sectors like transport, IT and finance have been pushing through higher incomes for...
The Government isn't ruling out a forced breakup of the country's largest supermarket players.
In a bid to improve competition, it's fast tracking applications for grocery businesses to establish or expand in New Zealand - as long as they improve value for shoppers.
Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell joined the Afternoons team to explain further.
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