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
The global dairy market is expected to face a period of weaker commodity prices off the back of a growth-filled 2025.
According to Rabobank's Q4 Global Dairy Quarterly Report, global milk production growth is estimated to have peaked in Q3 2025.
The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.
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The Singapore Government has teamed up with New Zealand-founded start-up The Fractional Directory for a new pilot programme.
The project will pair fractional leaders - experienced professionals who work with multiple organisations on a flexible basis - with Singaporean companies.
Company CEO Michelle Allbon says this may seem similar to consultant roles, but there's some key differences.
"The different between consulting and fracti...
Recent trading updates indicate the nation's leading retailers are feeling the pinch ahead of the busy season.
The Warehouse and Kathmandu are among the big names that have been seeing significant losses over the past few months.
Milford Asset Management's Michael Luke says there's hope things will pick up in the next few weeks, given the demand brought about by Christmas and Boxing Day.
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A signal from the Reserve Bank's led Westpac to hike rates - and one economist expects other banks could follow.
Westpac lifted two five-year fixed rates by 30 basis points yesterday.
The bank's chief economist, Kelly Eckhold, says it seems the Reserve Bank's unlikely to cut the OCR again any time soon.
"We kind of expected that they would cut the rate by 25 basis points, but we didn't expect them to call time on the ea...
The debate over out long summer break is heating up.
An op-ed from businessman Toss Grimley claims New Zealand’s extended shutdown hurts productivity, a stance backed up by Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges.
Bridges says there’s a real perception the country “shuts down until March”, and that we’re seen more as “lifestylers” than serious businesspeople.
Massey University Professor of Innovation and Econ...
Deloitte's Top 200 awards took place at Auckland's Viaduct Event Centre last night, with New Zealand space company Rocket Lab, founded by Peter Beck, taking the title of Company of the Year.
NZ Herald Technology Editor Chris Keall joined Matt and Tyler to chat about the win.
"To actually be a New Zealander and to even dream of doing something like that, let alone be heading off to Mars with your work, that's just so incredibl...
This morning, I'm going to pretty much let Toss Grumley do the opener for me.
Who's Toss Grumley? Well, Toss is a New Zealand business advisor and investor. The Post has run an editorial he wrote, bemoaning the Christmas shutdown. In it he said New Zealand's Christmas break has started to become way too extreme, and it's impacting our productivity on an individual business level and at the level of the economy.
The sum...
New Zealand’s relationship with the "Land of Opportunity" is taking the spotlight in Auckland today.
Business, trade, and political leaders are attending the annual US Business Summit.
Christopher Luxon is set to open the summit, shedding light on the Government’s actions to strengthen bilateral ties.
NZUS Council Executive Director Fiona Cooper told Mike Hosking New Zealand is doing great business with the US and...
University of California professor and political analyst Dan Schnur talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan on the realities of doing international trade with the US in Trump's America.
He explained that leaders must remember that Trump is first-and-foremost a businessman.
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It probably came out on the wrong day to get the coverage it deserved, but one of the last pieces in the economic turnaround told us we are basically there.
Consumer confidence is back, up six points to 98. It needs to be 100 or more for expansion, but it’s the highest figure since June and backs the business confidence, which last week was up a lot.
Business comes first because they see the turnaround on sales. The spe...
Auckland oyster farmers are facing another blow just weeks after a major wastewater spill into the Mahurangi River.
Watercare says heavy rain on 19 November caused 86 cubic metres of wastewater and stormwater to overflow into the river from a Warkworth pipeline.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has suspended harvesting while tests are carried out, but growers say the spill has already wrecked their busiest season.
Matakana Oyste...
Chris Luxon says banks need to be passing on their OCR cuts to customers - and customers should be switching banks if they don't.
Mortgage rates have been falling significantly, following recent OCR cuts.
But the Reserve Bank says the banks still have room to move, to be cutting the rates further.
The Prime Minister says [told Mike Hosking] banks should be competing for customers, and customers should be trying to get the best deal...
Audio file
FR EDITORIAL 301125.mp3
Transcript
So, did you get yourself a bargain on Black Friday or some kind of good deal in the last 10 days that may also be associated with a Black Friday? I've done quite a bit of Christmas shopping this weekend, most of it online through Kiwi retailers, and have saved at least the shipping costs or up to maybe 25% savings, which, you know, it all adds up.
There h...
This week Kevin Milne wants to give a boutique business their flowers.
All Better is a toy repair business run by Janice in Te Awamutu. She specialises in fixing wooden puzzles for kids – a service Kevin was in dire need of after their dog caused a bit of damage to their vintage family puzzle.
If you’re in need of her services, you can contact her via email: jgdownhome@yahoo.co.nz
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The UK’s embattled Labour Government has unveiled a tax-raising budget - after its full contents were leaked half an hour early.
The plan's designed to lift economic growth and ease cost-of-living pressures.
UK correspondent Enda Brady says Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged ordinary people would have to pay more, and it's prompted backlash.
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There's growing concerns from experts about the risks surrounding AI investments.
Investors believe AI is at risk of forming a stock market bubble, and some analysts are worried about the risks coming home to roost.
Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explained further.
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Can I give you a positive spin on the recession that we're just coming out of?
I mean, maybe it's not so much a positive spin, but maybe it's an explanation for why this recession was harder than it needed to be - but why it actually did need to be this hard.
If you've been following the commentary around the Reserve Bank's last two OCR decisions, you'll know there's been a fair bit of chat about the wealth effect and how that has ...
The Reserve Bank has blamed the ongoing recession on an uncertain property market, prompting experts to weigh in.
New Zealand has traditionally relied on housing as an engine of growth, but years of flat property prices have reportedly contributed to the ongoing economic downturn.
Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen explained further.
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Keith McLaughlin: Centrix Group Managing Director on the IRD's planned crackdown on stubborn debtors
The Inland Revenue Department has launched some new steps in bringing down tax debt - with one scheme linked to a key credit agency.
Following a successful pilot, the IRD will report more recalcitrant tax debtors to credit reporting agency Centrix.
Centrix Group Managing Director Keith McLaughlin says this scheme is designed to bring down company debt at this stage, not personal debt.
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Business as usual for Jetstar, despite Air New Zealand taking a swipe at its airport discounts.
Air New Zealand head Nikhil Ravishankar claimed airports are unfairly subsidising the Qantas-owned airline - on our most profitable air routes.
BusinessDesk reports Ravishankar says that includes open-ended discounted landing rights and cost cutting deals.
Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully says they're just focused on running...
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