November 24, 2025 • 5 mins
New surveys show Auckland business confidence is on the up, with reports indicating businesses are feeling less pessimistic ahead of the new year.
Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges says the latest November survey shows the city isn't 'out of the woods' but it's no longer 'stuck in the darkest part of the forest'.
Bridges says there's room for the economy to improve, but the OCR's coming down and farmers are making more money - and things are feeling more hopeful.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from news Talk zed B.
Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It looks like Auckland businesses are turning a corner with confidence.
On the app, negative confidence ratings have fallen twenty points.
They are now at forty four forty four percent. More
than half of them expect the New Zealand economy to improve.
In Simon Bridges, the Auckland Business Chamber chief executives with
us Allo Simon Hi evening here that so, I mean
these numbers are good. A like you've got negative confidence
going from sixty four down to forty four. You've got
(00:37):
neutral sentiment climbing up twelve points, however many to thirty nine.
You've got fifty four percent of them now saying that
the New Zealand economy is going to improve. That's the
one that's up twelve points. What's caused this?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah, I look, I think they are good. I think
you know, it's no rockstar economy, no one's saying that.
But I think what you're seeing is future sort of
beliefs and intentions from business people in Auckland and the
economy is that it's looking better. And I suppose you say, well,
what's causing that. I mean, it's fundamentals, isn't it. I mean,
you've got around the rest of the country farmers with
(01:10):
a big payout from Fonterra, record prices, a low dollar,
so that's sort of at a level, got to start
filtering through. You've got the ocr coming down. It's gone
from being a tough gig to being you know, quite
stimulatory on the economy. And I think they can just see,
you know, whether it's some of the stuff the government's
been doing, or I think they've picked up the pace
a bit on their policy and seat of other initiatives
(01:33):
for Auckland, it's just starting to feel a bit better
and they can see that over the next year it
is going to get a bit better. So, you know,
some of the numbers right now they're still not great,
but as I say forward intentions, you know, a clear
majority see the economy improving over the next year. They
see revenue up over the next year. They're going to
make more investment over the next year.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
What are the things that are still concerning them though.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Oh well, there's definitely things that consume them. Look, it's
a sense of lack of demand of consumer sentiment that
that's still pretty poor. It's stuff around product and growth.
They're not sort of seeing that year. It's their own
cash flow, it's their own ability to pay you off
the back of that kind of lack of consumer confidence
and lack of growth. And then it's down the list
(02:20):
a little, but it's still inflation that's there. It's still
a sense that the world in terms of trade and
geopolitics is pretty tough.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
What's your feeling do you think that next year is
going to be a raw you know, come, let's say
election time next year. Are we going to be absolutely
going for it or is it still going to be
a hard grind.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Well, I've written a terrific column on this Affrano Sullivan
and enz ed me for next week. I have to say,
and just to give you a preview on it, I
think what I would say is it's I'm realistically optimistic, right,
So well, what I mean is, you know, I think
some of the bank economists are talking three plus percent.
I don't buy that. I mean, there's a number of
factors there that say to be a bit tough than that.
(03:00):
You've got a close election, which in the end actually
means a period where people kind of pull back a bit.
You've got the potential stock market crash and the United
States at some time. You've got a bunch of other factors.
But I still say on those fundamentals I mentioned earlier
on a CRL and an international convention center, some of
these things, it is slowly going to grind its way out.
(03:21):
But I think, for heaven, wait for twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Are you going to tell me how you got onto
the snake pitted Metallica or not? I text you and
you have left it on read.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
What I'm going to tell you is it was outstanding.
I mean it was like a three D moving move.
You could see these guys sweating, you could see their facials,
and I could tell you, for some old codges, they
were really enjoying it, and they brought their best to this.
I think the other thing I was just saying off here, Laura,
is I don't know what I expected. I wondered if
it would be kind of bogans and leather vests and
(03:55):
here suits. It was a decidedly middle class affair, you know.
So if you were in that snake pit, you're of
a certain age, a certain vintage, and you weren't necessarily
a boke.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Well, hold on, because you were there. You were there,
Tiger why Teat he was there. And the drummer from
from Tool was there was he was.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
He was about a meter from me. I didn't know
him from Adam. I'm not a big Tool guy, and
they obviously played in the weekend. But the chap next
to me pointed out that was drummer of Tool, and
suddenly I felt like I was quite kind of v
v I P. Well, yeah, I mean I it was amazing.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
I looked at the list and went, what the hell
are you doing there? But I mean, having said that
you you can play the drums like reasonably okay, so
you know your base.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I would love to tell you that that's that's the
basis on which I was at the snake pit. But no,
I mean, in the end, that's none of your business
here there. I'm a private citizen who's entitled to be there.
That's more like doing it very very much.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
The sass I want from you, Simon. I love it now. Listen, Simon,
I kind of I've been like, oh, do I do
this or do I not do this? I'm going to
do this. Yeah, do they go for Chris bishop.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Uh, look coming the Primeister is saying, you know, no way,
and it's it's all good stuff and and you know
I take him to in that. I mean what I
would say is I had that shit for years on
end from a more experienced, harder press gallery that dare
I say it. It's not massive fun, it doesn't help
a party and you know they need to sort it
(05:22):
out quite quickly so that you know Zelander is going
to get back to focusing on the policies and that
growth that we're looking for in twenty six twenty right.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah, okay, I'm loving the sassy Breen Simon. Thank you.
Simon Bridget's Chief executive, Auckland Business Chamber.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
For more from News Talks b listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from news Talk zed B.
Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It looks like Auckland businesses are turning a corner with confidence.
On the app, negative confidence ratings have fallen twenty points.
They are now at forty four forty four percent. More
than half of them expect the New Zealand economy to improve.
In Simon Bridges, the Auckland Business Chamber chief executives with
us Allo Simon Hi evening here that so, I mean
these numbers are good. A like you've got negative confidence
going from sixty four down to forty four. You've got
(00:37):
neutral sentiment climbing up twelve points, however many to thirty nine.
You've got fifty four percent of them now saying that
the New Zealand economy is going to improve. That's the
one that's up twelve points. What's caused this?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah, I look, I think they are good. I think
you know, it's no rockstar economy, no one's saying that.
But I think what you're seeing is future sort of
beliefs and intentions from business people in Auckland and the
economy is that it's looking better. And I suppose you say, well,
what's causing that. I mean, it's fundamentals, isn't it. I mean,
you've got around the rest of the country farmers with
(01:10):
a big payout from Fonterra, record prices, a low dollar,
so that's sort of at a level, got to start
filtering through. You've got the ocr coming down. It's gone
from being a tough gig to being you know, quite
stimulatory on the economy. And I think they can just see,
you know, whether it's some of the stuff the government's
been doing, or I think they've picked up the pace
a bit on their policy and seat of other initiatives
(01:33):
for Auckland, it's just starting to feel a bit better
and they can see that over the next year it
is going to get a bit better. So, you know,
some of the numbers right now they're still not great,
but as I say forward intentions, you know, a clear
majority see the economy improving over the next year. They
see revenue up over the next year. They're going to
make more investment over the next year.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
What are the things that are still concerning them though.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Oh well, there's definitely things that consume them. Look, it's
a sense of lack of demand of consumer sentiment that
that's still pretty poor. It's stuff around product and growth.
They're not sort of seeing that year. It's their own
cash flow, it's their own ability to pay you off
the back of that kind of lack of consumer confidence
and lack of growth. And then it's down the list
(02:20):
a little, but it's still inflation that's there. It's still
a sense that the world in terms of trade and
geopolitics is pretty tough.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
What's your feeling do you think that next year is
going to be a raw you know, come, let's say
election time next year. Are we going to be absolutely
going for it or is it still going to be
a hard grind.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Well, I've written a terrific column on this Affrano Sullivan
and enz ed me for next week. I have to say,
and just to give you a preview on it, I
think what I would say is it's I'm realistically optimistic, right,
So well, what I mean is, you know, I think
some of the bank economists are talking three plus percent.
I don't buy that. I mean, there's a number of
factors there that say to be a bit tough than that.
(03:00):
You've got a close election, which in the end actually
means a period where people kind of pull back a bit.
You've got the potential stock market crash and the United
States at some time. You've got a bunch of other factors.
But I still say on those fundamentals I mentioned earlier
on a CRL and an international convention center, some of
these things, it is slowly going to grind its way out.
(03:21):
But I think, for heaven, wait for twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Are you going to tell me how you got onto
the snake pitted Metallica or not? I text you and
you have left it on read.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
What I'm going to tell you is it was outstanding.
I mean it was like a three D moving move.
You could see these guys sweating, you could see their facials,
and I could tell you, for some old codges, they
were really enjoying it, and they brought their best to this.
I think the other thing I was just saying off here, Laura,
is I don't know what I expected. I wondered if
it would be kind of bogans and leather vests and
(03:55):
here suits. It was a decidedly middle class affair, you know.
So if you were in that snake pit, you're of
a certain age, a certain vintage, and you weren't necessarily
a boke.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Well, hold on, because you were there. You were there,
Tiger why Teat he was there. And the drummer from
from Tool was there was he was.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
He was about a meter from me. I didn't know
him from Adam. I'm not a big Tool guy, and
they obviously played in the weekend. But the chap next
to me pointed out that was drummer of Tool, and
suddenly I felt like I was quite kind of v
v I P. Well, yeah, I mean I it was amazing.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
I looked at the list and went, what the hell
are you doing there? But I mean, having said that
you you can play the drums like reasonably okay, so
you know your base.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I would love to tell you that that's that's the
basis on which I was at the snake pit. But no,
I mean, in the end, that's none of your business
here there. I'm a private citizen who's entitled to be there.
That's more like doing it very very much.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
The sass I want from you, Simon. I love it now. Listen, Simon,
I kind of I've been like, oh, do I do
this or do I not do this? I'm going to
do this. Yeah, do they go for Chris bishop.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Uh, look coming the Primeister is saying, you know, no way,
and it's it's all good stuff and and you know
I take him to in that. I mean what I
would say is I had that shit for years on
end from a more experienced, harder press gallery that dare
I say it. It's not massive fun, it doesn't help
a party and you know they need to sort it
(05:22):
out quite quickly so that you know Zelander is going
to get back to focusing on the policies and that
growth that we're looking for in twenty six twenty right.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah, okay, I'm loving the sassy Breen Simon. Thank you.
Simon Bridget's Chief executive, Auckland Business Chamber.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
For more from News Talks b listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
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