Each weekday, we bring you five stories, the best of the New Zealand Herald business journalism, summarised and delivered by an AI voice as an easily digestible recap.
It's Thursday, November 13, 2025, and here are five stories you should know about.
Inland Revenue's intensified its tax enforcement following increased government funding. The department's 2025 report shows tax debt reached $9.3 billion in the year to June, growing faster than the economy. Inland Revenue completed 7,641 audits, up 42%, recovering $4.3 billion in tax debt - the highest since 2018. It referred 650 cases to court for liquidation, a 49% annual rise. Accounting firm director Andrew Dickeson says the agency's focus has shifted from pandemic support to compliance. Common audit issues include property sales tax, low salaries in personal companies, and unpaid taxes by overseas or cash-based businesses.
In other news, a new GoGetta Job Mobility Survey finds nearly one in three New Zealand workers would switch jobs for a pay rise under 10%. Twenty-five percent would move for 6-10% more pay, and 6% for only 1-5%. Workers earning below 100,000 dollars were more likely to leave for small increases than higher earners. Thirty-one percent would change jobs for an 11-20% raise. GoGetta founder Colleen Getley says flexible hours and hybrid work ranked ahead of career development. Top red flags for job seekers include high staff turnover, unpaid overtime, and poor company reputation.
Meanwhile, tourism arrivals to New Zealand rose 6% in the year to September, reaching 3.43 million visitors. Visitor numbers for the month of September reached 95% of pre-Covid levels. Stats NZ says Australians led the increase with 1.48 million visits, followed by growth from the US, UK, and Japan. Tourism Minister Louise Upston says the lift reflects more transtasman flights and promotional campaigns.
In retail data, Stats NZ electronic card figures for October show weak consumer spending. Retail sales rose just 0.2% from September and 0.8% year-on-year. A Westpac economist says most gains came from groceries, with discretionary spending down. Spending on hospitality fell 1.4%, apparel 0.6%, and household goods 0.1%. Overall card spending reached $9.7 billion across 181 million transactions. ANZ figures also show subdued demand and falling consumer confidence
Finally, plant-based food maker Grater Goods has gone into liquidation, owing about $208,000 to creditors including ASB Bank and Inland Revenue. The Christchurch company, backed by Icehouse Ventures, closed its bistro before entering voluntary liquidation on November 7 2025. Liquidator Brenton Hunt says the business struggled with working capital amid economic slowdown. Founder Flip Grater says losing a supply deal with Woolworths left the firm unsustainable. Staff are owed $10,000 in wages, and Inland Revenue $60,000. Icehouse Ventures invested $80,000 in 2021 through its ArcAngels fund, representing 8.29% ownership at the time of liquidation.
That was Today in Business - Powered by Spark for Business - your NZ Herald daily business summary. For the best in business, subscribe to Herald Premium at nzherald.co.nz.
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