Today in Business: September 11, 2025

Welcome to Today in Business - Powered by Spark for Business, an experimental AI podcast by the New Zealand Herald.
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, September 11, 2025, and here are five stories you should know about.
Boutique cheesemaker Cranky Goat has gone into liquidation, one week after the collapse of Denheath Desserts. Blenheim-based owners Hellene and Simon Lamb announced the closure on Facebook, confirming their store The Cranky Pantry has also shut. A post says, "After 11 incredible years of crafting our beloved cheeses, the time has come to close our doors at Cranky Goat." The Lambs noted challenges including major weather events and Covid-19. Biz Rescue's Geoffrey Falloon was appointed liquidator of Cranky Goat Limited on August 31. The company was known for handcrafted goat cheeses and operated locally for more than a decade.
In other news, a station in Central Otago is back on the market after being sold in July to Australian gold miner Santana Minerals for $25 million. The two thousand eight hundred and eighty hectare sheep and beef farm, owned by Bruce and Linda Jolly, was listed on TradeMe on September 1. The earlier transaction was conditional on Overseas Investment Office approval, requiring farmland to be offered domestically first. Legal firm Anderson Lloyd is handling the listing. Partner Robert Huse says the Jollys are "open to offers." Santana Minerals has not yet submitted an application for overseas investment consent.
Meanwhile, Westpac economists report New Zealand house prices have shown no growth this year. Chief economist Kelly Eckhold says the housing market remains subdued following the Covid-19 era, with momentum yet to return. He notes the Reserve Bank's recent change in stance may influence sentiment through the rest of the year. Westpac forecasts house prices to rise 5.4 percent next year, with only minor growth of 0.6 percent expected over 2025. Eckhold says lower interest rates generally support housing demand over time, but the current stock of unsold properties continues to weigh on prices nationwide. Market activity remains described as "comatose" this year.
Elsewhere, NZ King Salmon has purchased a commercial site at Cloudy Bay Business Park in Blenheim for $8.14 million. Chief executive Carl Carrington confirmed the site would eventually replace Nelson processing facilities as part of its Blue Endeavour project. Carrington says the new facility will create between 70 and 100 jobs, though development is at least three years away. He says the Blenheim location reduces transport needs, with fish already farmed in the Marlborough Sounds. Carrington says, "It's important for us to have a facility capable of supporting our growth as we scale up the Blue Endeavour Open Ocean Farm."
And The Pure Food Company has expanded access to its texture-modified foods through a new partnership with meal delivery provider, Eat. The company already supplies every public hospital and 80 percent of aged care facilities in New Zealand, as well as more than 500 aged care homes in Australia. In 2023, it entered Europe through partnerships with global healthcare firms. Co-founder Sam Bridgewater says the Eat partnership could add 2,000 customers, allowing people with swallowing difficulties to access Pure Food meals at home, extending its reach beyond hospitals and aged-care providers.
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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.