Today in Business: September 12, 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 Friday, September 12, 2025, and here are five stories you should know about.
Auckland Airport has asked contractors to stop installing fire doors supplied by Pacific Door Systems amid an asbestos scare. A spokeswoman says the airport is working with the supplier and specialists to assess risks. Allevia Hospital Epsom, owned partly by Sir Stephen Tindall interests, is also checking its projects. Fire doors from the company have been used in developments including SkyCity's convention centre and Christchurch's Te Kaha stadium. Massey University staff were previously exposed during drilling. Fletcher Building confirmed investigations last week, while WorkSafe says intact fire-rated doors pose a negligible risk. The timeframe of contamination is believed to date back one year.
In other news, Stats NZ reports retail spending rose for the third straight month in August 2025. Electronic card transactions in retail industries increased 0.7 percent, or 45 million dollars compared with July, the largest monthly rise this year. Core retail spending rose 0.9 percent, or 55 million dollars. Apparel was up 1.8 percent, while hospitality gained 1.4 percent, its best result since November 2024. Consumables and durables also lifted. Fuel and motor vehicles declined. In total, 174 million card transactions were recorded, with 9.3 billion dollars spent. The average transaction value was 54 dollars, according to Stats NZ's release.
Elsewhere, administrators of Smiths City say two more stores have closed as the retailer's liquidation sale enters its final days. The 107-year-old chain went into voluntary administration on September 2. Staff numbers will be significantly reduced next week, but employees will receive full payment of annual leave entitlements this month. The remaining stores in Auckland, Christchurch, Oamaru, Alexandra and Invercargill will trade until Sunday, with all stock discounted by 70 percent. Gift cards and refunds are not being accepted. Founded in Christchurch in 1918, Smiths City was purchased in 2020 by Polar Capital for 60 million dollars.
Meanwhile, Vehicle Direct and associated entities Auto Trading and Auto Compliance and Repairs have gone into liquidation, owing creditors more than 5.7 million dollars. Westpac is the largest creditor, owed just over 3.1 million dollars. Inland Revenue is owed more than 800 thousand dollars across the three firms. Staff entitlements total nearly 283 thousand dollars. The companies, owned and directed by Muhammad Waseem, traded in used car sales, vehicle imports, and auto repairs. Liquidator reports cite unrecoverable costs, excessive overheads, and weak sales as key pressures. Westpac appointed receivers over secured assets following the liquidation last week.
And the Board of Airline Representatives says international air services to New Zealand this northern winter will exceed 2019 levels by 3.5 percent. Executive director Cath O'Brien calls it a milestone for the sector. Hawaiian Airlines has resumed its Auckland-Honolulu route, while Jetstar and American Airlines have expanded operations. The airline group says services this southern summer will be 8.2 percent higher than last year. Stats NZ reports July overseas visitor arrivals reached 93 percent of 2019 levels. Tourist spending totaled 44.4 billion dollars last year, including 4.1 billion dollars in GST contributions, according to official figures.
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