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The SME Stream
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Episodes
The SME StreamCatherine Beard: Business NZ Advocacy Director on the Government's loan scheme to help businesses transition from natural gas
Business NZ says a new loan scheme to help businesses ditch gas is a necessary step. This year's Budget funds up to $1.2 billion in guaranteed bank loans to…
The SME StreamLeeann Watson: Business Canterbury CEO on the number of international business delegates visiting New Zealand rising by 50%
Conferences on our shores are driving up international delegation numbers, which have surged more than 50% annually. According to Stats NZ, arrivals are near…
The SME StreamRyan Bridge: Something's not adding up with business investment in this country
If the Post is to believed this morning, the Government is considering a business growth fund whereby some crown agency would pick winners and probably a few…
The SME StreamKiwisaver nearly 20 years old. Katie Bradford 2degrees wrap | Tue 26 May
Hardship withdrawals are up, people are often reluctant to change providers and there is an ongoing and persistent gender savings gap.' See…
The SME StreamThe Country 25/05/26: Emma Higgins talks to Jamie Mackay
After a strong close to the 2025/26 dairy season – marked by rises in the GDT price index in eight of the last ten auctions – Rabobank’s…
The SME StreamShane Solly: Harbour Asset Management expert on what markets are planning for the OCR this week
It's a big week for the economy, with the next OCR announcement set to be unveiled this coming Wednesday. Markets are expecting the Reserve Bank to leave the…
The SME StreamLisa Hopkins: Business Events Industry Aotearoa CEO on the 50% increase in international delegate arrivals in the first quarter
The first quarter of the year has seen a boom in people coming into the country for business events. According to Stats NZ, international delegate arrivals are…
The SME StreamAmanda Morrall: What does it really take to retire in 2026?
Retirement is the time most people dream of, the days where you no longer need to work or study, and you can enjoy a slow and simple life. But what does it…
The SME StreamNegotiation tactics that actually work
Most of us enter negotiations with a level of awkwardness and trying not to sound greedy. It's not the strongest tactic, but nor is making demands based on…
The SME StreamCameron Bagrie: Economist says NZ Super reform is crucial but unpopular ahead of budget
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will be presenting the 2026 budget on this coming Thursday. A number of pre-budget announcements have already been made…
The SME StreamChristopher Luxon: Prime Minister chats ahead of budget
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Mike Hosking in studio this morning for their weekly chat. With the budget coming up this week they spoke about the…
The SME StreamWhy most active funds underperformed in 2025 Herald NOW Business | Fri 22 May
S&P's Sue Lee discusses SPIVA's verdict on NZ fund managers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The SME StreamThe Country 22/05/26: Chris Hipkins talks to Jamie Mackay
We ask Labour’s leader for some policy as we’re now less than six months away from the Nov 7 General Election. Plus, does he support Winston over…
The SME StreamCarolyn Young: Retail NZ CEO on 6% spending increase last quarter
New Zealand saw a 6% spending increase in retail last quarter with the South Island overtaking the North, likely due to farming and tourism. Retail NZ CEO…
The SME StreamInflation on earth, Musk on Mars, SpaceX shooting for astronomical targets | Fri 22 May
RBNZ survey shows NZ firms expect more inflation sooner and lasting for longer, plus Musk's Mars colony payday plan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
The SME StreamThe SME Stream Weekly Wrap - 22 May
As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina O'Keeffe each week as she gives you a rundown of…
The SME StreamSpace Mafia: How orbital AI changes everything
Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to the data centres of Silicon Valley or the cloud regions dotted around the world. It is heading into orbit…
The SME Stream(#103) Too Scared to Make a Change? Here's Why You Should Do It Anyway ft. Jay-Jay Feeney
If you have ever wondered whether it is too late to start something new, this episode is for you. I sat down with New Zealand radio icon Jay-Jay Feeney, who…
The SME StreamGrant Baker: NZ Businessman and Entrepreneur on his decades of success and failures, new book 'No Pit Stops: The Business Of Going All In'
Grant Baker is one of the country’s best success stories. The Kiwi serial entrepreneur has had his hand in a number of pies but is best known for two…
The SME StreamThe Country 21/05/26: Peter Newbold talks to Jamie Mackay
We discuss a buoyant rural market with the General Manager, Livestock & Real Estate for PGG Wrightson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The SME StreamSam Dickie: Fisher Funds expert on Nvidia reporting its latest quarterly results
Nvidia, the world's largest listed company and a critical bellwether on the health of the AI sector, posted record first-quarter earnings on Thursday of more…
The SME StreamThe Country 20/05/26: Christopher Luxon talks to Jamie Mackay
We ask the PM what’s in the Budget for farmers? With cuts to the Public Service, is Wellington doomed as a city? Is Winston barking mad or just barking…
The SME StreamThe Country 20/05/26: Andrew Murray talks to Jamie Mackay
Fonterra’s CFO comments on last night’s final GDT Auction for the 25/26 season. The headline move (up 0.6%) was largely in line with expectations…
The SME StreamJeremy Hutton: Milford Asset Management expert on bond yields and interest rates going up
The ongoing conflict in Iran has led to bond yields and interest rates going up all over the world, and it's prompted concerns among experts. This will impact…
The SME StreamJenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor on the reactions to Labour's lack of info on the Future Fund policy
Labour leader Chris Hipkins doesn't think the public much cares about which companies would be in the party's Future Fund. It won't be revealing key details -…
The SME StreamCarolyn Young: Retail NZ CEO on card spend data dropping by 1.3% in April
Retailers are feeling the pinch, with card spending plunging across the board. Stats NZ data reveals retail electronic card purchases dropped 1.3% last month…
The SME StreamOil prices, inflation & interest rates: Is the worst still coming?
Oil prices surged, inflation risks are rising again, and all eyes are now on the Reserve Bank’s next OCR decision. Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker break down…
The SME Stream(#102) Stop Being Afraid to Fail (It's Costing You More Than You Think)
Fear of failure is not protecting you. It is paralyzing you. In this episode I share my fail forward framework and the four mindset shifts that completely…
The SME StreamThe Country 19/05/26: Cameron Bagrie talks to Jamie Mackay
Independent economist comments on a 4.1% rise in global food prices over the past two months, what it means for NZ farmers, and why rising global bond yields…
The SME StreamSaul Eslake: Australian independent economist on the claims that the Budget is turning NZ into an Australian tax haven
Following the release of last week's Budget, there's growing claims that Australians are looking across the Tasman with 'genuine envy'. A recent article in The…
The SME StreamNick Brunsdon: Infometrics Principal Economist on retail spending falling by $160 million in April
Kiwis appear to be cutting back on discretionary spending as fuel prices bite. Data from Stats NZ shows retail electronic card purchases fell 1.3% last month…
The SME StreamNicola Willis: Finance Minister on the public service reform, experimenting with AI to streamline tasks
Another swathe of Government agency job cuts and public sector reform. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says they want to return the public servant headcount to…
The SME StreamCatherine Beard: BusinessNZ Advocacy Director on the services sector continuing to contract in April
The services sector continues to contract. The latest Services Index rose 2.7 points to 48.9 – with anything below 50 signalling contraction. New orders…
The SME StreamWhat happens when you get behind on tax
New Zealanders owe 9.5billion dollars in overdue tax, with small business owners and the self-employed most likely to get behind. Director of Future Focused…
The SME StreamThe hidden costs of AI: Labour, data, and the race to dominate
Artificial intelligence is being sold to us as the future. Faster, smarter, more efficient, maybe even world changing. But as a handful of tech companies race…
The SME StreamWinston Peters: NZ First leader lays out plans for Government to buy BNZ
The New Zealand First leader says they'll be telling the National Australia Bank we want our bank back - as he lays out plans for the Government to buy BNZ…
The SME StreamEd McKnight: Breaking down investment ads that seem too good to be true
The ads we see on social media promise us a great many things, but how many of them are as good as they seem? Ed McKnight was recently served an ad on Facebook…
The SME StreamSynlait CEO resigns as company names acting successor | Fri 15 May
BusinessDesk's Riley Kennedy discusses Synlait's Leadership Reset. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The SME StreamGlobal rates still drive NZ borrowing costs | Fri 15 May
Craigs Investment Partner's Andrew Ede discusses how global interest rates continue to shape NZ's rates outlook. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
The SME StreamSynlait churns leaders, Air NZ burns cash, and US markets love Cerebras | Fri 15 May
Synlait board seeks a seventh CEO in 5 years and an independent director. Will Air NZ need a cap raise? Cerebras soars almost 70% on Nasdaq listing. / See…
The SME StreamPerspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Is anyone looking out for businesses?
We need to talk about what Chris Hipkins has said about immigration. First of all, Labour can frankly shut up accusing the Nats of anti-migrant rhetoric…
The SME StreamWill the government sell Kiwibank? | Thu 14 May
Nicola Willis talks Kiwibank, immigration plans and Kiwisaver changes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The SME StreamThe Country 14/05/26: Winston Peters talks to Jamie Mackay
The NZ First leader and former Deputy PM is his normal combative self when it comes to NZF propaganda, TPM, and the age of eligibility for National Super…
The SME StreamAI hesitation affecting productivity. Tech with 2 Degrees | Thu 14 May
The real barrier isn’t the tech falling over, it’s our hesitation, low trust and fear of getting it wrong. Peter Griffin - The Business of Tech…
The SME StreamInflation concerns creeping back into markets - Zoe Wallis, Forsyth Barr | Thu 14 May
This has been pressuring local interest rates higher. Market pricing for RBNZ has climbed up from about a 30% chance of a hike in May to just under 50%. See…
The SME StreamSam Dickie: Fisher Funds expert on the impact of weight-loss drugs on the economy
Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are among the weight-loss drugs that more people are taking - but questions have been raised about their economic impacts. These…
The SME Stream'Why Kiwi beef and lamb farms are expecting to double profits this season | Thu 14 May
BusinessDesk's Riley Kennedy tells Herald NOW just how much our red meat industry is benefiting from the US supply shortage. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
The SME StreamThe SME Stream Weekly Wrap - 15 May
As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina O'Keeffe each week as she gives you a rundown of…
The SME StreamEpisode 62: CEO of Venues Ōtautahi, Caroline Harvie-Teare
In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 62, our guest is Caroline Harvie-Teare, who is the CEO of Venues Otautahi in Christchurch, home of the new One New Zealand…
The SME StreamPower play: Qiulae Wong on R&D, AI, hi-tech skills and tax
The Opportunity Party is attracting growing support from young tech professionals, scientists, and startup founders, demanding bolder, more evidence‑based…
The SME StreamShould New Zealand raise the age of NZ Super?
On paper, New Zealand Super is one of the simplest parts of our welfare system. Most people become eligible at 65, it’s not means tested, and for decades…
The SME StreamWestpac forecasts reveal fresh outlook for NZ amid focus on Australian Budget | Wed 13 May
Westpac's Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold discusses the latest economic data and what the Australian Budget means. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
The SME StreamWinston Peters reveals why he won't budge on upping the retirement age | Wed 13 May
NZ First leader Winston Peters says NZ's retirement age is not a problem that needs to be fixed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The SME StreamThe Country 13/05/26: Christopher Luxon talks to Jamie Mackay
The Prime Minister ponders further lamb tariffs in the US, whether climate polluters are being let off the hook, whether Labour can win without TPM, Judith…
The SME StreamState of the Retail Industry report – Nicole Buisson from Lightspeed | Wed 13 May
Shoppers are still turning up and backing local where they can, while retailers juggle rising costs. But how long can they absorb the pain? See…
The SME StreamInvestment Adviser Shifting exchange rates are impacting your portfolio | Wed 13 May
Forsyth Barr's Mark Richardson gives a crash course on how currency exchange rates impact returns on your investments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
The SME StreamDairy boom continues but inflation and El Nino pose risks ahead | Wed 13 May
Jarden's Mike McIntyre discusses the a strong dairy season as uncertainty over costs looms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The SME StreamKatie Bradford: NZ Herald senior correspondent recaps Luxon's Business NZ pre-Budget announcement
Prime Minister Chris Luxon has warned less cash would be thrown around in this year's upcoming Budget amid ongoing economic turmoil. Luxon told the audience at…
The SME StreamCameron Brewer: Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister on the harsher penalties for misleading pricing
The Government says it won't punish genuine mistakes with its planned new crackdown on misleading pricing. A bill's been introduced to Parliament that would…
The SME StreamEconomic stress driving demand for mental health support for businesses | Wed 13 May
Katie Bradford talks to Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey about a workplace mental health toolkit as economic pressures mount on businesses. See…