Shows / Best of Business
Best of Business
Best of Business is the home of all things business at Newstalk ZB, from morning market updates right through to incisive interviews with New Zealand’s top business leaders and decision makers.
Whether you’re a small business owner or interested in what’s going on in the Big End of Town, this podcast encompasses the sharpest voices and minds in the world of business.
Episodes
- Best of Business
Mark Chittick: Horse breeder on Starship rejecting $570,000 donation
Shock from a horse breeder after Starship Children's Hospital's rejected a donation of more than half a million dollars. After a high-profile race win, Mark…
- Best of Business
Guy Pope-Mayell: Cookie Time Managing Director thanks the 'Costco effect' for a massive jump in sales
Cookie Time is thanking the 'Costco effect' for a massive jump in sales. The Christchurch-based company is praising the works of the Auckland superstore…
- Best of Business
Mike's Minute: If you want to travel, be prepared to pay for it
Which bit are we surprised about? Air New Zealand tells people to book early because fares are going up. Headlines scream how unhappy we are because fares are…
- Best of Business
Greg Foran: Air NZ CEO says high air fares are not unique to New Zealand, all airlines are battling increased demand
Air fares are expected to remain high for a number of months, as Air New Zealand says there aren't enough seats to meet demand. Consumers are complaining of…
- Best of Business
Keith McLaughlin: Centrix Managing Director on the rise of borrowing and consumer credit with cost of living
More signs of the cost of living crisis are beginning to show. People are taking out more personal loans to maintain their household budgets rather than…
- Best of Business
Aaron Martin: immigration lawyer on Government's new investor visa
If it's not broken, don't fix it: that's the message an immigration lawyer has for the Government after only one person's applied for the Government's new…
- Best of Business
Bryan Williams: BWA Insolvency Founder says 15-hundred businesses are going under per year
The number of businesses going under is still below pre-pandemic figures, but the rate is increasing. A BWA Insolvency report has found there's been a 48…
- Best of Business
Kirk Hope: Business NZ CEO says driving wage rates up to boost productivity up won't work
Business New Zealand is poking holes in the proposed Fair Pay Agreements legalisation. The rules mean if a thousand employees, or 10 percent of a workforce…
- Best of Business
Max Whitehead: Employment relations expert on Uber workplace protection decision
The decision yesterday to grant four Uber drivers workplace protection as employees may have been greeted with celebrations by some, but it was short lived…
- Best of Business
Simeon Brown: National Transport spokesperson on $35 million paid to buyers of Teslas since start of clean car rebate
Since the clean car rebate came into effect of April this year, $35 million has been paid out to buyers of Teslas - which have a starting price of about…
- Best of Business
Hannah McQueen: What do you need to think about with your mortgage in conditions like these?
Mortgages are the story of the week – that inflation reading has pushed up fixed term interest rates for the first time in a while, when most thought that…
- Best of Business
Don Braid: Mainfreight managing director on company heading for strong half year result
Mainfreight says its estimated profit before tax has improved nearly 66 per cent to $301.7 million after 26 weeks of trading. Estimated revenue after 26 weeks…
- Best of Business
Rod Oram: Business commentator on the economic effects of Liz Truss' resignation
The markets are breathing a sigh of relief as British Prime Minister Liz Truss calls it quits. Truss was in the job for only 44 days, making her the third to…
- Best of Business
Nick Tuffley: ASB Chief economist on prediction floating mortgage rates could reach nine percent
Imagine your fixed term mortgage rate being upwards of seven percent over the next few years. Well according to ASB we don't have to imagine - it will be a…
- Best of Business
Carrie Hurihanganui: Auckland Airport CEO on revised earnings increase
The aviation sector is rebounding a lot better than expected. Auckland Airport has revised its 2023 financial year profit to between $100-130 million, up from…
- Best of Business
Liam Dann: NZ Herald business editor on the 35th anniversary of the 1987 sharemarket crash
Today's the 35th anniversary of Black Monday, the day in 1987 where the world experienced a brief, but violent stock market crash. The odds of a crash on this…
- Best of Business
Emily Rutherford: Kiwi Water Park co-owner on being able to stay open after 'red tape' threatened to close it
One of the biggest water parks in the country will be able to stay open after "bureaucratic red tape" threatened to close it. Kiwi Water Park in Cromwell was…
- Best of Business
Rebecca Sowden: Former Football Fern and sponsorship consultant on the growth of sponsorship in women's sport
There's been a big uptick in sponsorship deals across women's sports. A major international report has revealed a 20 percent increase year-on-year in 2022…
- Best of Business
Michelle McCormick: Infrastructure NZ report suggests it takes 15 years to deliver major transport links across the country
A new report suggests New Zealand is missing out on billions of dollars as a result of delayed decision-making over infrastructure. The report commissioned by…
- Best of Business
Chris Meehan: Winton Land CEO on taking Kāinga Ora to court over $4 billion Papakura development
A property development company is taking Kāinga Ora to court, over its refusal to fast track a $4 billion housing development in Papakura. Winton Land is…
- Best of Business
Grant Webster: Tourism boss says dropping travel declaration is healthy momentum for the travel industry
Reassurance for the travel industry as the final pandemic travel requirement will be scrapped. The New Zealand Traveller Declaration will no longer be needed…
- Best of Business
Grant Robertson: Finance Minister says the Government has made the right decision at the right times
Grant Robertson has no regrets about his economic decisions during the Covid pandemic. The inflation rate has dropped only slightly in the September quarter…
- Best of Business
Dave Frame: Climate Change professor on calls for closer monitoring of govt spending on the environment
Simon Upton is the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, and he wants the Government to now clearly monitor the money it is spending on the…
- Best of Business
Kelvin Davidson: Property Economist on figures showing housing market continues to decline
Latest figures show the housing market continues to decline, with decade-low sales numbers and dropping house values. CoreLogic's latest Market and Economic…
- Best of Business
Sunny Kaushal: Dairy Owner's Group chair says meeting with Chris Hipkins over retail crime is crucial
The Dairy and Business Owners Group is meeting with Chris Hipkins today, as ram raids and thefts continue to plague businesses. Several more Auckland…
- Best of Business
Dr Chris Jackson: Cancer researcher says mRNA technology has potential
Hopes our new knowledge of vaccines will help to cure cancer - within the next decade. The founders of BioNTech, who collaborated with Pfizer to create New…
- Best of Business
Glyn Lewers: Queenstown Lakes mayor on new housing development to be fast-tracked for consenting
A large development including more than 700 new homes near Queenstown will be fast tracked for consenting. The Te Putahi project at Lake Hayes has been…
- Best of Business
Mark Smith: ASB Economist says New Zealand is probably past peak inflation levels
Cost of living pressures are expected to ease, but will remain at a much higher level than usual. Statistics New Zealand’s poised to unveil the latest…
- Best of Business
Reg Hennessy: Hospitality NZ BoP spokesperson on Rotorua businesses closing to protest lack of govt support
More than 30 Rotorua bars and restaurants have closed their doors today to protest a lack of Government support. Hospitality NZ Bay of Plenty spokesperson, Reg…
- Best of Business
Sharon Zollner: Economist says inflation figures won't show the full picture of rising consumer prices
New inflation figures due out this morning won't show the full picture of rising consumer prices. Stats NZ will release its latest quarterly CPI data shortly…
- Best of Business
Sam Lind: Oritain Head of Strategic Sales on new proof-of-origin mark for New Zealand wine
A Dunedin tech company has come up with a high tech proof-of-origin mark that can distinguish New Zealand made wines. It's a little more advanced than a…
- Best of Business
Fran O'Sullivan: NZME business commentator on Grant Robertson's New York delegation
Grant Robertson, deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister is on a business delegation in New York. This trip was done to reinforce our nation's "New Zealand…
- Best of Business
John MacDonald: Someone tell the Govt - truck driving is a skill
Going by the warnings out today from the trucking and transport sector, it may not be long before we get our local councils telling us that rubbish collections…
- Best of Business
Chris Quin : Foodstuffs NZ Managing Director on soaring food prices
It’s no secret food prices are through the roof right now. Latest data from Stats NZ show overall prices rose 8.3 percent in the year to September. Fruit and…
- Best of Business
David Coles: Mount Cook Alpine Salmon CEO on plans for NZ's first land-based salmon farm
Land-based salmon farming continues to sink its hook into the fish market. Mount Cook Alpine Salmon has revealed plans to launch New Zealand's first land-based…
- Best of Business
Brad Olsen: Economist predicts two years of stunted growth to try re-balance economy
Predictions the country needs to go through two-years of stunted growth, to try to re-balance the economy. Infometrics' latest forecast shows inflation may…
- Best of Business
Gareth Kiernan: Infometrics Chief Forecaster predicts economic growth will slip below 2% in the second half of 2023
There is belief we have a big price to pay to get inflation under control, with two years of stunted growth needed to re-balance the economy. Infometrics'…
- Best of Business
Chris Carr: Trucking boss warns industry is short 9000 drivers
Heavy vehicle driver shortages are so dire that one trucking company is having to fly drivers down to the South Island every week to cover important routes…
- Best of Business
Mike's Minute: Is the Government finally waking up to our labour crisis?
In general, the Government seem to have got the memo on immigration. Another loosening was announced by Michael Wood yesterday. But I say in general because as…
- Best of Business
Kirk Hope: Business NZ CEO on first stage of RBNZ's public consultation on its monetary policy remit
The Reserve Bank’s dual mandate has received a frosty reception, after it completed the first stage of public consultation on its monetary policy remit. Most…
- Best of Business
Grant Webster: Tourism Holdings CEO on profit guidance raise after stronger than expected tourism rebound
A positive sign has come from one of our largest tourism companies. Tourism Holdings has significantly raised its full year profit guidance on the back of a…
- Best of Business
Paul Brislen: Telecommunications Forum CEO on Comm Comm looking into how consumers can get better deals
The Commerce Commission is looking into how consumers can get a better deal on mobile and broadband. It's seeking feedback on proposals focused on making…
- Best of Business
Brad Olsen: Infometrics Principal Economist on our increasing tourism numbers
Some encouraging tourism numbers are starting to come to light. 130,000 tourists arrived in August - Queenstown in particular is now at 80 percent of…
- Best of Business
Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor on Reserve Bank staff turnover
What's going on inside the Reserve Bank? The company appears to have been hit hard by staff turnover. 22 percent of staff left in the previous financial year…
- Best of Business
Mike Fuge: Contact Energy CEO says increase in customers' energy bills down to rising input costs
Contact Energy is putting the increase in customers' energy bills down to rising input costs across the board. Gas and electricity bills are expected to go up…
- Best of Business
Kate Hawkesby: Uber service is crap, it's time to drop it
I’m pleased to see the 21 year old woman in Wellington who got shafted by Uber is finally calling the ride share out for the crap service it is. We’ve told our…
- Best of Business
Kelly Forster: He Waka Eke Noa director on implications of govt choosing alternative options to their plan
Questions have been asked as to whether the Government has read the room wrong on the He Waka Eke Noa emissions plan. The Government proposes requiring farmers…
- Best of Business
Jim van der Poel: Dairy NZ Chair says if Groundswell is unhappy with emissions scheme, it should take it up with Govt
Farming organisations are hitting back at Groundswell after the controversial group slagged them off. Groundswell has called for the resignation of the chairs…
- Best of Business
John Harbord: Electricity users' union says it's worth unpicking why the power price increase is happening
Calls to be careful about increases in gas and electricity bills, before jumping to conclusions. Genesis and Contact Energy customers will see their gas bills…
- Best of Business
Mike Egan: Restaurant Association on survey finding eight in 10 restaurant businesses are understaffed
The labour shortage is reaching boiling point for the hospitality industry. A new Restaurant Association survey's found eight in 10 restaurant businesses are…
- Best of Business
Liza Viz: Recruitment expert on figures suggesting worker wellbeing is front and centre for employers
Recruitment company Beyond Recruitment has found the tight labour market means businesses are focusing more on the welfare of their employees. Figures show two…
- Best of Business
Carol Ward: Zespri Chief Grower on halting SunGold trials in United States
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri will halt SunGold kiwifruit trials on the West Coast of the United States, citing a lack of commercial quality confidence and ongoing…
- Best of Business
Kate Hawkesby: We're still too complacent when it comes to fixing the tourism sector
My daughter’s in Queenstown with a friend and her family at the moment, and she's been snapchatting me pictures of all the shop and cafe windows, with all the…
- Best of Business
Jacqueline Rowarth: Farming expert hopeful He Waka Eke Noa proposals will be given green light by govt
A farming expert has her fingers crossed that the latest agriculture sector proposals will be given the green light. Newstalk ZB understands the Government…
- Best of Business
Fran O'Sullivan: NZME business commentator on Grant Robertson's business delegation to New York
Finance Minister Grant Robertson is headed to New York on a business delegation, where he will meet with the World Bank and IMF. NZME business commentator Fran…
- Best of Business
Grant Robertson: Finance Minister on upcoming New York business delegation
Finance Minister Grant Robertson is off to New York tonight on a business delegation. As part of the trip he'll be meeting the U.S Federal Reserve chair Jerome…
- Best of Business
Liam Dann: NZ Herald business editor on whether or not the job market has peaked
There has been some debate as to whether or not the New Zealand job market has peaked. Recent data coming out of Seek indicates that it has, and employers say…
- Best of Business
Michael Reddell: Former RBZN economist says big issue is how much tightening is required to get on top of inflation
Economists are trying to read between the lines of the Reserve Bank's latest decision on the Official Cash Rate. The central bank has hiked the OCR by another…
- Best of Business
Grant Robertson: Finance Minister stands by decisions to borrow a lot of money to get through Covid
The Finance Minister is standing by decisions to borrow a lot of money to get through Covid, after the Government's books were opened. Treasury has reported a…
- Best of Business
Nicola Willis: National Finance spokesperson says cost of living crisis is raging, RBNZ having to pull interest rate handbrake
National is warning people are in for a pummelling as the Reserve Bank continues to hike the Official Cash Rate. Five 50 basis point rises in a row has the OCR…