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 BusinessNick Legget: Transporting NZ CEO says ideology is at play in not increasing car capacity in new Mount Vic tunnel
A transport leader says ideology is at play over the decision to not increase car capacity through a second Mount Vic tunnel. A new tunnel is coming to the…
Best of BusinessStuart Nash: Minister expects new visa laws to bring greater level of investment into NZ business
You have to invest in a way that adds value to New Zealand. That's the Government's message to cashed-up foreigners seeking residence, as it replaces the…
Best of BusinessChris Patterson: Barrister on Zuru's win in US legal battle over scathing reviews
Toy company Zuru appears to have won a US legal battle to force review site Glassdoor to reveal the identities of aggrieved former workers who posted scathing…
Best of BusinessBob Taylor: Cook Islands resort manager warns travellers island won't be full operational due to flooding
Kiwis are being told to consider putting off their travel to the Cook Islands this week due to extreme weather. The Rarotongan beach resort says they've been…
Best of BusinessAndrew Dickens: If you demand restraint from the Govt, show restraint in your own business
So inflation is at a 3 decade high and the Reserve Bank is scrambling to kill demand by raising interest rates. We've all heard that it's the fault of the…
Best of BusinessJohn MacDonald: Inflation - what goes around, comes around
It’s occurred to me that the old phrase “what goes around, comes around” pretty much sums up inflation in five words. The more money going around, the more it…
Best of BusinessKerre Woodham: Topping up Govt allowances not the answer to our housing crisis
There are landlords and then there are landlords. There are those who do it for a living, they're professional, they're onto any problems, they treat their…
Best of BusinessWill Randell: Property developer on planned development in the Waikato town of Cambridge
The desperate need for affordable housing in the Waikato has driven a local charitable trust to launch an ambitious development in the Waikato town of…
Best of BusinessNicola Willis: National Finance Spokesperson names five ways govt can stop prices from spiralling out of control
There is disagreement over how much the Government can do to address rising inflation. Consumer prices have increased 7.3 percent in the year to June, the…
Best of BusinessGillian Boyes: Funeral Directors Association CEO on cost of burial plots nearly doubling in last two years
Even at the end of our lives, the cost of living hits us one last time. Funeral directors have surveyed councils and in some places the cost of a burial plot…
Best of BusinessBusiness leaders react to latest inflation figure of 7.3 percent
Inflationary pressures are likely to keep compounding for some time to come. The inflation rate has hit 7.3 percent, its highest point in a generation. Terry…
Best of BusinessGrant Robertson: Finance Minister on inflation number, transport cuts
Inflation has hit 7.3 percent, the highest in 32 years. It's driven mostly by rising rents and construction costs. Some good news though, yesterday the…
Best of BusinessSatish Ranchod: Westpac senior economist says peaked inflation little consolation for households
A senior economist says even if inflation's peaked, that is little consolation for stretched households. Stats NZ figures show inflation has hit 7.3 percent in…
Best of BusinessSimon Parham: Waitomo Fuel COO says when govt stops fuel relief suppliers, customers will need warning
Warnings of pain when petrol tax cuts end. The 25-cent reduction, alongside slashed road user charges and half priced public transport fares, have been…
Best of BusinessLiam Dann: NZ Herald Business Editor at Large discusses latest inflation figures
Inflation has hit a 32-year high of 7.3%, with housing costs said to be the biggest driver. In the past three months, the cost of building a new home rose…
Best of BusinessMike Bennetts: Z Energy CEO says fuel sector is supportive of govt's transport cost relief
The fuel sector says it's supportive of the Government's latest transport cost relief. Reductions to fuel excise tax, public transport fares and road user…
Best of BusinessBrad Olsen: Economist says with no expectation fuel prices will drop soon, policies may be around for a while
Ongoing action to cool prices at the pump may be a bid to get in front of new inflation figures. The Government has revealed it will retain cuts to fuel excise…
Best of BusinessFinn Robinson: ANZ economist says the inflation rate isn't likely to get any higher
Prices are set to keep rising sharply for a while yet. Figures out this morning are expected to show the inflation rate has reached about 7.1 percent in the…
Best of BusinessLuis Cabrera: Besos Latinos Restaurante says inner city crime could dash hopes of recovering from Covid-19
An Auckland restaurant owner says crime in the inner city could dash any hope of his business recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Besos Latinos…
Best of BusinessGrant Robertson: Finance Minister says there isn't a way to 'magic away' global pressures, price rises
Prepare for prices to keep rising, but perhaps at a slightly slower pace. CPI data out this morning is expected to show the inflation rate has hit about 7.1…
Best of BusinessMichael Barnett: Business isn't sitting back with its hand out
Christopher Luxon said that New Zealand businesses have gotten soft in light of COVID-19 but is that a fair comment to make. Businesses have had to deal with…
Best of BusinessPacific Island's forum: China, the Pacific, and the United States
A surprise intervention by US Vice-President Kamala Harris, the China-Solomon Island's security pact, and the Sri Lankan President fleeing to Singapore. Asian…
Best of BusinessGetting the balance right: Importing skilled people or training kiwis up
Solving job shortages might not be as easy as it seems. Bringing immigrants into the country means government will have to invest more into infrastructure but…
Best of BusinessSteve Jurkovich: Kiwibank CEO on increasing variable home lending rate in wake of OCR hike
Here come the banks on the back of the OCR hike. Both ASB and Kiwibank have raised their variable home lending rate - 5.85% to 6.35% for ASB and 5.5 to 6% for…
Best of BusinessAndrew Hoggard: Federated Farmers President as survey reveals farmer confidence lowest since beginning of pandemic
Farmer confidence is at its lowest level since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey. Possible…
Best of BusinessChand Sahrawat: Auckland restaurant Cassia opening seven days a week to meet customer demand
Acclaimed Auckland restaurant Cassia is shaking up its operations and opening seven days a week in order to meet customer demand. They also want to provide a…
Best of BusinessJason Smith: Kaipara Mayor calls for proximity limits on vape stores
Move over kumara, it's vape outlets that Dargaville is becoming known for. There are 13 within a one kilometre radius in the Northland town. Kaipara District…
Best of BusinessIrene King: Aviation commentator calls for changes to Air NZ's customer service
An aviation expert says changes are needed to Air New Zealand's customer service. The airline is facing significant challenges as it gears up for its busiest…
Best of BusinessBrad Olsen: Economist says we should expect to see another rise in interest rates
Expect another rise in interest rates. The Reserve Bank is expected to increase the OCR by 50 basis points this afternoon, to 2.5 percent. Infometrics…
Best of BusinessJohn Kensington: Banking and Finance at KPMG on predicted 50 point OCR rise to 2.5pc
The Reserve Bank's move today regarding the OCR seems to be a foregone conclusion. Anyone who's anyone in the finance world is predicting another 50 point…
Best of BusinessColin Mansbridge: Crusaders CEO hopes Te Kaha is a done deal and the council will get on with it
There's just one day left until Christchurch finds out if it will push ahead with its controversial stadium. The city council's confirmed it took some…
Best of BusinessPattrick Smellie: Business Desk editor on the polytech merger mess
A damning report has come out this week, revealing what can only be described as financial meltdown at the new polytech mega-merger. Pattrick Smellie from…
Best of BusinessKirsten Killian-Taylor: Perpetual Guardian Philanthropy says they want to help fund scholarships for nurses
A different approach to filling nursing shortages. Health New Zealand is going to meet with nine nursing schools as they call for more funding. Perpetual…
Best of BusinessChris Melcher: Legal analyst as looming Musk-Twitter legal battle hammers company shares
Shares of Twitter slid more than 11% in the first day of trading after billionaire Elon Musk said that he was abandoning his $44 billion bid for the company…
Best of BusinessTerry Shubkin: Young enterprise scheme chief on amount of young people owning businesses growing
We are getting more and more young people into business. The amount of young people between 18 and 30 running their own business is growing in what we call the…
Best of BusinessCarol Ward: Zespri Chief Grower on company wanting to expand SunGold growing area by 10,000 ha in each country
Kiwifruit growers have a big decision to make soon over the future of the most popular SunGgold fruit. Zespri want to expand their overseas planting area of…
Best of BusinessKerry Archer: Registered Master Builders Assn on concerns Master Builder guarantee is not a guarantee at all
Concerns have been raised that the Master Builder guarantee is not in fact a guarantee at all. A number of customers have made complaints to the Master…
Best of BusinessKarli Thomas: Deep Sea Conservation Coalition spokesperson on concerns surrounding new fisheries bill and MPI
Conservation groups have concerns a new fisheries bill will rule out public consultation when it comes to decisions made about fishing by MPI. The new reforms…
Best of BusinessFran O'Sullivan: NZME Business Commentator on whether Jacinda Ardern's Australia trip was successful
The dust has settled on Jacinda Ardern's trip to Australia. The initial signs are that the trip went well for both sides due to the commonality between both…
Best of BusinessNick Leggett: Transporting NZ CEO on trucking operators at risk of collapse due to rising fuel costs
The cost of fuel is hitting the trucking industry. The industry body for trucking says the rise in cost of fuel has put a number of businesses on the verge of…
Best of BusinessMike's Minute: The fear is still out of control
A reminder of just how close to the surface the carnage of our Covid response is. I am standing Friday in a retail outlet, when the owner comes to me and says…
Best of BusinessBrett O'Riley: Employers and Manufacturers' Assn Chief says 2022 is the most unpredictable year of the pandemic for businesses
Businesses are being pushed to the brink as staff sickness upsets workplace rosters. Flu season is in full swing, combining with a spike in Covid-19 case…
Best of BusinessJennifer Mills: Employment specialist on responsibilities of employers around sick leave
Our Covid numbers are going back up and the experts are warning of a second wave. Employers are being told to brace for another round of long periods of…
Best of BusinessRod Oram: Business commentator on banks tracking your carbon footprint based on your spending
Your bank may soon be able track your carbon footprint. The software does this through tracking transactions, which they can then understand what the likely…
Best of BusinessJeremy Goldkorn: China visiting expert on concerns over New Zealand's dependency on China after Ardern's Pacific comments
A visiting expert on China is concerned that we're too dependent on China. These comments come as Jacinda Ardern urges diplomacy with China over Pacific…
Best of BusinessDavid Downs: NZ Story CEO on Australians perceiving New Zealand as a poor exporting nation
A survey has found Aussies view Kiwi exporters as "informal", "unsophisticated" and "bad at long-term relationships". The survey is from the government body NZ…
Best of BusinessMike's Minute: Low wages won't solve our labour crisis
Beware the wisdom of the academic. AUT's David Williamson is weighing into the labour shortage debate with the insight only an academic can give; if you can't…
Best of BusinessSam McIvor: Beef and Lamb NZ chief on joint letter to Ministers asking for more time on environmental policy changes
Concerns the Government are rolling on through with environmental policy changes without any care that farmers are struggling to keep up. On June 9 we will get…
Best of BusinessSandy Gibbs: Recruitment expert says 87 pc of workers expect to discuss money at performance review
Performance reviews for a lot of businesses this week and 87 percent of workers expect to discuss money. 42 percent of companies say salary reviews are the…
Best of BusinessKerre Woodham: A Grocery Commissioner isn't going to put cash in your pocket
Another job for an old mate has been announced by the Government. If as a child, you grew up and you were asked what do you want to be when you grow up and you…
Best of BusinessSteve Newall: Flicks editor on whether TV show intros are a thing of the past
There are suggestions it’s time we do away with TV show intros. We have some numbers around the ‘skip intro button’ - ever since Netflix introduced it in 2017…
Best of BusinessDr Sharad Paul: Kiwi skin cancer expert develops first vegan non-injectable wrinkle reduction serum
A Kiwi skin cancer expert who consults some of Los Angeles' biggest names has created the world's first vegan non-injectable wrinkle reduction serum. Dr Sharad…
Best of BusinessChris Small: ABC Business Sales MD argues young Kiwis should invest in business rather than housing
Some are proposing an argument to be made for young New Zealanders looking to invest to avoid the housing market and get into their first business. Concerns…
Best of BusinessSarah Balle: Supie founder says supermarket code of conduct won't make a big difference for a while
Consumers shouldn't expect to see savings at the checkout any time soon. Consultation is underway on a draft code between major grocery retailers and their…
Best of BusinessJohn Murphy: Vegetables NZ Chair says supermarket watchdog could end up having a negative effect on producers
A supermarket watchdog looks set to stir up competition in the sector. Consultation is underway on a draft code between major grocery retailers and their…
Best of BusinessKate Hawkesby: I'm not sure a Grocery Commissioner is actually going to bring change
Didn’t you always know that this Government, in clamping down on something, would involve a working group, a watchdog, a commissioner or a report? Turns out…
Best of BusinessGareth Kiernan: Infometrics chief forecaster on what business confidence dive means for OCR
Business confidence has taken a dive this week. But what does mean for the Reserve Bank's decision on the OCR next week? The main issue for the Reserve Bank…
Best of BusinessJenée Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington Business Editor on Jacinda Ardern's regenerative tourism comments
Jacinda Ardern has stressed the need for regenerative tourism in Sydney. She said that we need to promote clean, green tourism and tourism that embeds Maori…
Best of BusinessRod Carr: Climate Change Commission chair on what critical tweaks need to be made to He Waka Eke Noa
He Waka Eke Noa needs some critical tweaks to work. This is according to the Climate Change Commission. For now, they recommend cracking on with the existing…
Best of BusinessJohn Bolton: Squirrel Mortgages CEO says the OCR will keep increasing, but longer-term fixed rates are peaking
Interest rates may have already reached their peak. In May 2020, borrowers taking out a standard one-year rate were paying an average of 3.2 percent, but that…