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
Robyn Walker: Deloitte tax partner on the tax changes included in Budget 2026
A tax expert says it's good to draw a line under recent changes to charity rules. This year's Budget tweaks the Research and Development Tax Incentive…
- Best of Business
Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: I would argue Budget 2026 wasn't tight enough
Well, you would have done well to heed Nicola Willis’s warnings ahead of this Budget that there would be no spend-up, because there is no spend-up. There is no…
- Best of Business
Simon Bridges: Auckland Business Chamber CEO on his expectations for Budget 2026
Very few frills or surprises are expected to be in today’s Budget. Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges predicts a “sensible, prudent, boring…
- Best of Business
Gavin Grey: UK correspondent on energy bills going up as a result of the Iran war
Over in the UK, household energy prices will rise by 13 percent a year in July, as soaring wholesale costs caused by the impact of the Iran war hit bills for…
- Best of Business
Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor speculates ahead of Budget 2026
Accountants are hopeful the Government will use the Budget to do something about the secret little wealth tax those with offshore investments are currently…
- Best of Business
Remy Wisenberg: Milford Asset Management expert on the market reactions to the OCR staying in place
The Reserve Bank has opted to keep the OCR on hold at 2.25 percent today. Most markets had priced in a hold, but the views on what will happen next are split…
- Best of Business
Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: When will the screws on the economy start turning?
Well, that Official Cash Rate decision is probably one of those moments where you find out whether you're a glass half-full or glass half-empty person. Because…
- Best of Business
Vaughn Davis: Creative Director at The Goat Farm on Auckland Council looking for a new sponsor for the Harbour Bridge
Auckland Council has released a new document, seeking potential interest from 'an exclusive funding and naming rights partner for a landmark activation…
- Best of Business
Chris Polaczuk: Construction Health and Safety NZ manager on whether tradies need to warm up before work
Tradies are being encouraged to warm up before work in order to reduce the impact of injuries. The construction industry is a high source of of work-related…
- Best of Business
Peter Dunne: former Minister on whether we need to make changes to MP allowances
Former Minister Peter Dunne says it's time to look at MP allowances. NZ First MP Andy Foster's claiming a $36,000 accommodation allowance for the Wellington…
- Best of Business
Anna Breman: Reserve Bank Governor on the decision to leave the OCR unchanged at 2.25 percent
The Reserve Bank Governor says she's mindful of the weak economy, as she weighs up Official Cash Rate settings. Anna Breman made the final call to keep the OCR…
- Best of Business
Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on Anna Breman leaving the OCR on hold
The Reserve Bank Governor acknowledges many Kiwis are doing it very tough right now. Anna Breman used her casting vote today, to keep the Official Cash Rate…
- Best of Business
Carl Carrington: NZ King Salmon CEO on the company reporting a $13.8 million net profit for the first half of the year
The boss of New Zealand King Salmon says it's no fluke they're finally swimming downstream. The company’s posting a net profit of $13.8 million for the six…
- Best of Business
Jason Boyes: Infratil CEO on the company's full-year result
Infrastructure investor Infratil has made a strong full year result. This was driven by investments in Australasian data centre business CDC and United States…
- Best of Business
Jamie Mackay: The Country host on Fonterra's opening shot for the 26/27 season forecast milk price
Rural lending specialist Rabobank expects the 2026-27 dairy season to be another strong one for farmgate milk prices, but says rising inflation will take its…
- Best of Business
Huia Burt: Electric Kiwi CEO on the big four power gentailers facing new regulations
There's hesitation around moves to beef up regulations guiding electricity gentailers. From July, the big four gentailers mustn't give their retail arms better…
- Best of Business
Leeann 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…
- Best of Business
Catherine 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…
- Best of Business
Mike's Minute: Not everything is a conspiracy
Some are working pretty hard currently to buy into the Mike Smith storyline that the big end of town has the Government's ear over climate change. Mike Smith…
- Best of Business
Shane 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…
- Best of Business
Todd Hunter: Turners Automotive CEO on the company's record net profit of over $63 million
The Iran war may be denting demand for Turners, but the company's still outperforming previous years thanks to its popular Tina ads. Turners Automotive has…
- Best of Business
Sam 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…
- Best of Business
Chris Keall: NZ Herald senior business writer on what SpaceX filing for IPO could mean for Elon Musk
Elon Musk's SpaceX is set to go public - allowing people to trade shares in the firm on the stock market. The initial public offering (IPO) on the US stock…
- Best of Business
Grant 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 companies…
- Best of Business
Jenee 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 -…
- Best of Business
Jeremy 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…
- Best of Business
Greg Smith: Generate investment specialist on Infratil selling Contact Energy stake to fund future growth
Infratil says it has agreed to sell 53.53 million shares - representing a 5 percent stake - in Contact Energy through a fully underwritten block trade. The…
- Best of Business
Justin Watson: Christchurch Airport chief executive on the new non-stop international flights announced from Christchurch
New Christchurch flights are being hailed as a key step for global connectivity. From October, Air New Zealand will fly direct between Christchurch and…
- Best of Business
Nick Leggett: Infrastructure NZ chief executive on Queenstown being warned it needs to boost infrastructure
Queenstown will need to double its infrastructure within 15 years to keep pace with growth, according to Southern Infrastructure chief executive Ross Copland…
- Best of Business
Saul 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…
- Best of Business
Catherine 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 was…
- Best of Business
Rebecca Ingram: Tourism Industry Aotearoa CEO on the TRENZ tourism business event running this week in Auckland
It's tourism's time to shine this week as TRENZ hits Auckland. The country's largest tourism business event runs from today to Thursday at the International…
- Best of Business
Shane Solly: Harbour Asset Management expert on the BNZ Business NZ Performance of Services Index results
The BNZ-BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index (PSI) rose 2.7 points to 48.9, up from 46.2 in March. A reading below 50 indicates the sector - which accounts…
- Best of Business
Ruth Richardson: former Finance Minister criticises NZ First proposal to buy back BNZ
A former Finance Minister once forced to bail out BNZ says buying it back would be lunacy. New Zealand First is proposed re-nationalising the bank, buying it…
- Best of Business
Vicky Price: Business Correspondent says UK's GDP is better than expected in Q1
The United Kingdom isn't facing as many financial troubles as predicted, after the latest data shows their GDP holding steady. The past few months in the UK…
- Best of Business
Sam 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…
- Best of Business
Jamie Mackay: The Country host on the CEO of Synlait resigning
Synlait chief executive Richard Wyeth is leaving - after one year in the job. The South Island dairy processor's released an NZX market update, saying Leon…
- Best of Business
Nikhil Ravishankar: Air New Zealand CEO on the airline expecting a $390 million loss amid ongoing fuel crisis
Air New Zealand's CEO says the airline will trim more flights, with a forecast it'll be $390 million in the red this financial year. It's blaming the fuel cost…
- Best of Business
Kendall Langston: Pivot & Pace Founding Partner on the country's leading CEOs becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of long-term thinking
New research suggests nearly 100 of our CEO's are backing their businesses but not New Zealand. The Pivot and Pace survey found many CEOs are growing…
- Best of Business
Thomas Rookmaaker: Fitch Head of Asia-Pacific Sovereigns explains why NZ's credit rating was downgraded
New Zealand's international credit rating has hit a tipping point, and economists have raised concerns. Back in March, Fitch Ratings placed New Zealand’s AA+…
- Best of Business
Carolyn Young: Retail NZ CEO on the growing number of Kiwis shopping at local stores
Kiwis appear to be shopping close to home, according to new reports. Data from retail management platform Lightspeed shows about 77 percent of Kiwis surveyed…
- Best of Business
Steve Lancaster: NZ Rugby CEO on how the company can bring down the All Blacks' travel bill
There's growing calls to drop the All Blacks down from business class to premium economy, as travel costs set to get worse during the fuel crisis. Dropping all…
- Best of Business
John Small: Commerce Commission Chair unpacks the report looking at the country's most and least competitive sectors
Competition in New Zealand's economy isn't as strong as it could be. New Commerce Commission analysis of 22 years of Stats NZ data shows average business…
- Best of Business
Paul Bloxham: HSBC Chief Economist ahead of Australia's 2026 federal budget
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to deliver the next Australian federal budget, and reports indicate it's going to be focused on housing. It's likely new property…
- Best of Business
Jamie Mackay: The Country host on what the latest Rabobank agribusiness monthly report means for Kiwi farmers
Rabobank has just released their latest agribusiness monthly report for May, and it's good news for Kiwi farmers. The report has positive prospects for beef…
- Best of Business
Jarrod Adam: Unleashed Head of Product on revenue for manufacturers dropping amid global conflict
The manufacturing sector has been hit hard over the past few years, but ongoing global conflict has worsened current market conditions. Average profit margins…
- Best of Business
Shane Solly: Harbour Asset Management expert on the market reactions to the 'no deal' announcement on the Middle East conflict
Oil prices have jumped more than three percent on the back of another snag in negotiations between the US and Iran. Donald Trump has taken to social media to…
- Best of Business
Rob Eliott: Auckland Travel Show founder on Kiwi demand for travel holding firm
Despite the rising cost of living, growing fuel prices and ongoing concerns about inflation, the demand for travel still hasn't dropped. The Auckland Travel…
- Best of Business
Sam Dickie: Fisher Funds expert on how the memory shortage could impact the tech sector
The cost of computer components has shot up, and there's concerns about what it could mean for the tech sector. The shortage of memory chips has prompted tech…
- Best of Business
Jamie Mackay: The Country host on what the 'protein boom' means for Kiwi farmers
Protein is seeing a surge in popularity all over the world, and that's great news for Kiwi farmers. Reports claim a boom industry has developed around…
- Best of Business
Sarah Wrightson: CVs by Sarah director on the rise of AI in the job recruitment process
The rise in AI has seen demand for professionally written CVs in a bid to stand out against algorithms. Experts say while AI can be useful to screen hundreds…
- Best of Business
Cameron Bagrie: independent economist issues warning over nation's overloaded pension system
New Zealand's treading water, with a warning our increasingly overloaded pension system isn't sustainable. The latest OECD snapshot of our economy suggests…
- Best of Business
Nick Tuffley: ASB chief economist on the unemployment rate falling to 5.3%
A major bank believes unemployment will remain fairly flat this year, rather than anything catastrophic. The national rate dipped slightly to 5.3% in the first…
- Best of Business
Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor on Craig Stobo resigning from the FMA after conduct review
A new test case for the standards of political neutrality expected in the public service. Craig Stobo has resigned as chair of the Financial Markets Authority…
- Best of Business
Chris Smith: CMC Markets managing director on ASB launching their own Sharesies-style app
ASB is set to launch their own answer to Sharesies with their new app. ASB Share Central will include a mobile app and desktop platform, and it will allow…
- Best of Business
Brad Olsen: Infometrics Principal Economist on whether unemployment is set to get worse again
There's hopes the Iran war won't bring a big bump in unemployment. Stats NZ data shows the rate reached 5.3 percent in the March quarter, down from 5.4 percent…
- Best of Business
Olivia Blaylock: Icehouse CEO on the Ignite Growth Summit, small and medium businesses in New Zealand
The Icehouse is celebrating 25 years of powering Kiwi business growth. They’re a non-profit dedicated to training and mentoring the small to medium enterprises…
- Best of Business
Paul Bloxham: HSBC Chief Economist on Australia's Reserve Bank lifting the OCR to 4.35 percent
Australia's Reserve Bank has lifted the country's Official Cash Rate 25 basis points, to 4.35 percent. The move was expected by economists and financial…
- Best of Business
Hamish McKay: The Country spokesperson on whether farmers need to keep staffing levels up
Despite the mounting concerns about the economy and the ongoing Middle East conflict, New Zealand's rural sector is booming. Reports reveal farm worker pay…
- Best of Business
Catherine McGrath: Westpac CEO on the bank bracing for a tougher economic climate
Westpac's CEO says they have noticed changing customer habits in the backdrop of a tougher economy. The bank's half-year profit is up four percent, with its…