Best of Business

The Far North District is a hot-spot for Kiwis looking to get away over the holidays.  However, due to the impacts of cyclones, storms and COVID - the area's businesses are still struggling.  Far North District Mayor Moko Tepania told Andrew Dickens that tourism this summer is key to boosting Northland's struggling businesses. 'We need you all to come up here and spend your money because our businesses bloody need it.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Often trust have been seen to be province of the uber wealthy. But are they? And often people don't think about this issue until it is too late So when should we think about these issues - our family. inheritances and what's gonna happen to our money when we aren't around to look after it? Managing Director for New Zealand Family Trust Services Limited Janet Xuccoa joins Tim Beveridge to give her advice on trust accounts, and how they should be used. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In November China's economy showed clear signs of strain as investment, consumption, and industrial output all weakened more than anticipated.  "I think the most worrying thing is fixed asset investment actually, which has now declined for the 3rd month in a row," Asia business correspondent Peter Lewis told Andrew Dickens "We've never seen that before." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 has been a memorable year for global equity markets, and it's prompted speculation from investors.  Between economic downturns and tariffs, there's been plenty for experts to voice concerns about. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy farmer and agribusiness leader Nathan Guy is New Zealand’s new special agricultural trade envoy. Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment and Minister of Agriculture, announced Guy’s appointment today. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's back on the road to financial recovery, according to new reports. The latest Stats NZ data shows the economy contracted 0.5 percent in the year to September. But it's grown 1.1 percent - faster than expected - in the last quarter. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says we're effectively returning to where we once were. "Momentum is starting to build, but it's building from a weak spot. So we're certainly not saying that the economy is completely back, but it is on a better track." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's economy grew more than expected between July and September.  But between April and June, it shrank more than previously thought.  GDP rose 1.1% in the September quarter, surpassing all expectation but Stats NZ has revised the numbers for the June quarter, finding GDP actually fell 1%, not the previously-reported 0.9%.  That means the economy shrank 0.5% in the year to September.  NZ Herald Business Editor Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham the data is showing there’s some momentum in the economy, especially within manufacturing and business services.  He says consumers take a bit longer to feel upbeat, but the business core of the economy is picking up.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I know you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch, but can we just take a minute to look at the good economic news coming out? Government books aside, tomorrow's GDP read will show we bounced back with a spring in Q3 - close to 1 percent growth, they reckon. What's more, that shocking read for Q2 should be revised down because it wasn't actually as bad as the topline number we were given to begin with. Today, consumer confidence is on the rebound. This is according to the Westpac McDermott Miller survey. It's up 5.6 points - to its highest level this year. Still slightly below 100 - which means more are still glass-half empty than full, but it's going in the right direction. As are Seek job ads and as are most of the numbers that move first when a recovery is underway.  Now, I say all of this completely aware that we've been here before and fired a blank. We've had many a false dawn and false start. But barring any major cock-ups, this recovery feels like its real and happening. The missing ingredient of course is house prices, which are either sideways or backwards for most regions. That's the liquor in your Irish coffee that really gets things moving on the economic front. But this recovery will happen without it. It won't be soaring property prices that give birth this recovery, it won't start in an auction room with the hammer going down on a $44 million two-beddy in Sandringham.  What's going to drive this recovery, and make it a very gradual one, is confidence in our agricultural exporters, our lower mortgage rates, and, I think - more than anything - a feeling that we're just sick of being in this position. The ironic truth of it is that in order to get us out of the malaise, we must spend money, rather than save it. We must go out and buy stuff. So this Christmas, take that confidence to your nearest shopping mall. Tonight, I'm doing exactly that. Westfield is open till 10pm. I've found a tent, I've been eyeing it up today, and I'm ready to push play on summer and on spending and an economic Christmas miracle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes a new move by the Reserve Bank will bring about positive changes for New Zealand's banking sector. It is changing the mix of capital banks are required to hold, aiming to reduce funding costs.  It is also targeting closing the gap between bigger and smaller banks - making the market more competitive. The Co-Operative Bank chief executive Mark Wilkshire says this will encourage competition and remove certain constraints impacting the banking sector. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online marketplace Trade Me has been hit with a $138 million write-down of the value of its marketplace business unit. This comes as revenue continues to drop for the online retailer. Massey University marketing professor Bodo Lang says Trade Me still leads its current market, but its status is under threat. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister's still aiming for a surplus this decade, despite today's bleak economic news. Treasury's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows more delay to getting the books back to black.  The deficit's expected to deepen more to a high of $16.9 billion and not narrow to $60 million dollars until 2029-30. Nicola Willis says a 2029 surplus is very achievable. "What that will take is just a small revision to the growth upwards, combined with fiscal discipline. And those are two things that our Government is committed to."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows the service sector has now dipped in activity for six months in a row.  The most recent PSI recorded performance at its lowest since May, at 46.9.   For growth, it needs to sit at 50 or above.  ABC Business Sales CEO Chris Small told Heather du Plessis-Allan the results were a surprise.  He says the data had suggested the low point would be during Winter.  The sector is blaming the weak economic environment for the downturn, Small saying that in comparison, the retail sector saw a boost around Black Friday.  He says this shows things are turning around and services are just the lagging factor.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update is due to be unveiled to the nation tomorrow, and the Finance Ministers outlined her expectations.  Experts have speculated a projected surplus will be pushed back from 2029 by another year, and Prime Minister Chris Luxon tempered expectations earlier today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says 'fiscal discipline' will see New Zealand's economy keep growing in the coming months. "Importantly, I also get to update the Treasury's economic forecasts and that's what shows the picture for more job creation, income growth into the future, and people doing better." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's tempering expectations ahead of the Government's books opening this week. The Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update will be unveiled tomorrow - with some economists expecting a projected surplus to be pushed out by another year.  Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this will be the third time a return to surplus has been pushed out. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealander Harry Mellsop has raised US$4.3 million for his start-up, Antioch, which he says brings artificial intelligence into the physical world. He explained that Antioch’s tech will allow companies to build new or better AI robots by letting them test new features in software simulations. Mellsop says this technology will help develop the autonomous driving space, drone technology, the manufacturing sector and several other key industries.  "I think something that's personally surprised me is a lot of interest from smart security companies, so smart home sensors, to smart doorbells, those sorts of applications as well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's economy is set to expand next year, as several key indicators point to economic recovery. Kiwibank's latest bi-annual report forecasts a 2.4 percent growth for 2026, with boosted household confidence, an improved property sector, and a stabilising labour market. The review cites low interest rates as the leading drivers of growth. Economist Sabrina Delgado says there's a broad base for recovery, which comes as relief after 2025. "We did expect a recovery to sort of start taking place in 2025 this time last year - it took some hits and had some delays and it's just now that we're starting to see the signs of recovery taking foot." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are signs that green shoots are starting to flourish economically.  The latest card spending data from Stats NZ shows retail spending was up 1.6-percent last month, compared to November last year.  Spending was up across the board - on the likes of groceries, household items and clothes. ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge that the GDP for the second half of the year has had a strong rebound.  He says they're expecting 0.8 percent for the upcoming quarter. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The global dairy market is expected to face a period of weaker commodity prices off the back of a growth-filled 2025. According to Rabobank's Q4 Global Dairy Quarterly Report, global milk production growth is estimated to have peaked in Q3 2025. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Singapore Government has teamed up with New Zealand-founded start-up The Fractional Directory for a new pilot programme. The project will pair fractional leaders - experienced professionals who work with multiple organisations on a flexible basis - with Singaporean companies. Company CEO Michelle Allbon says this may seem similar to consultant roles, but there's some key differences. "The different between consulting and fractional is that a fractional leader is fully embedded...we've seen this be really, really effective, it's not just giving them advice and throwing their PowerPoint over the wall." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent trading updates indicate the nation's leading retailers are feeling the pinch ahead of the busy season. The Warehouse and Kathmandu are among the big names that have been seeing significant losses over the past few months. Milford Asset Management's Michael Luke says there's hope things will pick up in the next few weeks, given the demand brought about by Christmas and Boxing Day. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.