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PODCAST

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.

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All Episodes

2:27

Kristy Phillips: Hospitality NZ CEO on the number of...

Best of Business ·

2026/06/03

The hospitality squeeze continues, with a flurry of closures. Credit reporting agency Centrix says liquidations are up 49 percent year-on-year. Cafes, restaurants and takeaways made up the most of the 414 liquidations recorded in the past 12 months. Hospitality NZ CEO Kristy Phillips says the latest impacts are the cost of living and the fuel crisis. But she says businesses have taken many hits in recent times. "Liquidations now can be the result of years of hanging on and just trying to wait for

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6:08

Brad Olsen: Infometrics Principal Economist on...

Best of Business ·

2026/06/02

Anthropic confirmed it filed confidential plans for an initial public offering, setting it up for what's expected to be one of the most anticipated market debuts in years. Anthropic is one of three highly anticipated AI initial public offerings expected for this year, along with OpenAI and SpaceX - giving early investors a chance for huge paydays. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says Anthropic's the first to get the paperwork through - and there's huge expectations riding on it. LISTEN

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4:32

Jamie Mackay: The Country host on the racing industry...

Best of Business ·

2026/06/02

The New Zealand racing industry has plenty of reasons to celebrate the recent King’s Birthday Honours, with three of its own recognised. David Ellis, Doug Alderslade and Dr Luk Chin were among the experts who received honours yesterday. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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3:13

Claire Matthews: Massey University banking professor...

Best of Business ·

2026/06/02

There's a view a merger by Heartland and TSB won't hand the big four banks a massive blow. Heartland Bank has struck a deal to buy TSB for $620 million, pending consultation and regulator approval. Massey University banking professor Claire Matthews says the combined bank will still be smaller than the big four, and Kiwibank. She says a lot of work's still needed to increase competition. "It's not necessarily going to open up a huge access to capital, which is what's really needed for them to grow,

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3:50

Cecilia Robinson: Tend CEO on the company looking to...

Best of Business ·

2026/06/02

Patients could soon reap the benefits if digital-first Tend Healthcare acquires Green Cross Health's medical division, The Doctors. In July, it'll ask shareholders to approve the conditional sale and purchase agreement for a $270-million-dollar sale. Tend Chief Executive, Cecilia Robinson, says it's all about improving access to care - as they have in their current clinics. "We've significantly improved things like wait times - we've got examples of clinics that have gone from a month wait time down

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3:20

Vicky Price: Business Correspondent on rising oil...

Best of Business ·

2026/06/01

Airlines are taking another hit from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Oil prices jumped 7% after an Iranian news agency announced Tehran has suspended the negotiations with the US. Contributing to the dwindling stocks of jet fuel is a new ban on exports by Russia, set to last until the end of November. Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce told Francesca Rudkin airlines are also beginning to be affected in terms of the value they have in the stock markets. LISTEN ABOVESee

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5:14

Kelly Eckhold: Westpac Chief Economist on oil prices...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/31

Oil prices fell significantly throughout last week as discussions regarding an Iran deal continued to take place. Prices are down around 8 percent for the week with Brent crude around $91 a barrel. Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold says rumours regarding an imminent Hormuz opening agreement caused prices to drop on Friday, but things aren't fully stable. "Mediators had sent a proposal to Trump for an agreement and then noted on his Truth Social account that he was going to make what he called a

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7:53

Joy Keene: NZ Game Developers Association executive...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/30

It's been a breakthrough year for New Zealand’s video game industry. The sector hit its $1 billion annual revenue target two years early, and it's on track to double that figure by the end of the decade. NZ Game Developers Association executive director Joy Keene says there are quite a few factors behind this. "We're a very creative country, obviously, we have some number 8 wire kind of thinking. And couple that with the Government support that we've been receiving over the last few years, that has

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5:33

Don Braid: Mainfreight CEO on the company's full-year...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/28

Global transport company Mainfreight's full-year net profit is down 8.5 percent on the year earlier, despite an improved performance in the second half of the year end in March. Despite this, the company's hopeful that things can turn around, despite the conflict in the Middle East. Mainfreight CEO Don Braid explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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3:30

Robyn Walker: Deloitte tax partner on the tax changes...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/28

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, simplifies the fringe benefit tax, and expands the Foreign Investment Fund rules to all taxpayers. It also caps the tax credits that can be received on not-for-profit donations. Deloitte tax partner Robyn Walker says it's still very generous by international standards. She says you can still donate $100,000 and get a $33,333 tax credit - and only a

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2:18

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: I would...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/28

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 money for - well, there is money for the important stuff. You’ve got the schools and the classrooms, and the hospitals, and the Waikato Expressway, and Winston Peters’ pet projects. But everywhere else, there is just no new money. It is tight. Now, that is exactly how it should be. And in fact, I would say this still doesn’t go far enough

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3:28

Simon Bridges: Auckland Business Chamber CEO on his...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/27

Very few frills or surprises are expected to be in today’s Budget. Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges predicts a “sensible, prudent, boring, Presbyterian” Budget, with only a few goodies coming from reprioritised spending. He told Ryan Bridge he was more interested in the "nuggets" that pointed to the Government's future policy direction. He wanted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to “stake some strong positions, defend them and stick with them”, with details on how the Government planned to

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5:23

Gavin Grey: UK correspondent on energy bills going up...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/27

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 the first time. Energy costs have jumped as a result of Iran blocking the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping route - where a fifth of the world's oil and gas is carried. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says even if the Strait was unblocked tomorrow, this conflict would still leave a significant economic impact. LISTEN ABOVESee

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4:08

Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/27

Accountants are hopeful the Government will use the Budget to do something about the secret little wealth tax those with offshore investments are currently paying. As it stands, most people with more than $50,000 directly invested in assets offshore, including shares in companies listed on stock exchanges, need to pay tax on a portion of the value of their investments, regardless of if they receive income from those investments. Those who invest in shares in New Zealand companies or New

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3:51

Remy Wisenberg: Milford Asset Management expert on...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/27

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, especially considering concerns around inflation. Milford Asset Management's Remy Wisenberg explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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2:19

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: When will...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/27

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 on the bright side, the Official Cash Rate didn’t go up. On the downside, it looks like it’s definitely going up next time. So yes, it’s a reprieve - but it’s only a reprieve for six weeks, excuse me, before the screws on the economy start turning again. Thanks to the new transparency rules at the Reserve Bank - which, frankly, we should all

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4:36

Vaughn Davis: Creative Director at The Goat Farm on...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/27

Auckland Council has released a new document, seeking potential interest from 'an exclusive funding and naming rights partner for a landmark activation initiative that will transform the Auckland Harbour Bridge into a dynamic storytelling canvas through light.' The project - expected to be a multi-year tourism initiative starting in August next year - is likely to attract widespread interest among marketers and creative agencies. Creative Director at The Goat Farm, Vaughn Davis, says the council's

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2:45

Chris Polaczuk: Construction Health and Safety NZ...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/27

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 ACC claims, and some managers are educating their teams on the benefits of warming up. Chris Polaczuk from Construction Health and Safety NZ says there's still a 'macho culture' in the trades, where too many people see pain as a badge of honour. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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3:33

Peter Dunne: former Minister on whether we need to...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/27

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 family home he bought 26 years ago. He's moved to the Wairarapa, but lives in the capital when Parliament sits. Dunne says MPs should be reasonable. "Fair enough if you're required to commute to Wellington each week to get some accommodation, to get some recompense for that, but not fair enough to simply turn your own home into your home away

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5:07

Anna Breman: Reserve Bank Governor on the decision to...

Best of Business ·

2026/05/27

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 unchanged at 2.25 percent today. The Monetary Policy Committee had been evenly split on hiking or holding, and is now signalling it'll go up in September. Breman says they consider the factors pushing inflation up, but also the weak economy and labour market that could send it downwards. "We aim to keep inflation low and stable, but we should

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3,595 results

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