Insurance is getting more expensive and more sophisticated, as climate change, extreme weather and rising costs reshape how insurers price risk.

Tower CEO Paul Johnstone explains why the price of risk in New Zealand has materially changed over the past 15 years, and how Tower is using up to a billion data points to price individual properties based on their exposure to hazards like floods, earthquakes, landslides and sea surge.

He also discusses what rising weather-related losses mean for the insurance industry — and why he still believes insurance is a good business to be in. 

Plus, how Tower is using AI to streamline claims and customer service, why its technology has already saved a million minutes of call time, and how the business is balancing lower premiums with growth and profitability.

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch

Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · Jacki Neumann, Head of Capital Markets at Sharesies

Note: Filmed Monday 31 August

↑ WHAT'S UP — US indices edged higher, with the S&P 500 up 0.5% and the Nasdaq up 0.9%, while the ASX 200 added 0.4%, propelled by results including Qantas’ 4.8% jump on a $2.06 billion underlying profit, Coles rising 5%, and NEXTDC beating guidance with revenue up 16% on surging AI infrastructure demand.

↓ WHAT'S DOWN — The NZX 50 fell 1.5% in its worst week since May, snapping three weeks of gains. DroneShield sank 11% despite a 74% revenue jump as it swung to a $32.2 million loss, Air New Zealand posted a $336 million full-year pre-tax loss, and Xero drew a 70.6% protest vote against its remuneration report.

! BIGGEST SURPRISES — Australia's July CPI ran hotter than expected at 3.5%, with trimmed mean inflation at 3.6%, lifting the odds of an RBA hike by year-end to 78% from 67%. At Jackson Hole, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s tone was hawkish, pushing September US rate-rise odds from around 36% to nearly 60%.

◎ WHAT TO WATCH — The RBNZ meets Wednesday, with markets expecting a 25 basis point hike from 2.5%, and Australia's Q2 GDP lands the same day. In the US, the August employment report on Friday will be a key read ahead of the Fed's next decision on September 16.

◈ BIGGER PICTURE — Inflation is proving stickier than hoped, with a hot Australian CPI and a hawkish Warsh pushing rate-hike expectations sharply higher on both sides of the Pacific. The AI build-out still looks robust — Nvidia flagged hyperscaler capex near US$800 billion this year — but its warning on shrinking margins is a reminder that even the AI winners face cost pressure.

Disclaimer:

Sharesies Market Movements is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand.

This video is general market commentary and educational in nature. It is not financial advice and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Information is current at the time of recording and may be subject to change. We do not provide recommendations and nothing in this video should be taken as a recommendation to buy or sell any financial product.

Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

If you require personal financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial adviser. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions, including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers, are available on our relevant Australian or NZ website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is New Zealand too conservative with how we reward our top executives, and could that be hurting our public markets?

In this clip from Shared Lunch, Gentrack CEO Gary Miles responds to his headline-making position as the NZX’s highest-paid CEO, and tackles the bigger question of executive pay in New Zealand. Could too much scrutiny of remuneration make it harder for public companies to attract top talent? And is there a risk it pushes more businesses into private ownership?

This clip is a bonus from our previous episode ‘Gentrack chases global power’

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch

Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website.

Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gentrack is the NZX-listed software company running the systems behind power companies and airports worldwide, as the energy transition creates challenges in pricing, metering and managing power. 

CEO Gary Miles traces Gentrack’s five-year climb from around $100 million in revenue to about $230 million — and the share price wobble that followed the rollout of its new G2 technology stack. Gary explains where that dip came from, their drive to expand into 40 countries, and why he ended up in the headlines as the NZX's highest-paid CEO.

Plus, why Gentrack bought a Wellington pricing startup that had just one customer.

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch

Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website.

Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 24 AUGUST 2026
Jacki Neumann, Head of Capital Markets at Sharesies

Note: Filmed Monday 24 August

↑ WHAT’S UP — The materials sector outperformed the broader ASX, rising 5.6%: BHP's underlying profit jumped 30%, with copper overtaking iron ore as its biggest earnings contributor for the first time, while Evolution Mining rallied over 16%. Healthcare climbed more than 9% driven by CSL and Cochlear, and the NZX 50 bucked the global trend to add 0.9%.

↓ WHAT'S DOWN

US stocks fell under the weight of bond yields, with the S&P 500 down 1.4% and the Nasdaq 2%. The ASX 200 slipped 0.6%, with local losses led by banks. NAB dropped 7.7% and the sector fell 5.5% after home loan applications slid 15%, while JB Hi-Fi lost over 10%.

! BIGGEST SURPRISES

Bond yields were the big story. The 30-year US Treasury yield pushed above 5.3% for the first time since 2007 and the 10-year near 4.7% as national debt topped US$40 trillion for the first time. The Treasury's expanded buybacks to ease the pressure didn’t hold, with yields retracing most of their decline by week's end.

◎ WHAT TO WATCH

New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh gives his first keynote on Thursday, while Nvidia's results land Wednesday and Australian reporting rolls on with Coles, Woolworths, Wesfarmers and Qantas. On the data front, RBA minutes are due Tuesday and Australian July CPI Wednesday, alongside key US inflation and GDP prints mid-week.

◈ BIGGER PICTURE

Attention is turning to climbing long-dated US yields, with fiscal concerns and sticky inflation pressuring equities even as the Treasury tries to intervene. Down under, reporting season shows a divergence on the ASX: a cooling housing market weighing on banks, while the miners and biotech CSL rise. With rising unemployment but consumers gaining confidence on the RBA's hold, Australia sends mixed signals heading into a pivotal week.

Disclaimer:

Sharesies Market Movements is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand.

This video is general market commentary and educational in nature. It is not financial advice and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Information is current at the time of recording and may be subject to change. We do not provide recommendations and nothing in this video should be taken as a recommendation to buy or sell any financial product.

Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

If you require personal financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial adviser. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions, including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers, are available on our relevant Australian or NZ website.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Debt is everywhere, from mortgages to paying for lunch. But when is it useful, and when does it become a problem?

In this bonus clip from Shared Lunch, Luke Kemeys of Keep the Change breaks down the good and bad sides of debt. He explains why borrowing can be a powerful tool for building wealth, how everyday debt can quietly eat into your cash flow, and why keeping some cash aside matters when life doesn’t go to plan.

Plus, Luke looks at the relationship between debt and investing—and why understanding how your money is structured can sometimes matter more than chasing a better return.

This clip is a bonus from our previous episode ‘Are we too afraid to be ambitious?’

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch

Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website.

Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are we more comfortable talking about our voting preferences than our KiwiSaver balances?

Luke Kemeys of Keep the Change tells us why money is New Zealand's last taboo — and the opportunity cost of that silence. So why do so many Kiwi avoid even sharing their finances with family? What’s the downside of our cultural love of holding cash? Is a culture of Tall Poppies holding back our economy?

Luke shares his own history of credit card debt and the backlash to branding himself as a millionaire, and how normalising wealth conversations could make the whole country better off.

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch

Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website.

Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 17 AUGUST 2026
Jacki Neumann, Head of Capital Markets at Sharesies

Note: Filmed Monday 17 August

↑ WHAT’S UP — US markets saw slight gains, with the S&P 500 up 0.4% and the Nasdaq up 0.2%, while the NZX 50 added 0.2%. Super Micro jumped 19% on an earnings beat and upbeat guidance, and Commonwealth Bank posted a record annual cash profit of $10.98 billion, up 7%.

↓ WHAT'S DOWN — The ASX 200 fell 1.6%, dragged by financials: Westpac lost almost 6% after a 20% drop in mortgage applications, while Suncorp's and IAG's profits fell 44% and 25% respectively. In the US, solid numbers didn't prevent declines, with RocketLab down about 7%, Cisco 5% and AST SpaceMobile 4% despite reporting record or fast-growing revenue.

! BIGGEST SURPRISES — The RBA held at 4.35% but Governor Bullock struck a hawkish tone, refusing to rule out further hikes on inflation concerns. In contrast, US core CPI eased to a multi-year low of 2.5% and core PPI slowed to 4.2%, cutting the odds of a September Fed hike to 28%.

◎ WHAT TO WATCH — Australian earnings ramp up, with NAB's update rounding out the big four banks and results due from JB Hi-Fi, BHP, Fortescue, CSL and Cochlear among others. The FOMC's July minutes land Wednesday and Australia's July unemployment rate follows on Thursday.

◈ BIGGER PICTURE — Australian bank earnings showed resilience but growing exposure to a cooling housing market. In the US, AI and space infrastructure investments stalled despite strong revenue growth, with investors zeroing in on losses, margins, and execution risks. Meanwhile, a hawkish RBA is still weighing hikes just as softening US inflation nudges the Fed the other way.

Disclaimer:

Sharesies Market Movements is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand.

This video is general market commentary and educational in nature. It is not financial advice and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Information is current at the time of recording and may be subject to change. We do not provide recommendations and nothing in this video should be taken as a recommendation to buy or sell any financial product.

Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

If you require personal financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial adviser. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions, including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers, are available on our relevant Australian or NZ website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI can scan thousands of stocks and decades of data in minutes—but should it be trusted to make the final call?

In this bonus clip from Shared Lunch, Mike Taylor and Kent Williams of Pie Funds explain how they’re using AI to automate their day-to-day work. They unpack how the technology can speed up investment research, why they stop short of letting AI make trading decisions, and what the rise of the “T-shaped” portfolio manager could mean for the next generation of investors.

This clip is a bonus from our previous episode 'Infrastructure: funding the next decade of growth?'

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch

Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website.

Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Airports and ports, pipelines and power lines. Infrastructure is all around us — and demand for it could be entering one of its biggest booms in generations.

In this episode, Mike Taylor and Kent Williams of Pie Funds unpack what’s driving that demand, from the rapid buildout of AI and data centres to growing pressure on power grids and the electrification of everyday life.

How does Pie decide which infrastructure assets to invest in? Can power supply keep up with rising demand? Will the enormous sums being spent on AI deliver a return? And why is only a fraction of the world’s infrastructure available to everyday investors?

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch

Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website.

Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.