The SME Stream

The new year is getting under way, but concerns have been raised over what investors should focus on for 2026.

There's risks impacting the tech sector and experts are hoping things will improve going forward.

Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further.

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We take our monthly look at the state of the rural market with the GM of PGG Wrightson Real Estate. 

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Working harder doesn’t necessarily mean your business will make more money.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many business owners stay incredibly busy but struggle to turn all that work into more profit - and how you might have accidentally become the bottleneck in your own business.

I get into doing everything yourself, competing on price, focusing on revenue instead of profit and why learning to delegate and build systems becomes so important as you grow.

Because at some point, scaling your business means shifting from being the person doing everything to building a business that can actually operate and grow beyond you.

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Economists say New Zealand’s outlook is improving, but we're not in recovery mode just yet.  

SEEK NZ's latest Employment Report shows job ads dipped 0.3%, with weaker demand in retail, technology, and hospitality. 

Infometrics Principal Economist Nick Brunsdon told Mike Hosking he's cautiously optimistic heading into 2026.  

He says things are looking positive, but we're not in a roaring recovery just yet. 

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Builders across the country are starting to feel the benefits of the rise of employment opportunities. 

SEEK NZ's latest Employment Report shows a drop of 0.3% on overall job ads.

But demand for construction workers continues to add volume, with a rise of 3.4% nationally, up 43% year on year.

Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Andrew Dickens jobs are coming from across the country. 

He says employment agreements in January are up 20% on this time last year - which is positive at this quieter time of year. 

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New Zealand likes to see itself as an agile, innovative tech nation. But when it comes to artificial intelligence, the story is more sobering than triumphant. 

A new survey of 4,000 business leaders from around the world by research group IDC has revealed that just 8% of companies in Australia and New Zealand can be classified as “frontier firms” when it comes to their uptake of AI. That compares to the global average of 22%. Around half of our firms are classed as “laggards” and risk falling behind.

Are we shrewdly waiting on the sidelines for AI to really prove its worth. Or are we merely dabbling with the tech, ill-equipped to embed it in our businesses?

AI can be more than “fancy Google”

In the first episode of season 4 of the The Business of Tech, I sit down with Sarah Carney Microsoft’s national chief technology officer, to explore an uncomfortable question: are Kiwi companies quietly locking in a decade of underperformance by moving too slowly on artificial intelligence?

Carney has a front‑row seat to how “frontier firms” around the world are using AI to rewire their businesses, not just write better emails. In this episode, Carney, a ten-year veteran of Microsoft, spells out why that matters for jobs, growth and competitiveness.

She also challenges some of the myths holding local leaders back. Is AI really a threat to entry‑level roles, or could it create better ones? Is governance a brake on innovation, or actually the catalyst that lets people take bolder bets? And why is our national cynicism becoming a liability in a world where experimentation is the new survival skill?

If you’re a founder, executive, policymaker or just trying to work out what AI really means for your job and your business in 2026, this is an episode you do not want to miss. Streaming on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks to our sponsor 2degrees.

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Experts have indicated the Reserve Bank could be done cutting the OCR for the moment, and there's questions about what this could mean for homeowners.

The window of time borrowers had to lock in longer term fixed rates after the OCR cut and before they started rising was narrow, and reports indicate they could have missed their chance.

NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further.

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Accounting software business Xero has started 2026 on a low note, with the share price dropping significantly.

This is in line with other challenges in the technology sector, which have seen noticeable drops.

Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explained further.

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Fonterra’s CFO comments on another good GDT Auction overnight to kick start 2026 (up 1.5%, WMP + 1%).

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Another Kiwi success story.  

Pic’s Peanut Butter has now hit a 41% domestic market share in New Zealand. 

They’re forecasting 20% sales growth in 2026 after 20% growth last year, and plans to expand into commercial peanut growing in Northland are underway. 

CEO Aimee McCammon told Mike Hosking Kiwis can taste the quality of their product, and they’re happy to be eating it and paying for it.  

She says people are still looking for good, healthy food that is good to feed their families, and so Pic’s continues to grow.  

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