The SME Stream

There’s a view that New Zealand's still a while away from being a 'rockstar' economy. 

Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update documents are coming out early this afternoon, carrying key economic metrics.

Treasury's also releasing a Budget Policy Statement outlining priorities for upcoming spending.

Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Heather du Plessis-Allan it was a pretty average year for the economy, and next year looks to be better. 

Joyce says getting core spending below 30% of GDP is the goal, but it won’t happen overnight. 

He says Bill English spent eight years after the Canterbury quakes and the global financial crisis wrestling to get back into surplus. 

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Students are still battling to find consistent work leading into the summer break. 

Fifty thousand people applied for work through Student Job Search in November – the highest number this year. 

Chief Executive of Student Job Search Louise Saviker told Heather du Plessis-Allan while there are more jobs being listed, these are largely one-off or casual roles. 

She says this means students need even more jobs. 

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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. 

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The BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index has slowed down, according to new data.

Reports show it fell by 1.5 points to 46.9, sparking concerns about the future of the economy.

Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further.

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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."

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AI is changing the way we work incredibly quickly - so what does that actually mean for your job or business?

In this episode, I’m breaking down how AI is changing marketing, content and the wider business world, which tasks are becoming easier to automate and where I believe humans still have the advantage.

I get into how business owners can use AI to work faster and smarter without losing the strategy, creativity and human connection that actually makes people want to buy from you.

Because the goal isn’t to compete with AI. It’s to learn how to use it while continuing to build the skills technology can’t easily replicate.

Ready to start building? Join our #1 Business Training today ⬇️

🔗 Book a strategy call: https://www.makeithappen.org.nz/

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The Deputy Prime Minister and Act Party leader makes his final appearance for 2025 as we discuss tomorrow’s Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update (Hyefu). Plus, who is his Ag Person of the Year?

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In this episode, Sienna tells her dad Ben she wants to grow up and start her own beauty brand — just like Rowena Bird from Lush.

Rowena’s journey started with literally mixing products by hand and somehow grew into helping build one of the biggest and most loved ethical beauty brands in the world.

Sienna and Ben chat with Rowena about:

• What she was like as a kid and how she got into beauty

• Starting out as a beauty therapist and working with The Body Shop

• Selling products from the boot of her car and how the bath bomb was born in a garden shed

• The good bits, the hard bits, and the “what are we doing?” moments of building Lush from scratch

• Whether the famous “secret Lush master plan” is actually real 👀

• Big mistakes, bouncing back from setbacks, and random career twists like becoming a balloon pilot

• Skincare and confidence tips for teens

• How to grow a global brand without losing what matters

• What advice she’d give young people who want to build something of their own

• And what she’d tell her younger self

It’s a funny, honest chat about doing things differently — and changing the world one glittery bath bomb at a time!

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TikTok: Ben | Sienna | The Hits

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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. 

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