The SME Stream

Political panelists Trish Sherson and Russel Norman on Christopher Luxon offending and then apologisng to small business owners.

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Wages in the retail sector have risen - with the average wage reaching $30.94 per hour, up 1 percent on last year.

This comes amid difficult conditions impacting the sector, which faced shrinking margins and falling sales.

It was also lower than the annual rate of inflation, which was 4.1 percent in the June quarter.

Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young says many workers also make extra money off commissions - and the sector offers significant contributions to workers' KiwiSavers. 

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The New Zealand Business Hall of Fame will induct its 2026 Laureates on Thursday, Partners life founder Naomi Ballantyne is one of them.

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The Auckland Business Chamber believes it's about time the big four energy gentailers are split up.

It's released a two step policy alongside the Northern Infrastructure Forum - calling on political parties to break up the big four gentailers, and increase renewable generation.

CEO Simon Bridges says if we want affordable, abundant energy, then changes need to be made. 

"What we've got at the moment is four gentailers... they control the market. And the incentives at play mean that if they allow additional supply, that brings down prices and reduces their income from their existing, long paid for assets. In short, what's good for them... isn't good for the wider economy." 

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Andrew Ede from Craigs Investment Partners explains why central banks remain cautious and what higher-for-longer rates mean for NZ investors.

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Scepticism from retailers that Police will turn up to a theft - as shoplifting rises to its highest level in 15 years.

Police laid the highest number of charges in 15 years, across 2024/25.

This resulted in the highest number of convictions being dished out in the country’s courts.

Retail NZ Advocacy Manager Denise Garland told Ryan Bridge Police are stretched - and says it's the lower levels of retail crime they sometimes miss.

She says they'll attend when there's harm and threatening behaviour.

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Signs of life in the economy as overall debt improves.  

Centrix data for June shows consumers' credit performance is continuing to improve, with arrears plunging to the lowest level since 2021.  

However, the results still show 84 thousand people with payments 90 or more days overdue. 

Independent economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge there seems to be a bit less stress on our economy. 

He acknowledges there's still a lot of personal stress due to the high cost of living, but says this shows the economy itself isn't in too bad a shape. 

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Unemployment's expected to increase, but it might not be all bad news for the economy. 

Many economists are expecting unemployment to increase from 5.3% to 5.5%.  

ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner feels volatility due to things like the war in Iran is starting to fade.  

She told Mike Hosking businesses seem to be getting used to uncertainty – they’re realising they can't wait for normal conditions and have to get on with it. 

Zollner says the recovery is happening, but it's a bit more stop-start than most would like. 

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Farms are doing well, farmers are spending and what they need is there when they need it.'

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What happens when workplaces stop avoiding difficult conversations and start leaning into them?

In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with HR consultant, facilitator, workplace investigator, and founder of HR Butter, Kate Bacchus.

Drawing on decades of experience across operational industries, leadership development, workplace investigations, and conflict resolution, Kate shares practical insights into human behaviour, communication, resilience, and the growing importance of critical thinking in the workplace.

From workplace mediation to leadership capability and the impact of AI on human connection, this conversation explores the skills leaders and organisations need to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

What You'll Learn

• Why difficult conversations are often the key to growth

• How facilitation helps teams navigate conflict and rebuild trust

• What Kate means by "human friction" and why it matters

• The risks of outsourcing too much thinking to technology

• How leaders can build resilience without expecting people to be invincible

• Why curiosity is one of the most important leadership skills

• The role emotions play in workplace culture and performance

Key Takeaways

• Most workplace issues grow when they're avoided

• Human connection and communication remain critical leadership skills

• Curiosity leads to better decisions and stronger relationships

• Resilience is about recovery, not simply enduring pressure

• Organisations perform better when leaders create space for honest conversations

About Kate Bacchus

Kate Bacchus is the founder of HR Butter and an experienced HR consultant, facilitator, workplace investigator, and leadership adviser. With more than 25 years of experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, she helps organisations navigate complex people challenges, develop leaders, and build healthier workplace cultures.

Why This Episode Matters

As technology accelerates and workplaces become increasingly complex, the ability to communicate, think critically, navigate conflict, and build meaningful human connections has never been more important. This episode provides practical insights for leaders, HR professionals, and business owners who want to create stronger workplaces and better conversations.

Resources

• Kate Bacchus, CMHRNZ | LinkedIn

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