The SME Stream

It’s a battle of the islands to become New Zealand’s economic engine room.

All eight South Island Chambers of Commerce have launched a joint election manifesto highlighting their $100 billion contribution to the economy.

They’re calling for more investment and productivity with the goal of lifting South Island GDP per capita to $130,000 by 2035.

Representing around 7000 businesses, it’s the first time they’ve all come together to push for political parties to pay closer attention to the south.

Today on The Front Page, Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson is with us to explain why the South Island wants to move ahead of the national average, not just keep up, and what it will take to get there.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

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As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina O'Keeffe each week as she gives you a rundown of the biggest stories that could impact your business, so you can make informed decisions with expert advice. 

This week, Unemployment is up but is the picture as bad as it sounds? Insurance premiums are in the spotlight as the government tries to pinpoint what’s driving costs so high … plus how to juggle all the demands on your business without losing focus.

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It's been a big week for the tech sector, with Meta and Microsoft moving to post their earnings.

But it's sparked concerns about the future of AI, and whether or not another sector bubble is set to burst.

Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further.

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South Island business leaders want to be recognised as the engine room of New Zealand's economy. 

The eight chambers of commerce have launched a joint manifesto, representing around seven thousand businesses. 

It calls for policies to lift productivity, with a goal of increasing South Island GDP per capita to at least $130 thousand by 2035. 

Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson told Mike Hosking it shows there's great alignment across the South Island. 

She says if New Zealand wants stronger productivity, higher incomes, and greater resilience, backing the South Island is the smartest investment. 

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Australian fintech pioneer and serial entrepreneur Dom Pym knows a thing or two about starting companies and scaling them into market-leading players.

This week’s episode of The Business of Tech dives into Pym’s extraordinary journey, from bootstrapping niche financial platforms to building one of Australia’s most popular digital banks – Up – and then reinventing himself as one of the region’s most active startup investors. 

Pym’s path into fintech started long before “fintech” was a buzzword. After a whirlwind early career working with Fortune 500 giants, he went on to build a grain exchange platform that digitised how Australian farmers sell their product, followed by Pin Payments, an all‑in‑one payments service that expanded into New Zealand, Asia, the UK and the US before being acquired. 

That set the stage for Up, the app‑based bank that hacked its way through regulatory and infrastructure hurdles to become a breakout success with younger customers and a major strategic asset for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank.

Now, post‑exit, Pym is channelling that experience into backing others. As Australian Investor of the Year, he’s supporting funds and startups via his family office, and pushing for more secondary deals so founders don’t have to wait a decade for liquidity. 

In The Business of Tech, he explains his investing philosophy, why he doesn’t obsess over unicorn valuations, and how he thinks about risk in an era dominated by AI and software.

Pym is heading to Auckland in September to deliver a keynote at the inaugural NZ Tech Expo, New Zealand’s new flagship gathering for founders, investors and corporate leaders. 

If you want a preview of the themes he’ll bring to the stage – and a candid assessment of where New Zealand tech needs to lift its game – check this week’s episode of The Business of Tech, streaming on iHeartRadio or in your podcast app of choice.

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What does it take to build a workplace where people genuinely belong and can do their best work?

In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Evan Bateup, Partner and Chief People & Inclusion Officer at KPMG New Zealand.

Drawing on a non-traditional career journey that spans operations, change, sales, marketing, and people leadership, Evan shares practical insights into leadership, inclusion, culture, and the role HR can play in creating meaningful impact.

From belonging and organisational culture to commercial HR, leadership capability, and the future of work, this conversation explores what it takes to create environments where both people and businesses can thrive.

 

What You'll Learn

• Why inclusion is about more than diversity metrics

• The role belonging plays in engagement and performance

• How HR can become a true strategic business partner

• Why curiosity is one of the most valuable leadership traits

• The difference between leadership principles and leadership certainty

• How organisations can create environments where people flourish

• Why commercial understanding is critical for modern HR leaders

Key Takeaways

• Great leaders create the conditions for others to succeed

• Belonging drives engagement, performance, and retention

• HR creates the most value when it's deeply connected to the business

• Curiosity and humility are critical leadership skills

• Strong cultures are built through everyday behaviours, not statements on a wall

 

About Evan Bateup

Evan Bateup is Partner and Chief People & Inclusion Officer at KPMG New Zealand. With experience spanning operations, sales, marketing, change, and people leadership, he is passionate about helping organisations create cultures where people feel valued, included, and empowered to contribute at their best.

 

Why This Episode Matters

As organisations navigate rapid change, evolving workforce expectations, and emerging technologies, leaders need to create workplaces where people feel connected, supported, and able to thrive. This episode provides practical insights for leaders, HR professionals, and business owners looking to build stronger cultures and more inclusive organisations.

 

Resources

• Evan Bateup | LinkedIn

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New Zealand’s superannuation problem is something that constantly rears its head. 

Whether it’s abolishing MPs’ gold-plated super scheme, if we should introduce means testing, or heighten the retirement age – one thing’s always clear... our status quo is untenable. 

The annual cost of NZ Super has already risen from less than $20 billion in 2023 to $24.7b this financial year, and is forecast to pass $30b in 2030. 

Meanwhile, the annual superbill for older migrants has hit a billion dollars – five years after Parliament tightened eligibility. 

So, what are the real pressure points in the system and how politically realistic are any of the fixes? 

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths is with us to unpack the numbers, the politics, and what changes might actually be on the table.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

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Conversations about reintroducing maximum sustainable employment to the Reserve Bank's monetary policy mandate and inflation targeting could be back on the table, following recent comments from Winston Peters.

Peters had to let this issue go during the last round of coalition negotiations, but speculation indicates he's like to bring the issue up again the next time round. 

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says there would be very little, if any, differences to the current state of the OCR if these changes were implemented. 

"The Reserve Bank is not dumb, they're not looking at the economy and going - well, if only we completely ignore the labour market. You can't ignore people in the economy and their jobs, so realistically - no , we wouldn't expect any real change." 

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91 petrol is set to stay below $3 a litre for the fourth week in a row, and that means the $50 weekly fuel payment for working families should be coming to an end. 

The Government has always said any support would be timely, temporary and targeted — but with so much volatility in the Middle East, should it be extended? 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has said she’ll take advice to Cabinet next week about extending the payment. 

But, there’s also the argument that this is all part of a bigger picture: New Zealand lagging behind other countries on EVs, solar and batteries. 

Today on The Front Page, journalist and publisher of The Kākā, Bernard Hickey joins us to unpack whether the fuel support should continue, and what New Zealand risks if it keeps moving too slowly on electrification. 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employers with a good track records on seasonal workers could soon get useful stamps of approval.

The Government's planning changes to the RSE Scheme.

It includes an accreditation system and clarifying employers' rules on claiming for costs like transport.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says trusted businesses will be treated with a lighter regulatory touch.

"You provide good accommodation, we haven't had issues with your accommodation or your deductions or anything else, and you're consistently dealing with MSD to make sure that you're putting Kiwis first for jobs."

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