The SME Stream

The India Business Council isn't surprised to see the free trade agreement have an impact already, before coming into force.

New export numbers show apples are in high demand -- volumes jumping 63 percent on the 2024 season when negotiations began. 

Last month, Matariki Forests sent its first shipment of logs from Bluff to India since 2020. 

Council Chair Edwin Paul told Ryan Bridge there's an increase in general business confidence.

He says there's also a real interest in the likes of mean, wood, honey and technology.

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A former Trade Minister says he's very encouraged by National's election promise that it'll pursue trade talks with seven economies.

It says it would prioritise trade talks with Brazil, Switzerland, Argentina, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uruguay and the European Free Trade Association.

It's also promised to advance negotiations with a further six countries over the next decade.

Tim Groser says if you don't aim high, you achieve low. 

"It's possible - and even if they fall short, it's certainly going to set the direction of travel."

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Trade watchers are already sounding the alarm that 7 deals would spread MFAT thin. Garth Bray 2degrees Business Wrap.

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What if culture doesn’t eat strategy for breakfast after all?

In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with organisational culture expert and corporate anthropologist Michael Henderson to unpack one of the most misunderstood concepts in business: culture.

With more than 40 years’ experience and over 300 culture transformation projects completed across four continents, Michael brings a distinctive lens to leadership, performance, and organisational effectiveness. Drawing on his background in anthropology, he challenges conventional thinking around strategy, performance, leadership, and human behaviour at work.

This conversation explores why culture is really about meaning and performance, how organisations can “out care” the competition, and why curiosity, language, and human connection still matter more than ever in modern business.

From high performance and customer intimacy to leadership capability and conflict resolution, this episode offers a thought-provoking and highly practical perspective on what drives successful organisations.

What You’ll Learn

• Why Michael believes culture doesn’t “eat strategy for breakfast”

• The difference between performance and high performance

• How anthropology changes the way we understand organisations

• Why meaningful work drives stronger performance outcomes

• How language shapes organisational culture and behaviour

• The role curiosity plays in leadership, conflict, and communication

• What “out caring the competition” actually looks like in practice

• Why many organisations misunderstand culture entirely

• How customer intimacy creates competitive advantage

• The connection between care, belonging, engagement, and performance

Key Takeaways

• Culture is fundamentally about performance and meaning

• High-performing organisations care more — deliberately and consistently

• Leadership requires awareness, curiosity, and the ability to think beyond binary views

• Language shapes belief systems, behaviour, and organisational outcomes

• Strong cultures are built through meaningful human connection

• Curiosity and understanding reduce conflict and improve collaboration

• Organisations that deeply understand customers create stronger commercial outcomes

• Culture capability remains a major gap for many businesses and boards

About Michael Henderson

Michael Henderson is the founder of Cultures at Work and a globally recognised organisational culture expert with more than 40 years’ experience helping organisations align culture and strategy.

With a background in anthropology, Michael has led over 300 culture transformation projects across four continents, working with leaders to improve engagement, performance, retention, leadership capability, and customer outcomes.

He is the award-winning author of 10 books on organisational culture, including The Caring Advantage and Out Caring the Competition.

Michael’s work focuses on helping organisations create meaningful, high-performing cultures grounded in care, connection, and purpose.

Why This Episode Matters

If you’ve ever struggled to define culture, influence performance, improve engagement, or create meaningful organisational change, this episode offers a fresh and practical perspective that challenges conventional thinking.

For leaders, HR professionals, and business owners alike, this conversation reframes culture from something abstract into something deeply human, commercially relevant, and actionable.

Resources & Links

• Cultures at Work

• Michael Henderson | LinkedIn

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Everyone has an employment contract, but what should you be aware of when presented with a new one? 

Some key parts that you'd think are a given may also be missing, so what shoud you make sure you have?

MyHR's Chief Evangelist Sylvie Thrush-Marsh joins Tim Beveridge to answer your employment questions. 

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Mike Casey from Rewiring Aotearoa says solar can now pay off faster than many households realise, but the biggest savings come from understanding how your home actually uses energy. From gas hot water to EVs, batteries and green loans, Mike and Nadine break down what to weigh up before going electric.

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The National Party has just announced it's trade policy, should the party be re-elected in November. 

They've said that the aim is to secure markets with seven new economies across Europe, Africa and South America, with more to be chased further down the line. 

Trade Minister Todd McClay told Tim Beveridge that it's important to expand trade, as the target countries in Europe especially are 'particularly wealthy nations'.

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It's been a busy week between New Zealand and India. 

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to make his first official visit to New Zealand as the FTA gets over the line, however Winston Peters has raised concerns around Indian immigrants receiving unfair scrutiny at the border. 

The Chair of India New Zealand Business Council Edwin Paul told Tim Beveridge that, 'This is a start of a journey' of trade between India and New Zealand. 

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How much of this rally is being carried by chipmakers and and does that make the market more vulnerable? S&P's Anu Ganti in New York. 

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US equities have just had their strongest quarter since the Covid rebound, while the NZX 50 has recovered after a difficult start to the year.

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