Business

NZH

Is it fair to give working parents more leave?

The policy gives parents two extra weeks’ leave each year until a child turns 12.

IBM shares plunge 25% as AI spending boom disrupts business

CEO Arvind Krishna admitted the tech giant ‘did not adapt quickly enough’.

'That's a real problem': Paul Henry on why PM 'doesn't seem to be clicking'

Interview: Inside a bombshell move - why maverick TV host believes NZ has lost its way.

Family wine firm snaps up eight Constellation labels in major local deal

Poulter’s purchase lifts its portfolio to 19 wine labels across key regions.

'Finance is a trust business': Why the human element still counts

OPINION: Being in finance teaches adaptability, humility and lifelong learning.

Nobel laureate’s nod propels Kiwi skincare brand onto global stage

Emma Lewisham is heading to the UK to continue expanding her brand.

Auckland's new venture for luxury and life-saving flights

Business jets slashing travel times likely to be welcomed at new Auckland joint venture.

Market close: NZ sharemarket down 0.5%, Skellerup hits all-time high

The S&P/NZX 50 Index closed at 13,651.22, down 71.98 points, or 0.52%.

Higher inflation expectations may make price pressures stick – RBNZ economist

Paul Conway is keeping tabs on inflation expectations and firms' price-setting behaviour.

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Oil supplies 'more precarious' now than Middle East war outbreak - expert

"It doesn't take much to tip things over the edge and the price will spike very high," a former Marsden Point boss says. Audio

Is it fair to give parents more leave?

An Australian clothing business gives parents an extra two weeks off a year until their child turns 12. But could it happen here?

'Humiliated': Pak'nSave staff went through customer's bag without permission

Hamid Ashraf has formally complained to the supermarket chain's owner and lodged a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner.

Residential construction costs continue to rise, index reveals

The latest Cordell Construction Cost Index indicates residential construction costs rose 1.1 percent in the three months to June.

Number of high rises near new Auckland train station could be slashed

Proposed planning limits around the station were based on there being three entrances - but there's only one. Audio

Oil prices continue to rise in wake of renewed Iran US conflict

Brent Crude has climbed a further another 1.5 percent to US$84.5 a barrel.

Dave Letele takes on NZ Muscle 'to save 35 jobs'

"I wanted to give it my best shot of trying to turn it around," Letele says of the supplement company.

Major shortfall of electrical apprentices entering the system

Up to 4000 are needed to meet demand each year, but the numbers are at less than half of that, Master Electricians NZ says. Audio

Price hikes stick around: Why Kiwi firms are less likely to reverse increases

New Reserve Bank research shows Kiwi firms have become more likely to increase prices during periods of high inflation and are less likely to cut them when costs fall.

NZX backs proposed reforms to capital markets

The government is looking to reform the capital markets, which have been seen as costly and burdened by complex regulatory settings.

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Foodstuffs' Club+ sends fuel voucher emails to wrong customers

Foodstuffs says the issue was limited to the email and its audience, and affected customers have since been issued correct vouchers.

Dave Letele takes over NZ Muscle 'to save 35 jobs'

The company came into strife after a former employee posted a YouTube video making claims of questionable practices.

'Liability': Angry customers complain about SolarZero contracts

Customers angry at being stuck in what they say are expensive SolarZero contracts are turning to disputes resolution services for help.

NZ's largest bank hikes some home loan rates

The bank's floating home loan rate rises from 5.79% to 6.04%, applying to new loans from Wednesday.

NPD, Gull complete merger as new nationwide fuel entity launched

The new entity will oversee both the NPD and Gull brands, with all existing service stations set to continue operating under their current names.

Inside New Zealand's shrinking building and construction industry

The industry's boom-bust-boom pattern may have run its course - here's what the data shows.

Short term accommodation rate hike pressures Airbnb owners in Wellington

The Wellington council has voted to more than double rates for short-term rental accommodation providers – saying it will make the system fairer.

Here's how many New Zealanders are going bankrupt

"There is likely a taboo around insolvency out there which is a hangover from a couple of centuries where debtors faced awful treatment," one economist said.

Report makes $37bn case for Kiwi Indians' impact ahead of Modi visit

The figure, equivalent to 8.6% of total GDP in the year to March 2025, comes from a report by Infometrics.

Christchurch Lotto player wins $1 million as Powerball rolls over

The lucky person bought their ticket at New World Ilam.

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Far North mill closure confirmed, with 60 jobs to be lost

The Japanese-owned company announced on Wednesday it had completed consultation and made the decision to proceed with the closure.

Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard pleads guilty in Quebec sex assault case

MONTREAL (AP) — Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard pleaded guilty Monday to sexual assault and forcible confinement in Quebec, the latest conviction in the downfall of the founder of the once-global Nygard International clothing company. Nygard also faces U.S. racketeering and sex trafficking charg

The retention strategy behind the Golden Arches

‘People don’t experience policies’: The real strategy driving Macca’s award-winning workplace

Volkswagen CEO looks to avoid plant closures as car maker moves to cut costs

Volkswagen's CEO indicated he's trying to avoid closing plants as he seeks to turn around the automaker's performance.

NZ’s wage growth the 'worst in the world', new report shows

The data in a new report shows Kiwis had the worst wage growth after inflation over the past five years, of any OECD country.

Substantial Hawke’s Bay site in growth location

A large-scale landholding on the northern fringe of Hastings is for sale giving buyers the opportunity to secure a well-positioned site that has significant long-term potential.

Buyers eye final lots in key Waikato distribution hub

Buyers are being offered an affordable foothold in a strategic Waikato distribution hub as the last four freehold lots in a key subdivision go up for sale.

Large Ōtāhuhu offering with future flexibility

A substantial industrial facility in Ōtāhuhu is for sale, giving purchasers the opportunity to acquire a fully leased asset with long-term income and future value-add potential.

Courtenay Place asset set to turn a corner

The sale of a property along the capital’s main entertainment strip comes at a pivotal moment for Wellington’s inner city.

Growing businesses seek smarter space in Central Otago

A new commercial and industrial development in Cromwell is being brought to market amid growing demand for flexible business premises across Central Otago.

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Oil prices moderate as Trump pulls back on tolling Hormuz threat

US President Donald Trump abandoned his demand that ships pay a fee in exchange for protection in the Strait of Hormuz, while on Wall Street inflation data helped boost stocks.

To trust or not to trust – requiring proof of illness

OPINION: Proof of sickness is becoming a focal point in wider debates about productivity, workforce participation, public spending, and trust.

Local wine firm set to double in size after buying prestigious brands back off Americans

Auckland and Hawke’s Bay wine group Poulter Family Wines has completed its acquisition of eight wine brands and assets from global wine giant Constellation Brands.

Tiwai Point boss on the one thing that could make life better for the most Kiwis

Michelle Henderson, head of NZ Aluminium Smelters, says too often Kiwis are focused on central Government rather than local government, which is vastly more influential day-to-day.

The Global Read: 12 states mount legal challenge to Paramount's takeover of Warner

The antitrust case arrives at a pivotal time for the transaction — which, after months of what became a very public bidding war with Netflix, received both shareholder and Trump administration approval.

Caution urged as Government unveils plan to strengthen capital markets

Auditors nervous as Government unveils regulation cuts to boost New Zealand’s capital markets.

Net population loss to Australia shrinks - slightly

Fewer people leaving the country and an uptick in visitors to the country to December were welcome data points out today.

Oil shock means wages will continue to track under inflation, say experts

NZ workers, already outliers in the OECD for their poor rate of wage growth over five years, are likely not getting a break any time soon thanks in part to the US war on Iran.

Services sector back in growth, but barely

New orders were the strongest sub-index at 53, but activity and sales remained in contraction territory at 49.3, and employment was weakest at 48.8.

Big-tech dependency deficit must be addressed at election: Catalyst IT

New Zealand's largest local open-source software and IT consultancy has issued a “manifesto” which sets out a roadmap for fixing what it calls over-budget, under-delivered Government IT.

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Christchurch Stirling Sports franchisee owes $2.2m, faces probe

The company’s initial shortfall estimated by liquidators has more than doubled.

West Coast Pie Company founder still running business as liquidator tallies $1.4m-plus debt

Emily Lucas says hers is “a classic case of a small business growing too fast and working capital getting stretched”.

Safety concerns over condition of SH1 between Ashburton and Timaru

Motorists are being warned away from certain types of wheels by a tyre retailer who says South Canterbury highways “just aren’t fit for purpose”.

Electrifying New Zealand is great - but no workforce means no power

OPINION: More support for electrification the right instinct, but the next government must address a systemic workforce training problem, not just the cost of the technology.

Turning your house into a late-life money-maker

OPINION: When I think of downsizing I think of people who want or need to unlock capital from their houses: such people have a lot of house but not enough savings to live a decent life.

Christchurch grocer barred from selling meat puts fish on the shelf instead

Harvest Market has partnered with a popular Christchurch fish shop to put a different kind of meat on its shelves.

Inland Revenue liquidates another Bernard Whimp-linked entity, says it owes more than $1.5m in taxes

CVI Management Services Limited Partnership was the main operating entity of the embattled Chance Voight group. Whimp says claims against it are “absolutely fake”.

Seaside cafe loses $2000 in produce after delivery stolen by waiting thief

A South Brighton café has been left $2000 out of pocket after two delivery orders were stolen from outside its back entrance during the busy Matariki long weekend.

Why New Zealand's regional airports are under growing pressure

OPINION: Regional airports are vital to New Zealand's economy, but rising costs and ageing aircraft are putting the country's domestic connectivity under pressure.

Former owner of failed companies has new building firm

Updates in the liquidations of two-linked Timaru building and plumbing companies, which owe creditors just shy of $3 million, are due this month.

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Inflation is a crocodile in a dark room. Should RBNZ jump on it?

Should the Reserve Bank hold fire to give the bruised economy a better chance at recovery, or take a shot to stop inflation getting a headstart?

NZ Inc is going all in on AI data centres

The government wants $25-35 billion in data centre investment, and it just gathered 100 of the country’s most powerful business leaders to make the case.

Who gets to decide what happens to assets held on behalf of all Māori?

Charles Royal has dedicated the best part of three decades advancing Māori interests in spectrum.

WTF is happening with Heart of the City?

Viv Beck is back. Pretty much the entire board is gone. What is going on?

NZ still seems to think house prices will rise. Good luck with that

New Zealand has largely fixed its original sin, which caused home-buying mania.

Barbers aren’t about to be replaced by AI. So is this 2026’s cleverest career choice?

Thinking of a career change? Well, hair never stops growing, and robots can’t do fades – yet.

New Zealand just posted its best economic results in three years. But there’s a catch

Our economy was healing. Then the Iran war began.

The mysterious online store selling (and maybe stealing) Māori designs

At first glance, Polynesian Pride appears to be proudly Polynesian. Māori designers suspect otherwise.

Three big unanswered questions about what the Iran peace deal means for New Zealand

New Zealanders responded to the prospect of Peace In Our Times with a resounding chorus of: ‘So when will petrol be cheaper?’

Farming stopped being New Zealand’s economic backbone decades ago

Our reality is closer to Christopher Luxon’s infamous description of a ‘wet, whiny, inward-looking country’.