Podcasts about businessdesk

Time to catch up with BusinessDesk senior journalist and Jamie Mackay's Fieldays housemate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple's announced digital assistant, Siri, is getting an upgrade - expected later this year - to become Siri AI. The company is promising a better artificial intelligence experience for users. With the help of Google, Siri will remember past conversations, have a more conversational tone, and help across apps. BusinessDesk's Peter Griffin says Apple isn't trying to compete with the AI giants. "This is really to supercharge the features on an iPhone, or on your Mac with the Safari browser - making it more intelligent, maybe being able to talk to your photos app to select a number of photos." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple's announced digital assistant, Siri, is getting an upgrade - expected later this year - to become Siri AI. The company is promising a better artificial intelligence experience for users. With the help of Google, Siri will remember past conversations, have a more conversational tone, and help across apps. BusinessDesk's Peter Griffin says Apple isn't trying to compete with the AI giants. "This is really to supercharge the features on an iPhone, or on your Mac with the Safari browser - making it more intelligent, maybe being able to talk to your photos app to select a number of photos." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the senior journalist at BusinessDesk, as we say goodbye to the 2025/2026 dairy season, which he says was anything but dull. And tomorrow we find out Fontarra’s opening forecast milk price for the 26/27 season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has noticed there doesn't appear to be any significant surprises in New Zealand's new trade agreement with India. The agreement was signed in New Delhi overnight, and will reduce or eliminate tariffs on 95 percent of exports to the world's largest country. BusinessDesk senior journalist Dileepa Fonseka says there's no numerical limits on the international student numbers, but we can make tweaks if needed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 28 April, 2026, the BusinessDesk's Dileepa Fonseka outlines the detail from the Free Trade Agreement with India. We talk to the National Road Carriers about whether loosening restrictions on trucks will cause more potholes on our roads. New Zealand Cricket's new chief executive Geoff Allott tells us how excited he is about NZ20. And on The Huddle, Maurice Williamson and Josie Pagani discuss whether there really has been an assassination attempt against Donald Trump. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has noticed there doesn't appear to be any significant surprises in New Zealand's new trade agreement with India. The agreement was signed in New Delhi overnight, and will reduce or eliminate tariffs on 95 percent of exports to the world's largest country. BusinessDesk senior journalist Dileepa Fonseka says there's no numerical limits on the international student numbers, but we can make tweaks if needed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There has been a lot of talk about the free trade agreement between New Zealand and India this week. Winston Peters says it's an "utter unmitigated disaster of an agreement for New Zealand's future." However yesterday Chris Hipkins confirmed Labour will support deal but did express concern about the investment target that's been set - 33 billion dollars. The deal is set to be formally signed on April 27th in New Delhi, and the full text is expected to be made public the following day. We want to find out more about it, so BusinessDesk senior correspondent Dileepa Fonseka chats to Jesse.

For Friday Faceoff today it's a political special with former Chief Press Secretary to the PM Hamish Rutherford and BusinessDesk senior reporter Thomas Manch. It's been a dramatic week in the beehive ending with the Prime Minister calling a vote against himself. Our panel bring both their political pasts from the beehive to give their insight onto the hot topics from the week. Rutherford and Manch share their thoughts on the five MPs named by Mike Hosking and what could have happened in the caucus meeting. And does Bishop stand a chance as leader of the National party? And with the public jabs between Winston Peters and National, the panel discuss the likelihood that he would go against his word and go with Labour at the next election. Then to the FTA with India, Labour has signed on - is this the right choice for NZ? And the racial comments from Shane Jones, is this just trying to breed controversy? Also on the agenda is the Treaty reference changes in law, the $49 billion estimate to fix water infrastructure, and who should be responsible for support with the Wellington floods. Plus, the panel give their hots and nots. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concern from pharmacists over revelations Chemist Warehouse is planning to double its sites in the next decade. BusinessDesk reports a confidential briefing for Regulations Minister David Seymour shows it's aiming to have 140 stores. Independent Pharmacy Group Co-founder John Saywell says corporate chains are squeezing out small local chemists. "Bigger and cheaper isn't always better, and in healthcare, it's a good idea to keep the business interests separate from the care and the local owner-operated pharmacists really care for their communities." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concern from pharmacists over revelations Chemist Warehouse is planning to double its sites in the next decade. BusinessDesk reports a confidential briefing for Regulations Minister David Seymour shows it's aiming to have 140 stores. Independent Pharmacy Group Co-founder John Saywell says corporate chains are squeezing out small local chemists. "Bigger and cheaper isn't always better, and in healthcare, it's a good idea to keep the business interests separate from the care and the local owner-operated pharmacists really care for their communities." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What I found more outrageous on the internet yesterday was yet another example of this country's propensity for doling out jobs for the boys and indeed the girls. Every political party does it, every government does it, rewards the party faithful and their generous donors and backers with cushy sinecures. Grafter-in-chief would have to be Trevor Mallard's posting to Dublin – although would it? Because there are plenty of other opportunities to point the finger. Look at Simon Bridges, the ex-National Party leader was appointed as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency, Waka Kotahi, in March 24. There are many, many examples of political cronyism. And in the latest one, a KiwiRail director has quit the board two years early after only a couple of months in the role. That's not the news. What is news is that he was appointed to the board at all given his conflict of interest. Scott O'Donnell is a big player in trucking and freight. And given some of the 10 companies he's involved with supply services to KiwiRail, what on earth was he doing being made a director of KiwiRail? The conflicts required Treasury to put a management plan in place. The conflict of interest mitigation plan contained seven measures to manage conflicts, including recusing himself from board meeting discussions where there was a conflict of interest. It was simply unsustainable. He was being paid to do a job that he simply could not do because of the conflicts of interest. He ended up leaving meetings early and missing agenda items and, you know, became apparent that this wasn't going to work. He'll be stepping down next week and thanked for his service. But he should never ever have been appointed in the first place. So not only are there existing conflicts of interest, he's one of four directors of HW Richardson's Transport Tapunui, which donated $20,000 to New Zealand First in July 2024. The company's also involved in a project that recently received a government regional infrastructure loan, Shane Jones slush fund of $8 million. And then he's appointed by Winston to the board of KiwiRail. It's just another example and it's so common that it barely registered. I mean, I have to give credit to Radio New Zealand who were following this all the way through and BusinessDesk pointing it out going, No, no, no, this isn't good, this isn't right, this doesn't work. Do we have so few people in this country of five million who can do governance jobs and chief executive jobs that we have to accept there'll only be one or two degrees of separation, if that? That there is always going to be a conflict? If you think of the five million of us, how many of us could do a chief executive job or be on a board, take a director's role on a board? Look at the yawning vacancies that we have for our major companies, with a new one with Fonterra now. I mean, Miles Hurrell could walk into about 20 jobs in this country right now, either in sports governance or in business. There are so few people able to do the job. Do we have to accept that there is going to be a conflict of interest in just about every single appointment made? Do more of us have to put up our hands and do the directors' courses so that you can find maybe somebody somewhere who doesn't, hasn't made a donation or hasn't worked or hasn't been a politician who can then do the job? Or are we just simply too small? How we haven't appeared on the dirt list of corruption is beyond me. It shows either a really, really principled closed doors approach to business in this country, being able to separate your different business interests and focus on them solely and leave everything at the door when you go in, or we just haven't uncovered it yet. I'd really love to see an end of the appointments of jobs for the girls and the boys, but then who would do the job when you look at the vacancies that exist right now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What I found more outrageous on the internet yesterday was yet another example of this country's propensity for doling out jobs for the boys and indeed the girls. Every political party does it, every government does it, rewards the party faithful and their generous donors and backers with cushy sinecures. Grafter-in-chief would have to be Trevor Mallard's posting to Dublin – although would it? Because there are plenty of other opportunities to point the finger. Look at Simon Bridges, the ex-National Party leader was appointed as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency, Waka Kotahi, in March 24. There are many, many examples of political cronyism. And in the latest one, a KiwiRail director has quit the board two years early after only a couple of months in the role. That's not the news. What is news is that he was appointed to the board at all given his conflict of interest. Scott O'Donnell is a big player in trucking and freight. And given some of the 10 companies he's involved with supply services to KiwiRail, what on earth was he doing being made a director of KiwiRail? The conflicts required Treasury to put a management plan in place. The conflict of interest mitigation plan contained seven measures to manage conflicts, including recusing himself from board meeting discussions where there was a conflict of interest. It was simply unsustainable. He was being paid to do a job that he simply could not do because of the conflicts of interest. He ended up leaving meetings early and missing agenda items and, you know, became apparent that this wasn't going to work. He'll be stepping down next week and thanked for his service. But he should never ever have been appointed in the first place. So not only are there existing conflicts of interest, he's one of four directors of HW Richardson's Transport Tapunui, which donated $20,000 to New Zealand First in July 2024. The company's also involved in a project that recently received a government regional infrastructure loan, Shane Jones slush fund of $8 million. And then he's appointed by Winston to the board of KiwiRail. It's just another example and it's so common that it barely registered. I mean, I have to give credit to Radio New Zealand who were following this all the way through and BusinessDesk pointing it out going, No, no, no, this isn't good, this isn't right, this doesn't work. Do we have so few people in this country of five million who can do governance jobs and chief executive jobs that we have to accept there'll only be one or two degrees of separation, if that? That there is always going to be a conflict? If you think of the five million of us, how many of us could do a chief executive job or be on a board, take a director's role on a board? Look at the yawning vacancies that we have for our major companies, with a new one with Fonterra now. I mean, Miles Hurrell could walk into about 20 jobs in this country right now, either in sports governance or in business. There are so few people able to do the job. Do we have to accept that there is going to be a conflict of interest in just about every single appointment made? Do more of us have to put up our hands and do the directors' courses so that you can find maybe somebody somewhere who doesn't, hasn't made a donation or hasn't worked or hasn't been a politician who can then do the job? Or are we just simply too small? How we haven't appeared on the dirt list of corruption is beyond me. It shows either a really, really principled closed doors approach to business in this country, being able to separate your different business interests and focus on them solely and leave everything at the door when you go in, or we just haven't uncovered it yet. I'd really love to see an end of the appointments of jobs for the girls and the boys, but then who would do the job when you look at the vacancies that exist right now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dileepa Fonseka is a senior correspondent with BusinessDesk

BusinessDesk’s senior rural journalist says T&G Global’s apples business could grow 80% in the next 10 years as the market for premium fruit grows overseas. The horticulture company has fully funded that growth as forecasts point to demand for premium, branded apples to grow to $52.7 billion by 2035 – a compound annual growth rate of 7.6%.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mercury's achieved a strong return to profit. BusinessDesk says the energy company's half year earnings before interest to December 31- reached $537 million. It recorded a net $20 million dollar profit - up from a $67 million loss last year. Chief executive Stew Hamilton says they're doing well and don't need to raise capital. "We've been disciplined in how we manage our money, how we earn our money and spend it, so we're investing wisely, performing strongly - and I think that gives us options." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mercury's achieved a strong return to profit. BusinessDesk says the energy company's half year earnings before interest to December 31- reached $537 million. It recorded a net $20 million dollar profit - up from a $67 million loss last year. Chief executive Stew Hamilton says they're doing well and don't need to raise capital. "We've been disciplined in how we manage our money, how we earn our money and spend it, so we're investing wisely, performing strongly - and I think that gives us options." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior journalist at BusinessDesk discusses a buoyant start to 2026 for the primary sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How should media handle the mixed messages on the economy as politicians and pressure groups push policy and public opinion? Also: The fall of The House of Du Val, TVNZ's courtroom dramas, unsettling summer weather forecasts, a clickbait debate about summer breaks & a vibecheck for Wellywood. Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website1:11 Summer weather rage-bait6:02 Wellywood premiere rekindles good times - before director warns it could be end times for blockbusters10:18 Media drive debate about anti-productive summer break - all based on social media opinion.13:31 Pre-Christmas economic stats gave a mixed picture of our economy this week, as pundits and pressure groups push policy and public opinion. And that Willis- Richardson right-wing rumble is off.20:55 Maria Slade on her BusinessDesk investigation ‘Fall of the House of Du Val'24:45 Financial state of the media in 202526:40 Judge dismisses Talleys case against TVNZ, which faced another defamation case this week backed by NZME's billionaire director James Grenon.Guests: Maria Slade, property editor at BusinessDeskFollow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcastsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The rural editor at BusinessDesk names his Ag Person of the Year, and he’s gone for Mark Wynne, the former chairman of the Alliance Group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: The story of the rise and fall of the property group Du Val has been hard to look away from. BusinessDesk's property editor, Maria Slade has chronicled the story in a new podcast.

Business as usual for Jetstar, despite Air New Zealand taking a swipe at its airport discounts. Air New Zealand head Nikhil Ravishankar claimed airports are unfairly subsidising the Qantas-owned airline - on our most profitable air routes. BusinessDesk reports Ravishankar says that includes open-ended discounted landing rights and cost cutting deals. Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully says they're just focused on running their own race. "The reality is, we've been trying really hard to make sure that we've got a great value proposition in the New Zealand market - and it's great that more Kiwis are giving us a go." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business as usual for Jetstar, despite Air New Zealand taking a swipe at its airport discounts. Air New Zealand head Nikhil Ravishankar claimed airports are unfairly subsidising the Qantas-owned airline - on our most profitable air routes. BusinessDesk reports Ravishankar says that includes open-ended discounted landing rights and cost cutting deals. Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully says they're just focused on running their own race. "The reality is, we've been trying really hard to make sure that we've got a great value proposition in the New Zealand market - and it's great that more Kiwis are giving us a go." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials warn the $200 million set aside to encourage gas exploration may be too small - with production falling and closure of the ageing Māui field looming. The Government's widening the scope and terms of the commercial co-investment fund. BusinessDesk reports a Cabinet paper released today states the field will stop production, with the rest of the sentence redacted. Resources Minister Shane Jones says he isn't privy to when the closure will happen. "We're suffering a decline in the known reserves from those historically large sites and they're working through the process - it's up to them to identify when it will actually cease." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are signs of green shoots in the economy with several company AGMs showing positive sentiment. The FMA pings accountants, lawyers for misuse of investor certificates. New research lays out who the best professional directors are, while Z Energy has settled in a High Court case brought against it for greenwashing. BusinessDesk editor, Victoria Young

Labour unveiled their first major policy a year out from the 2026 election, and it's prompted mixed reactions from experts. Some have lambasted the proposed New Zealand Future Fund for being light on details, and Labour has yet to confirm which public assets will be managed by this fund. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie offered his take on the proposed idea. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BusinessDesk’s senior rural reporter has been watching the Alliance Group vote, plus we look at his excellent piece on excess capacity in the red meat industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Very real.” That’s how Mark Wynne, chair of Alliance Group, describes the threat of the processor collapsing if the proposed deal with Dawn Meats fails. It is just over a month until the processor’s current farmer-shareholders will vote on what is effectively a $250 million bailout to repay its working capital. We catch up with a senior journalist at BusinessDesk to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has announced wealthy foreigners on a so-called 'golden visa' will be allowed to buy a luxury home in New Zealand once more. Rebecca discusses where the investment from the visas has been going - with two debt funding firms leading the way. And Rebecca will be speaking to Kathryn from Xerocon in Brisbane, 'the coachella for accountants'. She recounts the journey of Xero from a much-beloved product among the accounting sector to an international business with high-profile hires. Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk

Victoria Young is BusinessDesk editor.

BusinessDesk rural journalist on the state of the dairy industry and his recent trip to China with Fonterra (with Henry Acland and Hunter McGregor).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All things politics are discussed in this laser-focused version of The Panel. Today Wallace Chapman is joined by RNZ host of 30 with Guyon, Guyon Espiner and Maria Slade, BusinessDesk journalist.

WorkSafe is given six months to pursue fewer 'novel' prosecutions or face deeper restructuring. A Road of National Significance north of Levin is cut down to two lanes, while Microsoft cuts its global workforce as concerns rise about AI taking jobs. Dileepa Fonseka is a Senior Correspondent with BusinessDesk

Xero's revenue hits the $2 billion mark and market watchers are discussing its potential to hit the US market. The Colorado-based but NZX-listed software company IkeGPS shares have been soaring on the back of optimism about the US economy and why a top economist says New Zealand stands to benefit from moves in China to boost consumption. Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk.

Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk

BusinessDesk's primary sector journalist on another potential wave of dairy conversions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria Slade is BusinessDesk's Property Editor.

The NZX50 index had fallen about 3.7 percent at the close of market today - as Donald Trump's tariffs continue to reverberate globally. It hasn't had a fall of this magnitude since the pandemic. Sharesies Co-CEO Brooke Roberts says it's hard to say how long markets will keep rattling around. "Look, it's unprecedented times in terms of the shock that has happened to the markets at the moment based off the back of the tariffs - and the ripple effect that's happening to economies." BusinessDesk reports Trade Minister Todd McClay says the NZ Embassy in Washington will raise concerns over tariffs to the US trade representative. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victoria goes beyond the supermarkets, discussing a BusinessDesk investigation into the major food suppliers in this country and their use of transfer pricing.

A lot's riding on the Government as it opens the country up to more offshore investment. Representatives of more than 100 foreign entities are in Auckland to eye up potential opportunities at the Infrastructure Investment Summit. The Government's hoping for more project funding and public-private partnerships. Chief Executive with infrastructure investor Morrison, Paul Newfield told Mike Hosking New Zealand needs to be painted as a great place to invest. He says the Government needs to present a multi-decade pipeline, a vision for what infrastructure could be, and a commitment to maintain work over successive governments. Meanwhile, Australian investor Plenary's already confirmed to BusinessDesk it intends to bid on the first stage of the multibillion-dollar Northland Expressway. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland-based Canadian billionaire previously linked to an alternative news venture has taken a substantial holding in media company NZME. NZME owns the NZ Herald, BusinessDesk and Newstalk ZB. E tū negotiator Michael Wood says many are concerned about a potential change in editorial direction. "The concern here is that we clearly have an individual that is highly motivated to take control of a major media entity in New Zealand and who is doing so, quite clearly, with the intent of promulgating a particular political perspective." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's looking more likely that NZ First is on board with the new rules for foreign investors - including a shake-up for overseas buyers of property. New reports claim NZ First is set to agree to allow wealthy people to purchase homes over a certain threshold - it's rumoured to be $5 million. BusinessDesk's Pattrick Smellie explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rebecca Stevenson is a senior markets journalist at BusinessDesk

What are bonds role in today’s unpredictable economic landscape?In this quick bite, Chris Di Leva from Harbour Asset Management & Pattrick Smellie from Businessdesk talk about how bonds can hedge against global growth shocks, plus the shifting dynamics of globalization, trade, and geopolitics. Plus, what is the likelihood that political uncertainty—from Trump’s unpredictability to broader geopolitical risks—could upend markets?This quick bit is from our previous episode 2025: What Investors need to know For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunchShared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand and Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) (collectively referred to as ‘Sharesies’). Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own. Shared Lunch is not personal financial advice and provides general information only. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. We recommend talking to a licensed financial adviser. You should review relevant product disclosure documents before deciding to invest. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. Content is current at the time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How wild could this year get? Businessdesk’s Pattrick Smellie and Chris Di Leva of Harbour Asset Management tell us what we might want to prepare for. U.S. markets are riding high on the promise of deregulation, while China faces structural challenges that could last a decade. Bitcoin has defied expectations to rise beyond $100,000, though concerns remain about crypto (especially meme coins). On the other hand, the AI goldrush is facing hard questions. Plus: why bonds are having a moment, the growing influence of politics on the markets, and what all that could mean for your portfolio planning. For more or to watch on youtube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand and Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) (collectively referred to as ‘Sharesies’). Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own. Shared Lunch is not personal financial advice and provides general information only. We recommend talking to a licensed financial adviser. You should review relevant product disclosure documents before deciding to invest. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. Content is current at the time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 40 jobs are set to be cut at NZME, which runs the NZ Herald, BusinessDesk and Newstalk ZB news operation. Presenter of RNZ's Mediawatch programme Hayden Donnell spoke to Alexa Cook.

Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk. Rebecca discusses public sector job cuts and who is wearing most of the pain. She also talks about the success of the football franchise Auckland FC and the struggles of leading telecommunications company Spark.

BusinessDesk senior correspondent, Dileepa Fonseka. 

BusinessDesk editor Victoria Young talks to Kathryn about how the corporates are measuring emissions and why overall output may not be as useful a measure as emissions intensity. 

Rebecca talks to Paddy Gower about the turmoil on the international sharemarket, US stock markets have recovered slightly after falling sharply on the opening of trading. Concerns about the US economic outlook have provoked the global selloff, with tech shares recording the greatest declines. Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk.