NBR | Independent business news, Finance, Investment, Tech, Law

The KiwiSaver fund manager is living up to its intention to lower pricing of its dedicated rental units, now counting 507 completed units in its build-to-rent portfolio.

Law

Kings Quarry boss departs amid acrimonious legal stoush

Alex Semenoff has lost his management job at his family-owned quarry, after concerns over work expenses for overseas travel and safety breaches.

Law

Kings Quarry boss departs amid acrimonious legal stoush

Alex Semenoff has lost his management job at his family-owned quarry, after concerns over work expenses for overseas travel and safety breaches.

General Business

Outgoing MTF chair sees untapped potential for lender

‘Sometimes business requires bravery, and we’ve certainly shown that, and it has paid dividends,’ says Mark Darrow.

General Business

Outgoing MTF chair sees untapped potential for lender

‘Sometimes business requires bravery, and we’ve certainly shown that, and it has paid dividends,’ says Mark Darrow.

Tech & Innovation

How AI is radically changing digital marketing

One Auckland agency believes website traffic is plunging, and websites may eventually become redundant.

Tech & Innovation

How AI is radically changing digital marketing

Analysis

Last Word

Oh, what could have been, as My Food Bag seeks exit

ANALYSIS: Private equity funds will certainly be sniffing round for a cheap dinner.

Calida Stuart-Menteath and Hamish McNicol Fri, 01 May 2026

Hunter’s Corner

The EA is MIA

ANALYSIS: The electricity industry regulator can talk a good game, but its walk is looking lame.

Tim Hunter Fri, 01 May 2026

Edwards on Politics

ETS needs fixing to help cut greenhouse gas emissions

ANALYSIS: The Climate Change Commission warns the Emissions Trading Scheme is failing.

Brent Edwards Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Underarm

Fraudsters drawn to Australia’s property lending honeypot

ANALYSIS: Australian banks could have been scammed for more than A$3b in an industry-wide fraud by criminals using AI to fake documents.

Lachlan Colquhoun Wed, 29 Apr 2026

Investment

NZX50 starts May on a high, climbs 1.3% this week

Fletcher led the index higher as building consents point to increased activity.

Curious News Fri, 01 May 2026

Late surge narrows NZX50’s April decline to 0.1%

KMD Brands posted the sharpest decline in the month as it shed almost half its value.

Curious News Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Woolworths warns of lower profits due to Iran war

Shares in the company fell by 6.6% on the ASX after today’s announcement.

Lachlan Colquhoun Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Economics

RBNZ move to reveal MPC member votes from May welcomed

The decision is a step in the right direction, says Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold.

Jonathan Mitchell Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Business confidence in the dumps as Iran war lingers

ANZ’s monthly measure of firms’ confidence falls, while fuel stocks remain healthy.

Jonathan Mitchell Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Volatile diesel prices put confidence on backburner

NZ Certified Builders chief executive Malcolm Fleming says OCR hikes this year would be a further blow to a struggling economy.

Jonathan Mitchell Fri, 24 Apr 2026

Politics

Shane Jones pleads with MPs over Fisheries Amendment Bill

Whatever happens, a Bill of some sort needs to pass, he says.

Brent Edwards Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Simeon Brown pressures Transpower over its chief executive’s pay

Chair Michele Embling says the remuneration package has been ‘reset’ with the appointment of a new chief executive.

Brent Edwards Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Workers can bargain over pay cuts in new Bill, Minister says

Brooke van Velden expects changes to individual and collective contracts during the transition to the new Employment Leave Bill.

Fiona Rotherham Wed, 29 Apr 2026

Te Ao Māori

Art Fair expands as Māori voices lead

Māori artists anchor Aotearoa Art Fair’s most ambitious year yet, on the floor and across the waterfront.

Mike McRoberts Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Auditor-General concerned over monitoring of Māori initiatives

Weak reporting by the public sector means it can’t clearly demonstrate what progress it is making in improving outcomes for Māori, his office says.

Mike McRoberts Thu, 23 Apr 2026

Kā Rūnaka oppose Santana mine in Central Otago

A collective of four Ngāi Tahu rūnaka has told the fast-track panel the proposal fails to adequately protect the land and environment.

Mike McRoberts Thu, 16 Apr 2026

Primary Industries

Weather emerges as Seeka’s ‘key factor’ for harvest

Coming off a strong season led by kiwifruit, the horticulture and fruit logistics company has shifted into damage limitation mode.

Brent Melville Wed, 15 Apr 2026

Willis told to ask Lactalis about NZ’s investment rules

A paper obtained by NBR shows the Treasury also suggested the French multinational might develop its own milk supply.

Brent Edwards Wed, 08 Apr 2026

BNZ to come up short following Rockit entities' asset sales

BDO has entered agreements to sell assets, but doesn’t expect the bank to recoup the full amount owing to it.

Kate McVicar Mon, 30 Mar 2026

Australia

US private equity firm buys Grant Thornton Australia

The deal will see the Australian firm link with Grant Thornton franchises in the US and Europe.

Lachlan Colquhoun Wed, 29 Apr 2026

Canadian exchange buys ASX rival Cboe

The NZX was reportedly interested in Cboe, and was urged by the NZ Shareholders Association to consider the deal.

Lachlan Colquhoun Thu, 23 Apr 2026

Wealthy Sydney suburb recruits Kiwi bus drivers

Recruits can expect a salary of up to A$120,000 per year, but they could be paying around A$70,000 per year in rent.

Lachlan Colquhoun Mon, 20 Apr 2026

Tech & Innovation

Westie gamers attract US$2.1m for AI-enabled customs assistant

The founders of US-based GingerControl want to help American importers and exporters navigate a minefield of trade and tariff rules.

Will Mace Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Airwallex ‘engaged’ with NZ regulator over compliance issues

Scrutiny by the Department of Internal Affairs follows the Australian regulator ordering an external audit over concerns about money laundering.

Will Mace Wed, 29 Apr 2026

Cleantech startups ‘could have same impact as all NZ’s forests’

The sector’s latest impact report shows that demand for capital is continuing to outstrip supply. NBR talks to Kwetta, Nilo and Shower Canary on their fundraising efforts.

Fiona Rotherham Wed, 22 Apr 2026

Law

Wikeley jailed for contempt in QLD

Australian court imposes prison sentence for the Kiwi businessman’s attempts to subvert orders restraining his pursuit of a fraudulent claim against Sir Owen Glenn.

Tim Hunter Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Waterstone Insolvency’s use of in-house lawyers gets green light

The High Court in Auckland dismissed a claim that the firm’s use of in-house counsel in litigation is unlawful.

Nicholas Pointon Wed, 29 Apr 2026

When things go wrong for high-income earners

BE Employment Law senior associate Tanya Preston on where employers could still be tripped up by new employment laws which came into effect in February.

Fiona Rotherham Tue, 28 Apr 2026

Finance

Green Investment Finance wind-down ‘returns’ over $500m so far

‘We are a required seller, so there will be a discount naturally,’ says Sarah Minhinnick.

Brent Edwards Wed, 22 Apr 2026

Specialist lenders’ book boosted by jump in business loans

Loan applications and approvals are up, says a new report, but impairments are also at their highest levels in five years.

Brent Melville Tue, 31 Mar 2026

BlackBull Markets sounding out investor interest

The Auckland-based trading platform is said to be seeking a dual listing in Australia and New Zealand.

Hamish McNicol Wed, 25 Mar 2026

The NBR Podcast

Podcast #101: Why the $50b ACC fund is sceptical of AI

LISTEN: Chief investment officer David Iverson on lessons learnt from previous AI booms and why he’s a contrarian investor.

Simon Shepherd Tue, 28 Apr 2026

Podcast #100: Simon gets grilled

LISTEN: We celebrate a milestone – making it to 100 episodes! So it's only fair that someone else asks the questions

Simon Shepherd Tue, 21 Apr 2026

Podcast #99: The Accountants – Job losses & AI

LISTEN: The fifth series of NBR's The Accountants series reveals a $2b industry that's finding it tough. So, why are students showing renewed interest in studying the art of numbers?

Simon Shepherd Tue, 14 Apr 2026

General Business

BoE, ECB hold rates steady amid Iran war; Trump threatens Germany

And oil prices reach highest level since 2022 as Strait of Hormuz closure continues.

Jonathan Mitchell Fri, 01 May 2026

Quick Takes of the Week to May 1

In case you missed it: News bites for the week.

NBR Staff Fri, 01 May 2026

Theresa Gattung’s latest project is a new book

The book has the tentative working title of ‘Bird on the Loose’, although her publisher doesn’t know that yet.

Karyn Scherer Fri, 01 May 2026

Deals

‘The time is right’: Why Rangatira offloaded transport firm

Rangatira CEO Mark Dossor says Stuart Drummond Transport has navigated challenging economic conditions with a solid platform to expand.

Jonathan Mitchell Fri, 10 Apr 2026

What newbie non-bank lender Runway plans to do with Lock Finance

The specialist in invoice and receivables finance has been acquired by a company backed by Marko Bogoievski and Jonathan Reid.

Fiona Rotherham Thu, 09 Apr 2026

Making millionaires: PartsTrader deal struck at $650m

Founders of the auto parts marketplace would have had a $73.5 million return after the sale of the company was concluded in February.

Brent Melville Thu, 02 Apr 2026

Tourism

Billionaire Kwek Leng Beng picks The Mayfair

After a failed bid for NZ’s only listed hotel group, the Singaporean hotelier has selected the five-star hotel as the first in the southern hemisphere to join his elite collection.

Brent Melville Mon, 30 Mar 2026

THL shares retrace losses, as Trouchet departs

Share price recovery follows initial hit in the wake of travel and oil price fears on the US/Israel-Iran conflict.

Brent Melville Tue, 03 Mar 2026

Tourism Holdings profits up 17%, opens door to new offer

Company chair signals the motorhome company is open to a revised bid from the Apollo RV founder consortium or ‘other potential bidders’ at above $663m level.

Brent Melville Mon, 23 Feb 2026

Infrastructure

Plug in or unplug; it still costs us, developers say

Auckland lines company Vector has pushed up its network connection cost three-fold over the past four years to more than $25,000 – outstripping the industry average by some margin.

Brent Melville Wed, 29 Apr 2026

Wayne Brown: we don’t need ‘world class’, we need ‘affordable’

Mayor says Auckland needs to get away from ‘gold plating’ rail, highways and bridges while Infrastructure Commission reveals 35% of all projects go over budget.

Brent Melville Thu, 23 Apr 2026

Govt wants ‘yes or no’ advice on infrastructure projects

Cabinet has agreed to changes to the investment management system to develop project fitness assessments and stop wasting ‘tens of millions’ in phantom projects.

Brent Melville Wed, 22 Apr 2026

Property

Nook contracts ‘extremely unusual’, quantity surveyor claims

With more than four decades of construction industry experience, Stuart Roberts believes Nook Homes breached its own contract conditions.

Kate McVicar Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Redwood in conditional deal for dud Senior Trust project

Developer Tony Gapes to seek consent for residential development at Wānaka site.

Tim Hunter Wed, 29 Apr 2026

McLean’s Mansion’s unexplained valuation increase

Farhad Moinfar’s Citadel Capital is hoping to develop the Christchurch heritage building, with $4.9m being raised via a wholesale credit offer.

Nicholas Pointon Wed, 22 Apr 2026

Professional Services

FMA’s ongoing ‘going concern’ concerns

Latest Financial Statements Monitoring Insights report highlights several areas of reporting concerns for the market regulator.

Hamish McNicol Thu, 09 Apr 2026

Lane Neave managing partner retires

He will be replaced by litigation partner Ben Russell.

Hamish McNicol Wed, 01 Apr 2026

New MinterEllisonRuddWatts boss talks up Australian opportunity

Former Vital Healthcare Property Trust CEO Aaron Hockly became the law firm’s head this month.

Hamish McNicol Tue, 31 Mar 2026

NBR Focus

The Accountants 2026: AI could replace people who don’t adopt it

RSM Auckland managing partner Lisa Murphy on struggling sectors, Government investment, the talent market, and a recent merger.

Kate McVicar Fri, 17 Apr 2026

The Accountants 2026: ‘New Zealand needs more Bob Joneses’

McCulloch & Partners partner Greg Munro on the agri sector, competing with AI, and why New Zealand could do with more people like the late Sir Bob.

Kate McVicar Fri, 17 Apr 2026

The Accountants 2026: Acclime searching for acquisitions

Australasia regional director Randolph van der Burgh on the changing role of accountants, and managing the ups and downs.

Hamish McNicol Thu, 16 Apr 2026

Retail

How crashing Pandora’s party helped launch an eight-figure brand

After jewellery retailer Silvermoon went into liquidation, its founder Simon Thwaites came out of ‘semi-retirement’ to rebuild the company he started more than 20 years ago.

Kate McVicar Wed, 29 Apr 2026

The risks of extending the right to make a citizen’s arrest

The proposal could lead to unintended consequences, says BusinessNZ.

Brent Edwards Thu, 12 Mar 2026

The man who helped build Kathmandu and Macpac – then walked away

Alchemy Equipment founder Campbell Junor on working in other people’s operations before building his own.

Kate McVicar Wed, 11 Mar 2026

Luxury Property

Flying the White Heron, Royal Yacht sale, golden visas ramp up

Luxury market picks up, partially on the back of surging international sales, with 15 applications received by international buyers under the so-called ‘golden visa’.

Brent Melville Wed, 29 Apr 2026

Glendowie golden visa, Bayswater watch, what £20k bought in 1967

Offshore buying proves a bright spot in otherwise slow recovery for high-end properties – and as Middle Eastern buyers start looking.

Brent Melville Wed, 25 Mar 2026

First Light’s Hickey sells in Ongaonga, Seselj buys in Herne Bay

‘You wouldn’t want to leave your cell phone at one end of this home’, realtor says.

Brent Melville Wed, 25 Feb 2026

Aviation News

Emirates begins installing Starlink Wi-Fi in its A380 fleet

Carry On: Spirit Airlines rescue, US merger talk ends, more Dreamliner orders.

Nevil Gibson Sat, 02 May 2026

Govt changes civil aviation rules to help farmers use drones

But the aviation industry has concerns that rules may become too relaxed, endangering the public and neighbouring crops.

NBR Staff Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Delta to upgrade business suites on new A350-1000s

Carry On: Dropped routes, Etihad’s China plans, Boeing’s deliveries.

Nevil Gibson Sat, 25 Apr 2026

Energy

Too early to say when Iran ceasefire will lower fuel prices

New Zealand still has adequate supply levels as Easter fuel demand fell due to high prices.

Jonathan Mitchell Thu, 09 Apr 2026

UK oil and gas company makes Taranaki play

The Sunda Energy deal points to renewed offshore interest in New Zealand’s petroleum sector, says the Government.

Mike McRoberts Thu, 09 Apr 2026

Monopoly Watch backs Gull/NPD merger

Submission to Commerce Commission says fuel companies need bulk to compete with Z Energy and BP.

NBR Staff Thu, 09 Apr 2026

Rich List

40 years of the Rich List: the first international list in 2012

In the lead-up to the 40th edition of the Rich List in June, NBR is opening the archives to reproduce some of the best content from the past four decades.

NBR Staff Fri, 01 May 2026

40 years of the Rich List: 2006 Trade Me sale’s 17 millionaires

In the lead-up to the 40th edition of the Rich List in June, NBR is opening the archives to reproduce some of the best content from the past four decades.

NBR Staff Fri, 27 Mar 2026

40 years of the Rich List: Graeme Hart named first billionaire

In the lead-up to the 40th edition of the Rich List in June, NBR is opening the archives to reproduce some of the best content from the past four decades.

NBR Staff Fri, 27 Feb 2026

Marketing & Media

MediaWorks said to be up for sale as it gets back in the black

A report from across the Tasman says the radio broadcaster’s private equity owner is soliciting bids for the business.

NBR Staff Tue, 21 Apr 2026

TVNZ’s interim profit falls as one-off costs bite

The state broadcaster will pay an interim dividend of $1.3m to the Crown.

NBR Staff Fri, 06 Mar 2026

Leaked emails reveal SkyCity breached NBR copyright

The listed casino operator had been distributing PDF copies of NBR articles to staff using just one subscription.

NBR Staff Wed, 21 Jan 2026

Comings & Goings

New chair for MTF Finance

Sturrock Saunders has extensive experience across New Zealand’s automotive and training sectors.

Thu, 23 Apr 2026

Warren and Mahoney establishes new role to lead AI

Brad Sara will lead the development and application of AI across the practice.

Mon, 20 Apr 2026

Sarah Sinclair to join Harmos Horton Lusk

The former MinterEllisonRuddWatts chair joins as a director on July 6.

Mon, 20 Apr 2026

‘Buck stops with ministers’: OIO overruled in dairy farms’ sale

‘Buck stops with ministers’: OIO overruled in dairy farms’ sale

Greenpeace asks whether foreign investment bill puts NZ first

Foreign investment rules unfair to farmers, says top agent

Free News Alerts

Ebos provides more transparency after share price slide

Ebos provides more transparency after share price slide

RBA’s warning light shining ‘bright red’

RBA’s warning light shining ‘bright red’

Accounting tech Zato eyes overseas expansion after rapid growth

Accounting tech Zato eyes overseas expansion after rapid growth

Beyond The Apple Press: The benefit of not being so literal

Act to charge temporary work visa holders an infrastructure fee

How to tweak returns to look clever and earn millions in fees

Your calendar is not the problem – your boundaries are

Featured Video: Art Fair expands as Māori voices lead

After the Raj: How decolonisation set neighbour against neighbour

Beyond The Apple Press: The benefit of not being so literal

‘Buck stops with ministers’: OIO overruled in dairy farms’ sale

Ebos provides more transparency after share price slide

Accounting tech Zato eyes overseas expansion after rapid growth

Oh, what could have been, as My Food Bag seeks exit

RBA’s warning light shining ‘bright red’

Simeon Brown pressures Transpower over its chief executive’s pay

Oh, what could have been, as My Food Bag seeks exit

The EA is MIA

Shane Jones pleads with MPs over Fisheries Amendment Bill

Simplicity’s Reiputa undercuts listed competitor’s BTR pricing

Think tank wants to boost vocational training at schools

Rakon takeover goes unconditional

Zespri licence revenue increases more than 40%

ANZ domestic first-half profit flat, cautions on Iran war

Airwallex reports losses in Australia as AML audit continues

Simplicity’s Reiputa undercuts listed competitor’s BTR pricing

Kings Quarry boss departs amid acrimonious legal stoush

Kings Quarry boss departs amid acrimonious legal stoush

Outgoing MTF chair sees untapped potential for lender

Outgoing MTF chair sees untapped potential for lender

How AI is radically changing digital marketing

How AI is radically changing digital marketing

Art Fair expands as Māori voices lead

Michael Hill CEO: ‘I’m not a patient person’

The Accountants: Full Investigation

The Accountants: Some KPMG staff already using AI agents

The Accountants: Turning EY into a one-stop-shop

The Accountants: PwC and the end of human-only workforces

The Accountants: Deloitte sees AI freeing up 25% of capacity

Conflict: RBNZ discusses impact on inflation

Responding to Trump’s rhetoric – Winston in Washington

Sydney's new airport, Western Sydney International (WSI)

Debate: Economic fallout from the Iran war

Cabinet reshuffle sees Chris Bishop replaced

Dealing with the fuel crisis

Podcast: ‘Unicorn’ Halter rounds up a big raise

A $22b opportunity: businesses push for climate policy stability

Fuel: Willis, not Luxon, is leading the way

No “senseless virtue signalling” signals Peters

Shane Jones on geothermal energy

Inflation pressures and NZ’s fragile economic recovery

RBNZ risks repeating Covid-era mistakes on Iran

Oh, what could have been, as My Food Bag seeks exit

The EA is MIA

ETS needs fixing to help cut greenhouse gas emissions

Fraudsters drawn to Australia’s property lending honeypot

Investment

NZX50 starts May on a high, climbs 1.3% this week

Late surge narrows NZX50’s April decline to 0.1%

Woolworths warns of lower profits due to Iran war

Economics

RBNZ move to reveal MPC member votes from May welcomed

Business confidence in the dumps as Iran war lingers

Volatile diesel prices put confidence on backburner

Politics

Shane Jones pleads with MPs over Fisheries Amendment Bill

Simeon Brown pressures Transpower over its chief executive’s pay

Workers can bargain over pay cuts in new Bill, Minister says

Te Ao Māori

Art Fair expands as Māori voices lead

Auditor-General concerned over monitoring of Māori initiatives

Kā Rūnaka oppose Santana mine in Central Otago