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Tech & Innovation

Investor loans fail to keep Ubco afloat

With the innovative bike maker at the mercy of its bank late last year, shareholders came to the rescue but the necessary new money could not be found.

Tim Hunter Mon, 20 Jan 2025

Tech & Innovation

Investor loans fail to keep Ubco afloat

With the innovative bike maker at the mercy of its bank late last year, shareholders came to the rescue but the necessary new money could not be found.

Tim Hunter Mon, 20 Jan 2025

Du Val entity liquidated with $4.6m tax bill

Liquidated townhouse development entity also made $6.7m in ‘related party’ loans before being wrapped up in late 2021.

Law

Du Val entity liquidated with $4.6m tax bill

Liquidated townhouse development entity also made $6.7m in ‘related party’ loans before being wrapped up in late 2021.

Brent Melville Mon, 20 Jan 2025

Shoeshine

The unstoppable white labelling retail juggernaut rolls

ANALYSIS: White labelling is a global phenomenon, but are there winners and losers?

Shoeshine

The unstoppable white labelling retail juggernaut rolls

ANALYSIS: White labelling is a global phenomenon, but are there winners and losers?

Lachlan Colquhoun Mon, 20 Jan 2025

Investment

Millennium & Copthorne majority owner bids to buy out minorities

Singaporean CDL offers $2.25 for 24% of hotel company it doesn’t already own – well below MCK’s net tangible asset value of $3.36 per share.

Investment

Millennium & Copthorne majority owner bids to buy out minorities

Singaporean CDL offers $2.25 for 24% of hotel company it doesn’t already own – well below MCK’s net tangible asset value of $3.36 per share.

Will Mace Mon, 20 Jan 2025

MARKET MOVEMENTS

Podcast #39: Will TikTok be banned?

Investors keen on next stage of new kingfish farming

Market Outlook

Annual CPI to hit lowest level in nearly four years

Your Business

BossBabe’s skincare brand expands abroad

Morning Brew

First three hostages released to Israel; TikTok goes dark in US

Book Review

The ways of God’s elite business workers

Aviation News

Unanswered questions linger from two aircraft disasters

Shoeshine

The unstoppable white labelling retail juggernaut rolls

Primary Industries

Investors keen on next stage of new kingfish farming

Market Outlook

Annual CPI to hit lowest level in nearly four years

Law

Du Val entity liquidated with $4.6m tax bill

Your Business

BossBabe’s skincare brand expands abroad

Tech & Innovation

Investor loans fail to keep Ubco afloat

Te Ao Māori

Kotahitanga ‘whare’ for Māori might take some building

Property

Williams Corp looks to an IPO in two years

Infrastructure

Capacity contagion expands as Watercare ‘downsizes’ projects

Comings & Goings

Sweeping changes at the Waitangi Tribunal

Primary Industries

Rockit taps shareholders for $20m ahead of mid-year capital raise

Hunter’s Corner

A burn for the Pacific Edge bulls

AT pushes fares up by 5.2% but some commuters could pay less

City’s transport custodian sells another price jump – at more than double consumer inflation levels – as striking a ‘fair balance’ between passengers and ratepayers.

Comings & Goings

Sweeping changes at the Waitangi Tribunal

Half the Waitangi Tribunal has been swapped out as Government looks for ‘right balance’.

Private Bin

Du Val handcuff, tooting Horncastle, court days, being ‘Willised’

Our weekly collection of news bites, hot takes, and gossip around the town.

General Business

Baby City related party deal ‘best outcome,’ liquidator says

The failed company’s assets were sold to a related party of its shareholder the same day it was placed into liquidation.

Featured

Law

Kenyon and Charlotte Clarke in ‘breach’ of freezing orders

Receiver and statutory manager PwC confirms it's now received ‘certain items’ and information from the Du Val founders.

Primary Industries

Rockit taps shareholders for $20m ahead of mid-year capital raise

The ‘snack’ apple company chief executive acknowledges the business has been ‘over complicated’.

Primary Industries

Rockit taps shareholders for $20m ahead of mid-year capital raise

The ‘snack’ apple company chief executive acknowledges the business has been ‘over complicated’.

The NBR Podcast

Podcast #39: Will TikTok be banned?

LISTEN: About one billion TikTokkers worldwide are waiting to see whether the US Supreme Court upholds a ban on the social media site. How did it get to this and what would it mean for Kiwi creators?

The NBR Podcast

Podcast #39: Will TikTok be banned?

LISTEN: About one billion TikTokkers worldwide are waiting to see whether the US Supreme Court upholds a ban on the social media site. How did it get to this and what would it mean for Kiwi creators?

Te Ao Māori

Kotahitanga ‘whare’ for Māori might take some building

It's been promoted by iwi leaders as a framework to help Māori weather the current political and economic storm, but there are still plenty of questions over Te Whare o te Rangatiratanga.

Te Ao Māori

Kotahitanga ‘whare’ for Māori might take some building

It's been promoted by iwi leaders as a framework to help Māori weather the current political and economic storm, but there are still plenty of questions over Te Whare o te Rangatiratanga.

Analysis

Hunter’s Corner

A burn for the Pacific Edge bulls

ANALYSIS: Comments from the biotech’s biggest – and soon to be ex – customer reveal a different perspective on its clinical research.

Tim Hunter Fri, 17 Jan 2025

Underarm

The strange case of the falling Aussie dollar

ANALYSIS: With the currency at five-year lows, economic assumptions for 2025 are being recalibrated, with interest rates (and holiday destinations) at the top of the list.

Lachlan Colquhoun Wed, 15 Jan 2025

Margin Call

Trump 2.0 and the next industrial revolution of AI

ANALYSIS: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, debt ceiling, executive orders, AI and policy directions... It is going to be a very interesting year.

Tim Chesterfield Tue, 14 Jan 2025

Economy Matters

New Zealand’s exports stuck in the past while world races ahead

ANALYSIS: The surprisingly stable nature of the same primary sector commodities in the top exports list decade after decade is a worrying sign.

Hillmarè Schulze Mon, 13 Jan 2025

Investment

Bidding war breaks out for ASX-listed builder AV Jennings

The takeover battle has seen the company’s value double since November.

Lachlan Colquhoun Thu, 16 Jan 2025

Pacific Edge shares tumble after US reimbursement blow

The company admits the Novitas decision is a ‘significant blow’ but says it’s not a knockout.

Fiona Rotherham Mon, 13 Jan 2025

Pacific Edge will need to ‘batten down the hatches’, analyst says

The cancer diagnostics company has gone into a trading halt following an adverse decision on reimbursement of its US bladder tests.

Fiona Rotherham Fri, 10 Jan 2025

Economics

Tame inflation sets scene for another rate cut

Food price inflation settled over 2024, with all eyes on quarterly data next week.

Jonathan Mitchell Thu, 16 Jan 2025

Builders have more spring in their step: NZIER

Survey of business opinion shows confidence rising last quarter, tapered with the reality of weak demand.

Brent Melville Tue, 14 Jan 2025

NZ dollar at two-year lows against the US greenback

Falling interest rates and a strong US economy is weighing on the kiwi.

Nicholas Pointon Fri, 10 Jan 2025

Politics

The Act Party’s ‘accidental politician’

In today's political profile: Getting into politics was not in Laura McClure’s ‘pipeline of dreams’.

Brent Edwards Sun, 12 Jan 2025

Katie Nimon more frustrated than surprised by Parliament

‘You can’t just change stuff overnight without having people involved in the process, but that’s democracy, isn’t it?’ says new MP.

Brent Edwards Sat, 11 Jan 2025

Moving from community action on climate, to political action

‘I want to have grandchildren, but I want them to be able to live on a planet that isn’t attacking them from every angle,’ says the Greens’ Scott Willis in today’s political profile.

Brent Edwards Fri, 10 Jan 2025

Te Ao Māori

Waikato-Tainui’s economic tino rangatiratanga

Tuku Morgan speaks candidly on his bold vision for mana motuhake and why he thinks the current Government is the most racist ever.

Mike McRoberts Sat, 04 Jan 2025

How Māori faced a challenging 2024

The impact on Aotearoa’s cultural and political landscape, and what lessons business can learn for 2025.

Mike McRoberts Wed, 01 Jan 2025

He Toa Rangatira

Celebrating Māori excellence in the New Year’s Honours List.

Mike McRoberts Tue, 31 Dec 2025

Infrastructure

Capacity contagion expands as Watercare ‘downsizes’ projects

Water authority holds back engineering approvals unless residential projects are planned smaller.

Brent Melville Wed, 15 Jan 2025

Environment Court signs off Tauranga port extension, with hooks

The country’s largest port says it might bank on fast-track legislation after a dragged-out, five-year consenting and Environment Court process.

Brent Melville Tue, 17 Dec 2024

Watercare pulls plug on new housing across 21 suburbs

Developers claim a ‘disconnect’ between the city’s overcapacity water providers and council consenting office.

Brent Melville Thu, 12 Dec 2024

Australia

Aussie house prices dip in December as market awaits rate cut

Declining affordability stalls prices but the housing shortage could soon exert upward pressure.

Lachlan Colquhoun Wed, 08 Jan 2025

Joyce vs Aston: the feud between the CEO and Qantas’s main critic

Alan Joyce made an estimated total remuneration of about A$130m from his time with Qantas. Author Joe Aston credits his early achievements but questions his legacy.

Lachlan Colquhoun Fri, 03 Jan 2025

Aussie government budget set for blowout, despite higher revenues

Government spending has spiked, with an election due next year.

Lachlan Colquhoun Wed, 18 Dec 2024

Tech & Innovation

EV maker Ubco in receivership

Business ceases trading as no funding available.

Hamish McNicol Sat, 18 Jan 2025

‘Material uncertainty’ over Connexionz’ going concern status

The USX-listed transport technology firm’s liabilities exceeded assets by $1.5m.

Nicholas Pointon Thu, 16 Jan 2025

Kiwi software company Flintfox acquired by US unicorn

Private equity investor Advent Partners says it made a strong return on investment.

Fiona Rotherham Thu, 16 Jan 2025

General Business

Generation ramps up at Lodestone’s third solar farm

The Bay of Plenty property is the first solar farm to connect directly to Transpower’s national grid.

NBR Staff Wed, 15 Jan 2025

Kiwi Kitchens’ owners owe creditors $5.1 million

Two entities behind Christchurch-based pet food brand were placed into the hands of receivers in early November.

Nicholas Pointon Tue, 14 Jan 2025

Insolvency outlook: ‘Bumpy road ahead’

Company failures have rocketed up, and aren’t expected to slow down any time soon.

Nicholas Pointon Tue, 14 Jan 2025

LISTEN: He’s turned around Tower Insurance, now CEO Blair Turnbull is off to run around an African mountain. He shares his insights on New Zealand’s resilience and the insurance impact of the Californian wildfires.

Simon Shepherd Tue, 14 Jan 2025

Podcast Summer Series: Political editor Brent Edwards

LISTEN: The NBR Podcast’s Summer Series talks to our journalists about 2024’s highs and lows.

Simon Shepherd Thu, 09 Jan 2025

Podcast Summer Series: Brent Melville and Du Val

LISTEN: The NBR Podcast’s Summer Series talks to our journalists about 2024’s highs and lows.

Simon Shepherd Tue, 07 Jan 2025

Finance

Craigs IP in conditional agreement to sell 50% to TA Associates

Private equity behemoth’s VP says the partners may ‘explore strategic M&A opportunities’.

Will Mace Fri, 20 Dec 2024

Mastercard not happy with the Commerce Commission

International payments giant responds to draft decision over lowering fees.

Jonathan Mitchell Thu, 19 Dec 2024

‘Unattractive market’: Govt to loosen listing, KiwiSaver rules

Investing in unlisted assets, dropping PFI requirements, and changing climate-related disclosure thresholds all part of initial changes.

Hamish McNicol Fri, 13 Dec 2024

Law

Fletcher mum on leaky pipes counterclaim

Subsidiary Iplex Australia has sued builder BGC over leaky pipes scandal.

Tim Hunter Wed, 15 Jan 2025

Litigation outlook: Regulators, directors, delays

NBR spoke to 10 litigation partners across seven law firms, to preview the trends and cases to watch in 2025.

Hamish McNicol Thu, 09 Jan 2025

New Zealand’s first white collar criminal

Offending described as ‘unparalleled in the history of the Australian colonies’ exposed weaknesses in New Zealand’s early criminal law.

Tim Hunter Sun, 05 Jan 2025

Professional Services

Accenture NZ profit, bonuses fall as revenue growth slows

Local arm of global consulting giant hit more than $250m in revenue in 2024.

Hamish McNicol Tue, 14 Jan 2025

EY NZ quits restructuring, report reveals

Firm disbanded local restructuring business due to ‘changing market dynamics’.

Hamish McNicol Mon, 02 Dec 2024

Auditors having issues with the basics, FMA says

But annual review finds overall standard of auditing in New Zealand remains strong.

Hamish McNicol Thu, 28 Nov 2024

Primary Industries

Cushings bump up offer for Rural Equities

Takeover sweetened to ‘not shove a lemon down minority shareholders’ throats’.

Tim Hunter Wed, 15 Jan 2025

Fonterra Shareholders' Funds to leave ASX

The fund's units will be solely listed on the NZX.

NBR Staff Wed, 08 Jan 2025

Growers concerned over discovery of fruit fly in Auckland

UPDATE: Controls now in place over movement of fruit and vegetables in Papatoetoe.

NBR Staff Sat, 04 Jan 2025

Retail

‘Independent stores are a dying breed’: NZ’s department stores

Insight from inside the walls of New Zealand’s remaining department stores.

Kate McVicar Wed, 25 Dec 2024

Godfreys NZ liquidators prepared to call in debt collectors

The Godfreys NZ website now sports a banner telling customers to stay tuned and that the company would be back online soon, under new management.

Kate McVicar Wed, 18 Dec 2024

Paper Plus raises capital after covenant breach

Retail co-op issues 584,000 new shares at $1 each.

Kate McVicar Wed, 18 Dec 2024

Property

Williams Corp looks to an IPO in two years

The Christchurch-based developer has its sights set on Auckland, and also on a public listing.

Brent Melville Thu, 16 Jan 2025

$300b mortgage debt ‘tsunami’ due to hit this year

Most borrowers will need to chat to their bank or mortgage broker in coming months, but will likely save about $4b in the process.

Brent Melville Wed, 15 Jan 2025

PMG pitches for Maat syndicate contract

After debt covenant breaches, a forced capital raise, and halted dividends, investors in a Christchurch property are being offered a new management deal.

Tim Hunter Tue, 14 Jan 2025

Deals

Orion Health bought by Canadian AI company Healwell for $200m

Founder and 84% owner Ian McCrae set for big payday but says R&D jobs will stay in New Zealand.

Will Mace Tue, 17 Dec 2024

Government prompts Kiwibank to try to raise $500m

No initial public offering for the bank right now, but maybe later, as Govt acts on Commerce Commission advice on banking sector.

Brent Edwards Mon, 09 Dec 2024

‘Headwinds’ hit Aussie PE and VC activity

In a flat market, the value of the much awaited Canva IPO has also been dialled down from US$40b to US$26b in the last year.

Lachlan Colquhoun Thu, 05 Dec 2024

NBR Focus

Green shoots after Cyclone Gabrielle

WATCH: In this final story, NBR speaks with businesses about growth opportunities in Hawke’s Bay and overseas after Cyclone Gabrielle.

Jonathan Mitchell Fri, 22 Nov 2024

Will the emergency response be better next time?

WATCH: Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell on why the emergency management system needs an overhaul.

Jonathan Mitchell Thu, 21 Nov 2024

Building resilience, spending millions on cyclone recovery

WATCH: Hawke’s Bay businesses are spending big to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle. Are they prepared for the next one?

Jonathan Mitchell Wed, 20 Nov 2024

Featured Listers 2024

Featured NBR Listers 2024: Wi Pere Trust

Representing the 500 or so descendants of the former eastern Māori MP Wi Pere, the trust generates above-average returns from 7000 hectares of hill country and a relatively small 79ha horticulture unit.

NBR Staff Wed, 23 Oct 2024

Featured NBR Lister 2024: Sir Michael Hill

Earlier this year Sir Michael held a private golf tournament at his exclusive golf course, The Hills, to raise money for environmental conservation organisation Southern Lakes Sanctuary.

NBR Staff Tue, 22 Oct 2024

Featured NBR Lister 2024: Jonathan McHardy

With a property portfolio worth more than $140m, McHardy has a 20% stake in New Zealand Pastures.

NBR Staff Mon, 21 Oct 2024

Aviation News

Air New Zealand maintains rating as world’s safest airline

Older fleet keeps Qantas in runner-up position.

Nevil Gibson Thu, 16 Jan 2025

Business jet operators join forces

Operational partnership has no impact on corporate ownership.

Nevil Gibson Thu, 16 Jan 2025

Air New Zealand adds 30th ATR72-600 to domestic fleet

New engine type said to be 3% more fuel efficient than predecessor.

NBR Staff Thu, 16 Jan 2025

Comings & Goings

New Image Group appoints new managing director

Scott Sherriff assumes the role of MD from Alan Stewart, who will continue to serve as director and deputy chair.

Mon, 20 Jan 2025

FMA’s first chief economist resigns

Stuart Johnson was appointed to the newly created role in 2023.

Hamish McNicol Thu, 16 Jan 2025

New Zealand Meat Board appoints CEO

Nick Beeby has been acting CEO since July 2024,

Tue, 14 Jan 2025

Investor loans fail to keep Ubco afloat

Investor loans fail to keep Ubco afloat

Ubco hopes to provide valuation certainty with latest raise

EV maker Ubco in receivership

Du Val entity liquidated with $4.6m tax bill

Du Val entity liquidated with $4.6m tax bill

The unstoppable white labelling retail juggernaut rolls

The unstoppable white labelling retail juggernaut rolls

Millennium & Copthorne majority owner bids to buy out minorities

Millennium & Copthorne majority owner bids to buy out minorities

Investors keen on next stage of new kingfish farming

Annual CPI to hit lowest level in nearly four years

BossBabe’s skincare brand expands abroad

First three hostages released to Israel; TikTok goes dark in US

The ways of God’s elite business workers

Unanswered questions linger from two aircraft disasters

The unstoppable white labelling retail juggernaut rolls

Investors keen on next stage of new kingfish farming

Annual CPI to hit lowest level in nearly four years

Du Val entity liquidated with $4.6m tax bill

BossBabe’s skincare brand expands abroad

Investor loans fail to keep Ubco afloat

Kotahitanga ‘whare’ for Māori might take some building

Williams Corp looks to an IPO in two years

Capacity contagion expands as Watercare ‘downsizes’ projects

Sweeping changes at the Waitangi Tribunal

Rockit taps shareholders for $20m ahead of mid-year capital raise

A burn for the Pacific Edge bulls

AT pushes fares up by 5.2% but some commuters could pay less

Sweeping changes at the Waitangi Tribunal

Du Val handcuff, tooting Horncastle, court days, being ‘Willised’

Baby City related party deal ‘best outcome,’ liquidator says

Kenyon and Charlotte Clarke in ‘breach’ of freezing orders

Rockit taps shareholders for $20m ahead of mid-year capital raise

Rockit taps shareholders for $20m ahead of mid-year capital raise

Podcast #39: Will TikTok be banned?

Podcast #39: Will TikTok be banned?

Kotahitanga ‘whare’ for Māori might take some building

Kotahitanga ‘whare’ for Māori might take some building

A burn for the Pacific Edge bulls

The strange case of the falling Aussie dollar

Trump 2.0 and the next industrial revolution of AI

New Zealand’s exports stuck in the past while world races ahead

Investment

Bidding war breaks out for ASX-listed builder AV Jennings

Pacific Edge shares tumble after US reimbursement blow

Pacific Edge will need to ‘batten down the hatches’, analyst says

Economics

Tame inflation sets scene for another rate cut

Builders have more spring in their step: NZIER

NZ dollar at two-year lows against the US greenback

Politics

The Act Party’s ‘accidental politician’

Katie Nimon more frustrated than surprised by Parliament

Moving from community action on climate, to political action

Te Ao Māori

Waikato-Tainui’s economic tino rangatiratanga

How Māori faced a challenging 2024

He Toa Rangatira

Infrastructure

Capacity contagion expands as Watercare ‘downsizes’ projects

Environment Court signs off Tauranga port extension, with hooks

Watercare pulls plug on new housing across 21 suburbs

Australia

Aussie house prices dip in December as market awaits rate cut

Joyce vs Aston: the feud between the CEO and Qantas’s main critic

Aussie government budget set for blowout, despite higher revenues

Tech & Innovation

EV maker Ubco in receivership

‘Material uncertainty’ over Connexionz’ going concern status

Kiwi software company Flintfox acquired by US unicorn

General Business

Generation ramps up at Lodestone’s third solar farm

Kiwi Kitchens’ owners owe creditors $5.1 million

Insolvency outlook: ‘Bumpy road ahead’

The NBR Podcast

Podcast #38: Outgoing Tower CEO Blair Turnbull

Podcast Summer Series: Political editor Brent Edwards

Podcast Summer Series: Brent Melville and Du Val

Finance