Forget the AI hype, follow the data
AI is having its “peak hype” moment, but beneath the noise there is a very practical question most New Zealand business owners are asking: Will this actually help my business
AI is having its “peak hype” moment, but beneath the noise there is a very practical question most New Zealand business owners are asking: Will this actually help my business
Most of the AI conversation right now is about what the technology will eventually do for everyone. Not much of it covers what you should actually start doing, this week, to make sure your business can use any of it. Let’s change that.
Setting a big, bold goal feels like strategy. It isn’t. Ryan Sproull explains why picturing success can actually work against you, and what to do instead.
After a punishing economic cycle Kiwi businesses are emerging into something of a stabilisation period. Cautiously optimistic, past the worst, but with operating costs still biting and reinvestment held back. Why the next six months will define the recovery, and what business owners need to be doing in that period.
New data from Employment Hero shows New Zealand’s small and medium business sector continuing to add headcount in May, even as wage growth stalled completely on an annual basis, highlighting a labour market where businesses are growing cautiously rather than competing hard for talent on pay.
New Zealand’s productivity gap with countries like Finland isn’t about effort, it’s about clarity. Elliot Royce argues that as businesses grow, complexity quietly crowds out a shared understanding of what actually creates value, turning productivity into a symptom rather than the real problem.
New Zealand’s small business productivity has flatlined, with the country continuing to trail Australia and the UK, even as Deloitte’s latest CFO survey shows finance leaders remain confident about growing their businesses despite economic uncertainty.
Keynote speaker, educator, author, recording artist and Solo Meo Award winner Julia Grace, has turned her mental health journey into inspiring talks, workshops, and performances across New Zealand and beyond. She’s also made a success of being an entrepreneur in the process.
Turning a dreaded parenting challenge into a science-powered solution, ISpy Nits is making head lice detection accurate, stigma-free, and even fun for kids, and in the process earning Kate Ricketts a well-deserved David Award.
Spacebar Design won Most Innovative Business at The David Awards 2025, also taking out the Supreme Award, recognition that cements its role as a trailblazer in sustainable interior design.
Hair Art & Beauty has established itself as a cornerstone of Christchurch’s beauty landscape for over 25 years.
AI is having its “peak hype” moment, but beneath the noise there is a very practical question most New Zealand business owners are asking: Will this actually help my business […]
Most of the AI conversation right now is about what the technology will eventually do for everyone. Not much of it covers what you should actually start doing, this week, to make sure your business can use any of it. Let's change that.
As New Zealand businesses face mounting productivity pressure, new research from 2degrees shows AI is already delivering measurable gains for SMEs. From streamlining operations to unlocking new growth opportunities, the challenge now is turning early experimentation into lasting business impact.
Full-scale loyalty programmes are expensive, complex and slow to roll out, but a gift card programme can deliver many of the same benefits in a fraction of the time, and customers pay you upfront for the privilege.
When consumers start watching every dollar, many businesses reach for familiar tactics: Bigger discounts, louder promotions and more urgent calls to buy.
As brands compete for attention in a crowded market, Marvel Experiences is helping businesses reconnect through thoughtful, high-impact real-world moments.
As AI changes how customers research and choose brands, traditional marketing is being upended. Auckland’s The Optimisers highlights the rise of AI answers, agent-led recommendations, and the need for “machine legibility” to stay visible and relevant.
Customer loyalty programmes are not just for retail and hospitality. Here's why your service or trade businesses should consider it.
Discover practical tips to build trust through authentic sustainability communication, and examples of businesses leading the way.
An Auckland-based start-up is literally growing a new form of sustainable packaging that could one day replace polystyrene.
A bold pivot to NZ wool has led Autex Acoustics to create Embrace - a regenerative, carbon-negative acoustic wall system reshaping sustainable design.
Aotearoa’s sustainability pioneers are already reshaping our future, and now we need to back them writes Rachel Brown.
As household budgets tighten, food rescue app Foodprint is helping Kiwis save money and reduce waste.
Practical AI insights, Kiwi tech innovators, and the tools helping Kiwi SMEs compete on a global stage. It’s all packed into this special tech issue of NZBusiness.
Thursday 30 July 2026 | 7:00am – 9:00am
📍 Covert Theatre, 51 Mackelvie Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Everyone talks about the importance of business strategy, but what does it actually mean in practice? Strategy trainer Ryan Sproull cuts through the jargon to give SME owners a clear, practical framework for thinking strategically about their business.
Inside the issue
MACSO Founder and CEO Saba Samiei talks to NZBusiness about sensory AI, ethics, and what Kiwi SMEs need to understand before they hand any more of their thinking over to a machine.
While big corporates pour millions into AI and get almost nothing back, small businesses are sitting on an advantage they haven’t noticed yet. The cost of building new products has collapsed, and New Zealand’s SMEs are still using AI to write LinkedIn posts.
Futurist Dave Wild on why pushing back on AI matters more than prompting it well, and what that means for SME leaders.
If you think you can’t get away from AI, you might well be right – a growing number of world leaders are publically grappling with balancing the potential of the technology with the risks it poses to jobs and our wider society. But what about the guard rails around AI – are there any?
From international advertising to architectural interiors, Susannah Matheson, a Founder of Island Interiors, has built a name at the top end of New Zealand’s design scene.
Denise Bellingham launched Go Cover in 1998 after recognising a major gap in the market. Here's her story.
A bold pivot to NZ wool has led Autex Acoustics to create Embrace - a regenerative, carbon-negative acoustic wall system reshaping sustainable design.
New Zealand natural health brand Tracel is taking its wellness mission global, showcasing innovation and transparency at CIIE.
Cleanery is proving that local production can compete globally while dramatically reducing environmental impacts.
Gen Z entrepreneurship isn’t just about tech start-ups or chasing scale. For young Kiwis like Stuart Savage, it’s about creativity, culture, and community – building ventures that carry meaning, craft, and legacy.
A hygienist troubled by the volume of plastic waste in the dental sector, Laura Nixon founded Solid with her husband Adam McConnochie.
Ho Lee and Mark Callan are reinventing Korea’s iconic soju with Jagiya Soju, a carbonated RTD that sold out its first batch in weeks.
In this powerhouse episode, Lilah McDonald sits down with Brianne West, celebrated Founder of Ethique and now the brains behind Incrediballs.
The founder of Got A Gap, a brand-new online platform aimed at filling last-minute appointment gaps for small businesses, shares her vision for a helping businesses with limited marketing budgets.
From international advertising to architectural interiors, Susannah Matheson, a Founder of Island Interiors, has built a name at the top end of New Zealand’s design scene.
Kiwi entrepreneur Greg Chapman has transformed a personal passion project into one of New Zealand’s most trusted bullion businesses.
What started as a Napier bakery’s idea has grown into Lunchonline, delivering 3.3 million school lunches nationwide while supporting local food providers.
Queenstown-based Magic Memories has emerged as the leading global player in the personalised digital experience market. Founder John Wikstrom shares a snapshot from 30 years of business.
With the support of a BNZ scholarship, Christchurch business owner Kerryn Stokes has invested in herself to complete the Icehouse Owner Manager Programme.
New Zealand's longest-running sustainability awards programme is calling for entries, with expanded categories and a direct pathway to a global million-pound prize.
Christchurch's Tait Communications has been named PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year at the 2026 NZ Hi-Tech Awards, capping a record-breaking night for New Zealand's third-largest export sector.
Over 300 entries mark another milestone year for the 2026 NZ Hi-Tech Awards, with the Gala Dinner set for May in Auckland.
New Zealand’s boldest innovators and sustainability leaders have been celebrated at the 2025 Sustainable Business Awards.
Kami co-founders Alliv Samson and Hengjie Wang have been named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year New Zealand 2025.
Setting a big, bold goal feels like strategy. It isn’t. Ryan Sproull explains why picturing success can actually work against you, and what to do instead.
After burnout and a corporate career, Nikki Taylor started her own business at 44, and discovered that midlife isn’t a crisis, but a chance for clarity, on what kind of
A pilot programme’s runaway demand has exposed just how many promising New Zealand startups are being turned away by traditional bank lending.
AI is having its “peak hype” moment, but beneath the noise there is a very practical question most New Zealand business owners are asking: Will this actually help my business run better, or is it just another shiny tech distraction? From where we sit in the Business Systems world, the honest answer is it depends on what you plug the intelligence into. Standalone AI is useful. Integrated AI is where it gets interesting. They can summarise, draft, suggest and search. But without access to the systems that actually run your business, they are a bit like a very clever intern with no context: occasionally useful, often confident, and not always
After a punishing economic cycle Kiwi businesses are emerging into something of a stabilisation period. Cautiously optimistic, past the worst, but with operating costs still biting and reinvestment held back. Why the next six months will define the recovery, and what business owners need to be doing in that period.
New Zealand’s productivity gap with countries like Finland isn’t about effort, it’s about clarity. Elliot Royce argues that as businesses grow, complexity quietly crowds out a shared understanding of what actually creates value, turning productivity into a symptom rather than the real problem.
Inside MOXX Brands, the Kiwi FMCG company growing at 512 percent and rewriting the export playbook in the process.
As New Zealand businesses enter a new financial year, the economic outlook remains mixed.
Joseph Darby is reshaping investment management and financial advice for goal-driven Kiwis, here’s what he believes it takes to achieve financial freedom.
When petrol prices surge, the national conversation usually focuses on motorists. But the real economic risk isn’t the family car, it’s the systems that keep the country moving.
Many successful SMEs rely heavily on their founders, leaving businesses vulnerable if key decisions suddenly can’t be made. Clear governance and succession planning are crucial to protect both the company and the family.
While New Zealand SMEs are up on confidence, Elise Balsillie says this alone is not enough to secure growth, and that credibility is key.
From freeing up time to unlocking data insights, AI isn’t replacing people—it’s helping them work smarter, grow faster, and compete on a whole new level.
Why good governance goes a long way in developing SME directors in a rapidly changing business environment.
The thriving Māori economy and workforce are shaping New Zealand’s future, with professional development, leadership, and Māori values driving transformative opportunities across industries.
If your sustainability training doesn't mention resilience and reconnection, you're doing it wrong. Here are some pointers.
Discover how Spark’s AI Foundations course is equipping New Zealand’s SMEs with the tools and confidence to embrace artificial intelligence.
With the support of a BNZ scholarship, Christchurch business owner Kerryn Stokes has invested in herself to complete the Icehouse Owner Manager Programme.
Why good governance goes a long way in developing SME directors in a rapidly changing business environment.
The thriving Māori economy and workforce are shaping New Zealand’s future, with professional development, leadership, and Māori values driving transformative opportunities across industries.
If your sustainability training doesn't mention resilience and reconnection, you're doing it wrong. Here are some pointers.
Discover how Spark’s AI Foundations course is equipping New Zealand’s SMEs with the tools and confidence to embrace artificial intelligence.
With the support of a BNZ scholarship, Christchurch business owner Kerryn Stokes has invested in herself to complete the Icehouse Owner Manager Programme.
New data from Employment Hero shows New Zealand's small and medium business sector continuing to add headcount in May, even as wage growth stalled completely on an annual basis, highlighting a labour market where businesses are growing cautiously rather than competing hard for talent on pay.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept or a futuristic experiment, it’s here, reshaping the way businesses operate and hire talent.
Stratalign Managing Director Matthew Prestige on how the company is leading the charge on smarter and safer lifting technology as it eyes international growth.
James Stevenson, MD at Grada Recruitment talks navigating economic uncertainty, internal business culture, and what job seekers and businesses need to know for the year ahead.
Recruiting firm: AI can be used to aggregate large sets of data, to support people to be able to be more human-led.
After 13 years of growth, Heart Saver’s Helen and Mike Mander are scaling new heights in 2025 - expanding into training, mental health support, and Australia.
Since equity crowdfunding was given the green light in New Zealand in 2013, PledgeMe’s ‘chief bubble blower’ Anna Guenther has been one of the country’s strongest advocates for the highly successful business fundraising platform.
Wendy Thompson is a highly successful entrepreneur and business owner with ambitious goals and an enviable track record for building brands across the globe.
New data from Employment Hero shows New Zealand’s small and medium business sector continuing to add headcount in May, even as wage growth stalled completely on an annual basis, highlighting
Three decades behind the counter taught pharmacist turned entrepreneur Tim O’Donoghue that patients know exactly what they want. They just rarely get it. Now, with an FDA-listed product live on
As brands compete for attention in a crowded market, Marvel Experiences is helping businesses reconnect through thoughtful, high-impact real-world moments.
Most of the AI conversation right now is about what the technology will eventually do for everyone. Not much of it covers what you should actually start doing, this week,
Discover practical tips to build trust through authentic sustainability communication, and examples of businesses leading the way.
Full-scale loyalty programmes are expensive, complex and slow to roll out, but a gift card programme can deliver many of the same benefits in a fraction of the time, and
As more Kiwi businesses gear up for expansion, KiwiSpan is delivering future-ready commercial builds that go far beyond basic sheds.
CEO Mark Callander shares how 2degrees is supporting SMEs around New Zealand with reliable, cost-effective telco services.
New Zealand natural health brand Tracel is taking its wellness mission global, showcasing innovation and transparency at CIIE.
In today’s hyper-competitive retail landscape, the path to sustainable growth hinges on a critical question: How do you keep customers coming back?
AI is having its “peak hype” moment, but beneath the noise there is a very practical question most New Zealand business owners are asking: Will this actually help my business
Most of the AI conversation right now is about what the technology will eventually do for everyone. Not much of it covers what you should actually start doing, this week, to make sure your business can use any of it. Let’s change that.
Setting a big, bold goal feels like strategy. It isn’t. Ryan Sproull explains why picturing success can actually work against you, and what to do instead.
After a punishing economic cycle Kiwi businesses are emerging into something of a stabilisation period. Cautiously optimistic, past the worst, but with operating costs still biting and reinvestment held back. Why the next six months will define the recovery, and what business owners need to be doing in that period.
New data from Employment Hero shows New Zealand’s small and medium business sector continuing to add headcount in May, even as wage growth stalled completely on an annual basis, highlighting a labour market where businesses are growing cautiously rather than competing hard for talent on pay.
AI is having its “peak hype” moment, but beneath the noise there is a very practical question most New Zealand business owners are asking: Will this actually help my business run better, or is it just another shiny tech distraction? From where we sit in the Business Systems world, the honest answer is it depends on what you plug the intelligence into. Standalone AI is useful. Integrated AI is where it gets interesting. They can summarise, draft, suggest and search. But without access to the systems that actually run your business, they are a bit like a very clever intern with no context: occasionally useful, often confident, and not always
Most of the AI conversation right now is about what the technology will eventually do for everyone. Not much of it covers what you should actually start doing, this week, to make sure your business can use any of it. Let’s change that.
Keynote speaker, educator, author, recording artist and Solo Meo Award winner Julia Grace, has turned her mental health journey into inspiring talks, workshops, and performances across New Zealand and beyond. She’s also made a success of being an entrepreneur in the process.
Setting a big, bold goal feels like strategy. It isn’t. Ryan Sproull explains why picturing success can actually work against you, and what to do instead.
After a punishing economic cycle Kiwi businesses are emerging into something of a stabilisation period. Cautiously optimistic, past the worst, but with operating costs still biting and reinvestment held back. Why the next six months will define the recovery, and what business owners need to be doing in that period.
New data from Employment Hero shows New Zealand’s small and medium business sector continuing to add headcount in May, even as wage growth stalled completely on an annual basis, highlighting a labour market where businesses are growing cautiously rather than competing hard for talent on pay.
Turning a dreaded parenting challenge into a science-powered solution, ISpy Nits is making head lice detection accurate, stigma-free, and even fun for kids, and in the process earning Kate Ricketts a well-deserved David Award.
After burnout and a corporate career, Nikki Taylor started her own business at 44, and discovered that midlife isn’t a crisis, but a chance for clarity, on what kind of work, and life, actually fits.
New Zealand’s productivity gap with countries like Finland isn’t about effort, it’s about clarity. Elliot Royce argues that as businesses grow, complexity quietly crowds out a shared understanding of what actually creates value, turning productivity into a symptom rather than the real problem.
A pilot programme’s runaway demand has exposed just how many promising New Zealand startups are being turned away by traditional bank lending.
New Zealand’s sustainable innovators remain confident about growth, but a new report shows many are struggling to access the capital and conditions needed to actually scale.
New Zealand’s small business productivity has flatlined, with the country continuing to trail Australia and the UK, even as Deloitte’s latest CFO survey shows finance leaders remain confident about growing their businesses despite economic uncertainty.
Solar retailer Lodestone Energy is opening up its “virtual rooftop” solar product to residential and small business customers for the first time, choosing Hawke’s Bay as the launch region for its new EASY Plan.
New Zealand tourism businesses are committed to becoming more sustainable, but new research shows the journey from good intentions to genuine change is anything but straightforward.
Spacebar Design won Most Innovative Business at The David Awards 2025, also taking out the Supreme Award, recognition that cements its role as a trailblazer in sustainable interior design.
New Zealand’s longest-running sustainability awards programme is calling for entries, with expanded categories and a direct pathway to a global million-pound prize.
Kiwibank has become the first New Zealand bank to roll out open banking across all its digital channels for both individual and business customers, delivering most of the data‑sharing capability required by regulators six months ahead of its statutory deadline.
Christchurch’s Tait Communications has been named PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year at the 2026 NZ Hi-Tech Awards, capping a record-breaking night for New Zealand’s third-largest export sector.
Full-scale loyalty programmes are expensive, complex and slow to roll out, but a gift card programme can deliver many of the same benefits in a fraction of the time, and customers pay you upfront for the privilege.
Inside MOXX Brands, the Kiwi FMCG company growing at 512 percent and rewriting the export playbook in the process.
Hawke’s Bay’s Rockit has landed one of China’s most bankable celebrities as its brand ambassador.
Demand for Tapuwae Roa’s Tupu Accelerator keeps climbing, with a new cohort of ten high-growth Māori-founded ventures welcomed for the programme’s third consecutive year.
A new Christchurch start-up wants to turn the security cameras already watching your warehouse into a real-time safety system that spots risk before it becomes an incident.
As New Zealand businesses face mounting productivity pressure, new research from 2degrees shows AI is already delivering measurable gains for SMEs. From streamlining operations to unlocking new growth opportunities, the challenge now is turning early experimentation into lasting business impact.
Acron Plastics, a New Zealand thermoforming manufacturer, had been running as a fully paper-based business before adopting MRPeasy. We sat down with Business & Sales Manager Mark Wong to see how the company uses the system to structure orders, manage purchasing and inventory, and reduce the risk of missed jobs.
West Auckland’s Waitākere College has officially opened a new School of Business, founded and seeded by Just Life Group CEO Tony Falkenstein CNZM, with the goal of producing the country’s next wave of entrepreneurs from communities that have historically been overlooked by corporate New Zealand.
As AI rapidly shifts from experimentation to operational reality, AI start-up founder Dave Howden says the businesses that move first – and rethink how work gets done – will hold the advantage.
A new national productivity programme is aiming to back more than 4,000 Kiwi SMEs into AI adoption. But the most useful lesson for business owners, says ASB’s Ben Speedy, may be the simplest: Think small first.
Three decades behind the counter taught pharmacist turned entrepreneur Tim O’Donoghue that patients know exactly what they want. They just rarely get it. Now, with an FDA-listed product live on Amazon and a 14-strong self-care platform behind it, the Healthtex Co-founder is raising capital through PledgeMe and inviting Kiwi investors into a corner of the global pharmaceutical industry usually reserved for big backers.
Digital and AI experts will share practical strategies to help businesses stay visible and competitive as AI transforms online search and customer behaviour.
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