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.
A former delivery driver who started at HELL Pizza straight out of school has become one of the brand’s youngest franchise owners, taking over the Kāpiti store at just 21 years old.
Satisfaction among SMEs with the Coalition Government has declined for the second consecutive year, according to new research from MYOB.
Entries are now open for the 2026 David Awards, with this year marking a new chapter for the long-running small business awards programme as NZBusiness steps into the role of Official Steward.
When consumers start watching every dollar, many businesses reach for familiar tactics: Bigger discounts, louder promotions and more urgent calls to buy.
As New Zealand businesses enter a new financial year, the economic outlook remains mixed.
A new survey reveals most SME operators are already taking action as Middle East tensions push fuel costs higher.
Over 300 entries mark another milestone year for the 2026 NZ Hi-Tech Awards, with the Gala Dinner set for May in Auckland.
As brands compete for attention in a crowded market, Marvel Experiences is helping businesses reconnect through thoughtful, high-impact real-world moments.
Read the March issue of NZBusiness, focused on intentional growth — with practical insights, expert perspectives, and real-world stories.
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.
Canterbury has claimed the title of New Zealand’s strongest-performing region for the second quarter running according to ASB report.
New data from small business platform Thryv reveals that while AI adoption among New Zealand SMEs is now mainstream, the majority are still struggling to turn experimentation into real productivity gains.
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.
From hyper-growth to near-collapse, Ārepa co-founder Angus Brown shares the hard lessons, tough calls and strategic pivots that helped steer the business through crisis and back toward stability.
Joseph Darby is reshaping investment management and financial advice for goal-driven Kiwis, here’s what he believes it takes to achieve financial freedom.
Payroll changes from 1 April 2026 will affect wages, KiwiSaver contributions, and ACC levies. Shannon Goodwin and Brendan Clough of Baker Tilly Staples Rodway explain what SME owners need to check now to stay compliant and avoid surprises.
Brett Ashley shares four key actions to help business owners and leaders create greater resilience and buoyancy in business teams. Owning or managing a business will provide many challenges but once you have made that decision, the biggest challenge will be understanding your role as a leader. The first question you need to ask yourself is what type of leader do you want to become? I believe that we all have the ability to become effective leaders of people, and that leaders are created, not born. But to be both an effective and successful leader you have to be prepared to commit to a number of personal and organisational beliefs. Firstly, effective leaders need to understand the difference between leading
For many business owners social media has a reputation for being ‘too hard’ and a ‘time-wasting pain’. Christine Westbury is on a mission to change this perception. “We are noticing that businesses who are leveraging social media for story-telling, brand building and employment attraction are standing out among the crowd,” shares Christine Westbury. “The truth is, social media has evolved the way we perceive and learn about businesses. People want to see the humans behind a brand, who they will be working with and the ‘good’ they are doing in the world.” A human-centric approach to social media helps employee recruitment, too. This has been a major headache for many businesses over the past 18+ months and it’s been difficult
Businesses must view digital capabilities and platforms as an investment that strengthens their offering. Damon Kelly explains the how’s and why’s. Technology has rapidly integrated itself into every aspect of our lives these past few years – whether it’s the way we work, order food, shop, or even communicate. New Zealand’s move to digital has been fast-tracked by the pandemic, with every four percent growth in tech sector creating $2.7 billion additional GDP. But what does this new digital wave mean for Kiwi businesses? It means that enhancing your digital capabilities and presence is now even more essential to staying relevant in a competitive market. Large enterprises have always been ahead of the pack when it comes to digital transformations
In finally hosting its annual Event Awards Gala Evening, the NZ Event Association has experienced first-hand the frustration, heartbreak, challenges, and ultimately triumphs faced by its members over the past two years. As the events industry emerges from a long Covid-induced hiatus, the NZEA has announced the winners of its 2021 Awards after its premier gathering finally took place in Napier, more than 15 months and four postponements later. An enthusiastic crowd of nearly 350 event professionals from across the country made the trip to Napier to celebrate the industry’s best. It was a great night out much anticipated after so much disruption for the sector to celebrate excellence, innovation, resilience and evolution in New Zealand’s world-class events industry. The
Hospitality, fashion and luxury retail are at greatest risk as Kiwi consumers reduce non-essential spending, leading companies to rethink their customer propositions and omni-channel offerings. Consumer confidence in New Zealand has taken a hit in 2022, leading consumers to restrict non-essential spending amid some of the world’s highest levels of concern about COVID-19, rising inflation and other global events. The findings are drawn from Boston Consulting Group’s inaugural New Zealand Consumer Sentiment Survey, which is part of the firm’s global consumer sentiment series. Phillip Benedetti (pictured), a BCG managing director and partner and head of the firm’s New Zealand office, said New Zealand consumers showed a higher level of concern than those in most other markets surveyed around the world.
How to Sustain and Strengthen Corporate Culture The pandemic will be remembered as the catalyst to workplace change. It sparked the transition from predominantly office-based work to hybrid work arrangements, causing employers to reimagine fundamental workplace practices. Employees want hybrid work Since the pandemic, employee sentiment has evolved and there is a strong preference for hybrid working. According to ELMO’s Employee Sentiment Index1, only 10% of New Zealand workers want to return to a traditional work environment, with the other 90% wanting varying degrees of a mix of face-to-face and remote working. The new employee experience Pre-pandemic, the employee experience (EX) aimed to cultivate connection, purpose and belonging, but international lockdowns and forced remote working shifted its focus to employee
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Thursday 11 June 2026 | 5:00pm – 7:00pm
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AI is everywhere – but what technology is actually delivering real value for SMEs right now? Join NZBusiness for a panel discussion unpacking all things business tech and AI.
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