open banking nz

Kiwibank flips the switch on open banking for SMEs

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.

Why AI is no longer just a tech conversation

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.

Healthtex kiwi entrepreneurs

The pharmacist who listened

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.

Options-when-selling-a-business

Selling your business? Here’re the options

There are several options when it comes to selling your business. It’s important when deciding your best path to keep in mind your financial and non-financial goals. After all you want the best possible return and outcome for your business, in order to maximise the investment you have made over the years. Here are three options to choose from: 1. Selling your business privately This will often provide the best return, especially if there is a strategic reason for someone purchasing your business. It pays to ensure the buyer is genuine and committed to going through with the purchase. Watch for competitors disguised as ‘buyers’. They may just use the opportunity for gathering valuable knowledge on your business systems and your

Andrew Barnes sml

30-plus companies trial 4-day week across ANZ

A new four-day week pilot is underway, as over 30 companies and almost 1000 workers across Australia and New Zealand get an extra day per week back with no loss of pay. The six-month coordinated trial, run by non-profit 4 Day Week Global, operates off the 100-80-100™ model where workers get 100% of the pay for 80% of the time, in exchange for a commitment to maintaining at least 100% of the output. Participating companies operate across a diverse range of industries, offering services in the manufacturing, fashion, healthcare, real estate, finance, technology, education and PR sectors, to name but a few. In New Zealand the companies include Cook Costello Limited, Haemata Limited, Kowtow Clothing and BVT Engineering Professional Services’

Brett Ashley

How to create business resilience and buoyancy

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

Blackjet

Changing the way businesses think about social media

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

Digital business

Why it’s time for SMBs to go digital

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

NZEA winners sml

Recognising NZ’s top events and event professionals

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