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.
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.
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.
EMS says the introduction of the Employment Leave Bill to Parliament marks a long-awaited step toward resolving ongoing issues with New Zealand’s Holidays Act.
While New Zealand SMEs are up on confidence, Elise Balsillie says this alone is not enough to secure growth, and that credibility is key.
MTF Finance Board Chair Mark Darrow will retire at the end of his current term in mid-2026, bringing to a close a six-year tenure at the New Zealand-owned lender.
Discover practical tips to build trust through authentic sustainability communication, and examples of businesses leading the way.
Small business sales in New Zealand climbed to a three-year high at the end of 2025 according to the latest data from Xero.
Nyssa Waters explains where SMEs are missing out on AI gains, and how to turn funding support into measurable business impact.
Expert says designing franchise systems around head office convenience rather than franchisee success is a mistake.
New research commissioned by Experian reveals that 58 percent of New Zealand organisations have experienced a year-on-year increase in fraud losses.
When Simon Squibb visited New Zealand earlier this year, he helped turn a local café worker’s dream into reality – and shared why small businesses, courage and community matter more than ever.
Pattern’s 2026 Marketplace Consumer Report reveals the sector is entering a new phase – and it’s one increasingly defined by global scale rather than local competition.
New Zealand’s economic direction takes centre stage at the New Zealand Economics Forum 2026, themed Big Choices for a Small Nation.
New report speaks to the “emotional tax” end of financial years has on entrepreneurs across the country.
Health and safety experts have criticised the Government’s proposed changes to workplace safety law, warning they will not improve safety outcomes for small businesses.
New Zealand’s angel investment market is showing signs of renewed momentum, according to a new report.
Data from SME travel management provider Corporate Traveller reveals a steady increase in international bookings as travel restrictions ease, with its international air sales now around 65 percent of pre-Covid volume. Corporate Traveller New Zealand’s GM Keeley Alton says the high demand shouldn’t be underestimated, considering the limited flights in and out of New Zealand. “Airline capacity is currently only at about 40 percent, which means there are fewer flight options and subsequently more expensive airfares.” Based on April-May 2022 data, compared to the same period in 2019, domestic airfares are up 16 percent and international airfares are up by almost 60 percent. “Interestingly, this doesn’t seem to be putting off our SME customers who are busy forging international relationships again to help
Research shows that neurodivergent Kiwis in workplaces are at risk of being overlooked, with a third reporting their condition has negatively affected their career advancement. The 2022 New Zealand Workplace Diversity Survey also revealed that it’s likely many people with a neurodiverse condition are masking it in the workplace, with 63 per cent of people who identified as neurodivergent reporting their organisation was unaware of this. Diversity Works New Zealand Head of Research and Development Pete Mercer says another concerning statistic from the annual research was that only 17 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that senior leaders in their organisation were equipped to effectively manage a neurodiverse workforce. Almost half of those surveyed (47 percent) disagreed or
Between December 2021 and June 2022, more than 12,000 Auckland businesses impacted by COVID-19 accessed support through Activate Tāmaki Makaurau, the delivery programme for the Government’s Auckland business support package. Activate Tāmaki Makaurau provided businesses support across four offerings: Advice and planning; implementation; mental health and wellbeing; and business community resources. The $60 million package was announced by the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Small Business in October 2021. It was designed to support Tāmaki Makaurau businesses through the uncertainty and impacts caused by the pandemic, with the region spending more time under COVID-19 restrictions than other parts of New Zealand. Activate Tāmaki Makaurau was administered by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited – supported by MBIE, and in partnership with the
‘Eventing the Future’ and the NZEA NZ Event Awards are scheduled for late July, as those events calendars roar back into action. The NZ Events Association (NZEA) is thrilled to announce its ‘Eventing the Future 2022’ conference is taking place at the Napier War Memorial Centre on 26 and 27 July. Nearly two years in the making, the premier National Events Industry Conference is finally back after multiple postponements forced by Covid restrictions. Initially planned for 2020, the conference has drawn an enthusiastic response as industry figures welcome the chance for an in-person meeting of minds and ideas. Ségolène de Fontenay (pictured below), NZ Events Association General Manager says postponements and cancellations have been all too familiar for those in
The 14th Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF) recently concluded in Sydney with strengthened trans-Tasman commitments in multiple fields.
A recent survey of EMA members showed that 100 percent of responding employers with vacancies were struggling to fill them.
Upcoming event
Thursday 28 May 2026 | 7:00am – 9:30am
📍 New Zealand International Convention Centre, 101 Hobson Street, Auckland
Join us for a practical, insight-led morning exploring how Kiwi businesses are navigating today’s conditions and unlocking new growth opportunities in 2026.
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Read the March issue of NZBusiness, focused on intentional growth — with practical insights, expert perspectives, and real-world stories.
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