Stepping up
Why good governance goes a long way in developing SME directors in a rapidly changing business environment.
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.
Mindsets act as personal default settings. But how do we change our mindset when it’s having a negative impact on our life or business? NZBusiness went to vitality and performance specialist Jo Shortland for some answers. Think of your mindset as an inbuilt factory setting, explains Jo Shortland. But unlike factory settings, our mindset is forever within our control to change. Based in Raglan, Jo is a certified neuroleadership coach who specialises in strengthening mindsets in order to help New Zealand’s sports professionals, business leaders and coaches perform better and succeed through change. In short, Jo knows how to make mindset changes “really stick”. “People all have fixed or growth mindsets,” she explains, “and generally a blend of both. “Fixed
In the first weekend of July, 60 secondary students from across Aotearoa participated in ’Entrepreneurs in Action’ (EIA), a business competition run by Young Enterprise Trust. In teams, the students were mentored by New Zealand businesses and tackled two business challenges that harnessed their innovative thinking to solve real world problems. First, they tackled the “Pūrākau Challenge”, where they pitched their ideas for new businesses that blended Māori pūrākau (traditional stories) with contemporary business. Māori pūrākau are incredible sources of knowledge that are handed down through generations. The teams sought guidance from local experts, engaged with Māori communities and honoured the sacredness of the stories throughout this challenge. The winning team was Team Creative HQ who impressed the judges with
New research into Kiwi businesses and their efforts to deal with modern slavery has found that many are oblivious to the role of forced labour and child labour in their production processes. Even fewer are taking steps to address the issue. The World Vision New Zealand report, Risky Business: A Modern Slavery Risk Profile of New Zealand Businesses, reveals that many businesses don’t know where their products are being made, who is making them, or whether modern slavery is involved. World Vision New Zealand’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, says the research is an indictment of New Zealand’s commitment to human rights and justice. “Most Kiwi businesses have not taken any steps to address modern slavery in their
Waikato-based business growth ecosystem Soda is seeking ambitious female entrepreneurs from Aotearoa New Zealand to apply for RISE UP and be in to win $10,000. Applications for the pre-acceleration programme and seed grant are now open. Soda is passionate about supporting women in business, says CEO Erin Wansbrough. “To start your own business you need a brilliant idea, business acumen, tenacity and dedication. But to succeed you also need external support and money. For female founders, that support and financial backing is often harder to obtain. “We created RISE UP in 2021 to address New Zealand’s entrepreneurship gender imbalance which sits at just 21.6 percent for female-led startups. “While $10,000 in prize money is certainly a drawcard, RISE UP is more than
Buying an online business? Read this before you start looking. There are some key things to look for. In today’s rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape, entrepreneurs are presented with countless opportunities to acquire thriving online businesses. Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or venturing into the realm of online entrepreneurship for the first time, it is crucial to carefully evaluate several factors before finalising any purchase. By opting to buy an existing online business, you can reduce your risk and sidestep the arduous start-up costs and development time typically required to establish a new venture. “Before taking the plunge and buying an online business, there are some key factors to consider,” says Richard O’Brien from the NZ Business for Sale website
The recently launched Brave in Business e-learning series is a new tool to help small business owner-operators to manage and improve their mental wellbeing. On Tuesday May 23rd Spark Business Lab hosted Ginny Andersen (pictured), the Minister of Small Business at Spark City to launch the Brave in Business e-learning series. Made in partnership with MBIE, Spark Business Lab and The Institute of Organisational Psychology, the new tool is designed to support small business owner-operators in managing and improving their mental wellbeing. In today’s challenging and ever-changing landscape where pandemics, inflation and weather events have disrupted businesses, it is crucial for business owners to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing. SME owners can watch these videos to get practical advice,
Upcoming event
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.
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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.
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