NBR Podcasts

#23 - Are KiwiSaver funds afraid of failure?

In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Private equity has a reputation for being high-risk, high-reward, but is it where KiwiSaver fund managers should be directing more money? Compared to other countries, we have a tiny amount in private companies. We talk to start up fund Movac which says our KiwiSaver funds are afraid to fail, and to Fisher Funds which has decided to dive in.

Timestamps below:

(01:00) - How does Kiwisaver compare to other countries retirement schemes?

(04:05) - Dipping into the private equity waters

(13:15) - Where to from here?

Links to audio clips used here.

Weekly Wrap #12: Biofeed, migrant exploitation, climate adaptation

This is a wrap of the week's top business stories for the week ending 25 October. For today's top stories, head to NBR.co.nz. Proudly 100% subscriber funded.

Timestamps for this week's content:

(00:52)  Steaming ahead with geothermal innovation. For the full article click here.

(06:30) Is retail’s decline permanent or cyclical?. For the full article click here.

(12:00) First Union fears changes worsen redress for exploited migrants. For the full article click here.

(19:05) Market-led approach best for climate change adaptation: Watts. For the full article click here.

#22: Jonny Hendriksen goes global but stays local

In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Many New Zealanders won’t know who under-the-radar Jonny Hendriksen is, but the successful entrepreneur is building a global company to satisfy the complex content needs of social media. Shuttlerock is targeting $100 million in turnover as it harnesses AI to produce tens of thousands of short video ads across 30 languages for major brands such as BMW and Nestlé. The company has offices around the world – but the headquarters stayed in Nelson. 

 

Timestamps below:

(01:52) - Do you think many Kiwis actually heard of your company?

(08:14) - you describe yourself as a global leader in digital content production in 2021 you told the NBR that you were sort of targeting $100 million in turnover. Where are you at now?

(14:40) -Can you explain to me, what do you have to do to meet that 1% obligation?

 

Links to audio clips used here.

#21 - Testing the new GovGPT chatbot

In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: GovGPT is here! A three-month pilot of the new government chatbot is underway. We road test it with some mixed results and ask Callaghan Innovation's Stefan Korn why the war in Ukraine inspired the project. Plus Arcanum CEO Asa Cox reveals why his AI company is pushing into the Aussie local government sector.

Timestamps below:

(00:53) - The war in Ukraine and the new government chatbot

(06:26) - Taking GovGPT for a spin

(11:31) - The AI future of government

 

To test GovGPT yourself click here.

Links to audio clips used here.

Weekly Wrap #11: Dealmakers, the Supreme Court and a sacred cow

This is a wrap of the week's top business stories for the week ending 18 October. For today's top stories, head to NBR.co.nz. Proudly 100% subscriber funded.

Timestamps for this week's content:

(01:05)  Dealmakers 2024: Murray & Co’s 20-year evolution. For the full article click here.

(10:03) NZ Initiative argues Supreme Court is not staying in its lane. For the full article click here.

(19:00) ‘Don’t do that!’: visiting your sick workers at home. For the full article click here.

(26:16) The property tax regime which became a sacred cow. For the full article click here.

(31:36) Has Greenfern Industries turned over a new leaf? For the full article click here.

 

#20: The godfather of private equity – Ross George

This week NBR focuses on mergers and acquisitions in the series Dealmakers 2024 - to read more head to NBR.co.nz.
This episode of The NBR Podcast talks to major dealmaker and co-founder of Direct Capital, Ross George, about doing 30 years of deals and keeping secrets.

For more independent journalism, and to get early access to the podcast, subscribe to NBR.co.nz.

#19: Mining’s fast track future

In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Mining is back in favour with 11 projects on the Government’s new Fast-Track Approvals Bill. What does that mean for environmental protection measures? We talk to both sides, with a focus on Oceana Gold’s proposal to mine underneath conservation land in the Coromandel.

Timestamps below:

(04:47) - I have spoken to Oceana Gold and they say that this will not lessen their approach to environmental safeguards.

(07:43) - There is the perception that this new process undermines or overrides current environmental protection laws. What do you say to that? 

(11:26) - Does it give a sense there's no point anymore in trying to oppose any of these projects on environmental grounds?

 

For more independent journalism, and to get early access to the podcast, subscribe to NBR.co.nz.

Links to audio clips used here.

Weekly Wrap #10: Treaty debates, rate cuts, and science nerds

This is a wrap of the week's top business stories for the week ending 11 October. For today's top stories, head to NBR.co.nz. Proudly 100% subscriber funded.

Timestamps for this week's content:

(01:02)  The Treaty Principles Bill – debate and debunk. For the full article click here.

(16:55) Finance Minister hopes lower OCR will help government books. For the full article click here.

(28:43) Potentia sets up pistols at dawn showdown with Vista Group. For the full article click here.

(35:21) The science nerds helping drive NZ’s economic growth. For the full article click here.

 

#18: NZ’s ‘Man of Steel’ Robin Davies

In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: NZ Steel chief executive Robin Davies talks about accusations of ‘corporate welfare’ over the $140 million dollar subsidy for the company’s new electric arc furnace. He reveals why the project could remove 200,000 more tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions than first predicted and describes the steel market as similar to the days of the GFC.

Timestamps below:

(01:55) - I want to understand why is the electric arc furnace such a big deal?

(05:40) - To help fund this project, NZ Steel will receive $140 million from the government. Is that correct?  

(8:48) - So the current government has scrapped the giddy fund, as you know, and the ACT Party at the time called it corporate welfare. Do you have an opinion on that? 

(19:05) - What does future demand look like?

For more independent journalism, and to get early access to the podcast, subscribe to NBR.co.nz.

Links to audio clips used here.

 

#17: How to off-peak NZ tourism

In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Our tourism industry bounce back post-Covid is slowing down. So now there's an ambitious plan to kickstart and grow export revenue by $5 billion over five years. It's based on the concept of deseasonlisation: is it possible and what even is that?

Timestamps below:

(03:40) - There is this plan for the next five years, from tourism NZ to grow international tourism by $5 billion over the next five years. Is it doable?

(07:10) - Do you actually have a shoulder season now? 

(8:56) - How hard is it going to be for regions and cities to be able to smooth out that tourist curve if they don't have the assets or they haven't planned for it? 

(14:23) - So where is the biggest competitor?

For more independent journalism, and to get early access to the podcast, subscribe to NBR.co.nz.

Links to audio clips used here.