NBR Podcasts

#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.

Weekly Wrap #9: Financial forensics, quake pain, the Irish

This is a wrap of the week's top business stories for the week ending 04 October. For today's top stories, head to NBR.co.nz. Proudly 100% subscriber funded.

Timestamps for this week's content:

(01:14)  Aussie ‘dark companies’ come into the light. For the full article click here.

(6:14) Christchurch is thriving after years of quake pain. For the full article click here.

(14:58) Working from home: no entitlement, plenty of expectation. For the full article click here.

(22:22) NZ needs a strong Kiwibank to challenge Aussies: Jeff Greenslade. For the full article click here.

(31:11) What NZ can learn from Ireland’s approach to infrastructure. For the full article click here.

 

#16: Kiwi music legend Brent Eccles turns 70

In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: As he turns 70, music promoter Brent Eccles reveals why concert ticket prices are so expensive, why Celine Dion is responsible for ‘surge pricing’, how he ended up drumming for iconic Aussie rock band The Angels, and what he thinks of the current line-up of Kiwi musicians.

Timestamps below:

(01:30) - How would you describe the current state of New Zealand music? 

(03:52) - Is that one of the reasons that some international artists aren't coming here?

(8:01) - How did you get into the angels?

(20:35) - What do you think about dynamic pricing?

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 #8: Kingpins, fistfights and HSBC

This is a wrap of the week's top business stories for the week ending 27 September. For today's top stories, head to NBR.co.nz. Proudly 100% subscriber funded.

Timestamps for this week's content:

(01:04)  Bryers’ ‘cunning plan’ likely to end in Aussie jail. For the full article click here.

(6:07) The tortured path of RMA reform. For the full article click here.

(10:05) The cost of not dealing properly with punches to employee’s head. For the full article click here.

(17:44) ‘Relatively robust’: Hard economic landing avoided, HSBC says. For the full article click here.

(29:00) How to become world leaders: the cleantech CEO wishlist. For the full article click here.

 

#15: Solar to the rescue?

In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Soaring energy costs are being blamed for businesses shutting down. Is there a unique solar solution? Is our electricity system really that broken compared to the rest of the world?

Timestamps below:

(00:55) - Inghams' solar powered poultry farm

(04:43) - Power price craziness

(10:28) - The global perspective

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

Links to audio clips used here.

#14: Kiwibank CE won't take every cent off table

In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: What does Kiwibank CEO Steve Jurkovich think of the "cosy pillow fight" in the banking industry? He explains why he would say no to a billion dollars in capital and why a foreign bank could possibly own a slice of our "people's bank".

Timestamps below:

(02:24) - It's been described as an oligopoly.

(4:54) - So how much money does Kiwi bank need to disrupt that cozy pillow fight?

(11:58) - Is there any possibility in your mind that an overseas bank could take a share?

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 #7: Te Reo Māori, climate plan & cybersecurity

This is a wrap of the week's top business stories for the week ending 20 September. For today's top stories, head to NBR.co.nz. Proudly 100% subscriber funded.

Timestamps for this week's content:

(00:27)  Te umanga o te ako i te reo – The business of learning te reo. For the full article click here.

(16:26) Labour says coalition climate plan bad for economy and emissions. For the full article click here.

(28:55) NZ can’t be complacent, says UK Govt’s former cybersecurity head. For the full article click here.

#13: Medicinal cannabis – the green gold rush?

In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Has the green gold rush eventually arrived? The medicinal cannabis industry has struggled ever since it was created but now there's optimism. The stigma around cannabis is down while domestic sales are up. Now, with export regulations also relaxed, can New Zealand green take on the world?

Timestamps below:

(02:27) - Is it a real medical need, or is it a recreational need dressed up as a medical need?

(04:28) - So the word stigma, does that still apply?

(08:35) - What percentage of the market do you think medleaf has? 

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

Links to audio clips used here.

#12: Te Reo Māori's digital future

In this episode of The NBR Podcast: To mark Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori, Māori language week, we ask what is the digital risk to the preservation and revitalisation of the language. Will the advent of AI mean the most digitised iwi will become the dominant story?

Timestamps below:

(01:31) - Learning Te Reo Māori

(11:28) - Can AI speak Te Reo Māori?

(16:16) - Digitising the language 

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

Links to audio clips used here.