Blog

Annual Inflation Dips To 6pc

Blog
Further proving that the economy is cooling, the annual inflation rate has dipped to 6%, down from 7.2% at the start of the year and registering the third consecutive drop in rates since the record peak achieved in the June quarter of 2022. The quarterly inflation rate has meanwhile reached…

Small Business Owners Buckling Under Financial Strain

Blog
A recent Xero Small Business Survey has found that many small business owners are struggling financially to the point of no longer paying themselves to keep their businesses running. The survey was carried out online with 500 small business owner respondents from across the country. The study found that to…

NZ Q2 Business Confidence Rises Slightly

Blog
The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) has released the findings of its quarterly survey that indicate the country’s business confidence improved slightly in June despite the economy still being in recessionary territory. Based on seasonally adjusted figures, 59% of surveyed firms expect the economic conditions to deteriorate, down…

Concerns As More Investors Choose Oil And Gas Projects

Blog
A report from the sustainable finance charity, Mindful Money, found that investment in the fossil fuel industry for the financial year ended in September 2022 has nearly doubled over that year and grown its core businesses by a substantial 80%. KiwiSaver and other retail investment funds were found to be…

ACT Policy on Contractors Comes Under Fire

Blog
ACT party leader, David Seymour, recently announced a proposal to have the Employment Relations Act amended so that independent contractors may not be regarded the same as employees and thus unable to challenge their employment status in court. This proposal comes months after the Employment Court made a judgement in…

New Zealand Slips into Technical Recession

Blog
Statistics NZ has confirmed that the economy contracted in the March quarter by 0.1%, making this the second consecutive quarter when GDP fell. This slim decline puts the country’s economy into a technical recession and reduces the likelihood that the central bank will need to hike interest rates further. This…

Kiwis Brace for Higher Prices on Alcohol

Blog
The government has announced that there will be a 6.65% increase to the alcohol excise tax next month that brewers are warning will lead to higher prices and the possible demise of boutique breweries and wineries. The tax has been increased on an annual basis for more than 30 years,…

Big Firms Urged To Support SMBs Via Prompt Payment

Blog
Xero NZ country manager, Bridget Snelling, has challenged big businesses to shorten their payment times to small businesses to help them overcome the increasingly challenging economic situation and enable the economy to better grow. Her comments at a recent trans-Tasman meeting come shortly after a study done by the Institute…

Government Announces Budget Deficit

Blog
The Labour government is expected to curb spending in its upcoming “no-frills” budget following a larger-than-expected budget deficit forecast. Government coffers are set to take a major hit as plans are made to rebuild infrastructure following recent severe weather events and social welfare assistance is extended to those struggling to…

Commerce Commission Cracks Down on Undue Surcharges

Blog
The Commerce Commission has reportedly raised concerns with many large businesses over their excessive level of surcharges on customers using contactless payment methods. The commission has confirmed that it has written to many large firms on the issue, particularly when it came to those swiping or inserting their debit cards.…