The SME Stream Weekly Wrap - 22 May

Mike Atkinson: The worst market for landlords in 50 years

Aspire Property Management's Mike Atkinson discusses tough times for landlords, calling it the worst market in 50 years.  For years the story was rental shortage, rising rents, desperate tenants, but now we’ve got softer rents in some main centres, more townhouses and apartments, and tenants needing affordability. So, the question arises, is it a renter's market, and if so, how long will it last?  And what is the golden number for what percent of your income you should spend on housing?  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The forgotten pension money Kiwis are leaving behind

Could an old job be holding money you’ve forgotten about? In this episode of The Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins speaks to NZBritannia founder Alun Rees-Williams about the UK pension money many Kiwis lose track of after working overseas. Some people discover multiple pension schemes from different jobs, and in rare cases, the amounts can be life-changing. They discuss why these funds are so easy to forget, how UK pensions differ from KiwiSaver, what to consider before transferring money back to New Zealand, and why the worst mistake is simply losing track of what exists. Even if you’ve never worked in the UK, it’s a useful reminder to keep tabs on every retirement account attached to your working life. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Country 05/06/26: Nathan Guy talks to Jamie Mackay

The former Minister for Primary Industries and current NZ Special Ag Trade Envoy, just back in the country, talks about Trump’s latest tariff debacle. Plus we look at the perilous state of the honey industry. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon: Prime Minister says international role is 'super salesman for New Zealand'

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about his Australia trip. Lat week, after it was announced four New Zealand MPs would be banned from China for a year, Australia commented condemning China's decision. Luxon responded saying it was not a matter for Australia to be involved in, but today he stated he was 'appreciative' of the support anyway.  A focus of the trip was economic integration in a 'volatile world', including facilitating infrastructure partnerships. Luxon said "my job on those things is to be like the super salesman for New Zealand, really is how I look at the international part of my job." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Ed McKnight: Interest rates are going up - what should you do?

Interest rates have begun to creep back up.   New Zealand’s largest bank, ANZ, has increased its rates across the board, hiking everything by 20 basis points except the one-year rate, which only increased by 10.  It's rates now start at 4.69% for its six-month “special” and go up to 6.49% for five-year terms.   So how high will they go and what should you do? Ed McKnight joined Jack Tame to offer some advice.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.