Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor on why the Reserve Bank left the OCR on hold

Hamish Walker: Queenstown real estate agent on the surge in interest from Australian buyers

There's been a spike in the number of wealthy Australians expressing interest in property across the ditch. New reports show there's a surge in interest in homes in and around Queenstown since the Australian budget was released in May. Queenstown real estate agent Hamish Walker says Trade Me and similar property websites are seeing more demand from Aussies than ever - with older buyers especially interested. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Megan Alexander: Robert Half New Zealand managing director on the counteroffer conundrum impacting Kiwi businesses

Counteroffers have become a widespread retention tactic in today’s hiring market, but questions have been raised about its effectiveness. The 2026 Robert Half Salary Guide reveals 95 percent of New Zealand employers extended a counteroffer to employees with external job offers in the past year. Megan Alexander from Robert Half says it's a short-term fix, as a significant percentage of employees still left within 12 months.  "If you don't really understand the real reasons why the person was looking to leave in the first place and you put the band-aid of extra money on it, then it's a very short-term thing." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Matt Cowley: Tauranga Business Chamber CEO on the Bay of Plenty becoming NZ's top-ranked economy

The Bay of Plenty could be seeing the light at the end of the economic tunnel.  ASB's Regional Economic Scoreboard shows the Bay's reclaimed first place after a strong kiwifruit season. Canterbury's runner up, Otago third and the West Coast last. Tauranga Business Chamber chief executive, Matt Cowley, says innovation follows money and there's a lot of innovation in the area.   "Even the construction industry - that's usually our biggest contributor to GDP, so when that takes off...we really will be sailing." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Shane Solly: Harbour Asset Management expert on the market's response to the US-Iran peace deal

The US and Iran have agreed to a peace deal, and the news has brought some hope into the economy. Oil prices have fallen about 4 percent since the countries announced an agreement to halt hostilities. Brent crude is now trading at US$84 ($143) a barrel, off the back of a similar drop in prices on Friday. Shane Solly from Harbour Asset Management unpacked the market reactions. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Nicola Willis: Finance Minister on what the US-Iran peace deal means for fuel prices and the economy

News of a peace agreement to be signed this between Iran and the US is prompting optimism about fuel prices and the global economy, but the Finance Minister is staying cautious. Both sides have agreed a deal, to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday - and it's understood the the Strait of Hormuz will reopen and 60 days of nuclear negotiations will commence. Nicola Willis says there's been breakthroughs followed by backsliding over the last few months as the conflict continued.  "I'm steeled for possibly bad news, but hopeful this is going to stick because we've already seen the global oil price come down pretty significantly as a result, and I'd love to see it keep coming down."  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.