Category: Business

Source: Radio New Zealand

Christmas shoppers won’t be stocking up at NZSale this year.

The site has closed its operations in New Zealand as of Sunday.

Customers will not be able to return items due to having changed their minds but the site said it would still be able to help customers whose items arrived faulty or damaged.

“But exchanges for size, colour, or preference won’t be accepted or possible after this date.”

NZSale offered sales for a limited time, after which stock was brought in from suppliers and sent to customers.

There had been some complaints in recent years about the length of time some deliveries were taking.

It launched in New Zealand in 2009, and operates in Australia as OzSale and Singapore as SingSale.

OzSale has also said it will close its sites and operations, from 27 January next year.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Got questions? RNZ has launched a new podcast, ‘No Stupid Questions‘, with Susan Edmunds.

We’d love to hear more of your questions about money and the economy. You can send through written questions, like these ones, but even better, you can drop us a voice memo to our email questions@rnz.co.nz.

You can also sign up to RNZ’s new money newsletter, ‘Money with Susan Edmunds‘.

My partner and I have been in Australia for a year. We are both 53 and are looking to stay a few years before returning home. Could you please tell me when we need to be back so our New Zealand pension is not affected if that is how it works?

There is a residency requirement to get NZ Super in New Zealand.

People who were born before 30 June, 1959 need to live in New Zealand for 10 years since they were 20, including five after 50, to be able to qualify. Younger people need to live here longer – anyone born after 1 July, 1977, needs to have lived here for 20 years.

But in your situation, your time in Australia may be able to be used to help you meet this test.

New Zealand and Australia have a Social Security Agreement that means that people who have lived in either country can use the residence in each of those to qualify.

Ministry of Social Development general manager international, disability and generational policy Harry Fenton said if someone relied on time spent in Australia to meet the residency requirements, they would not be able to qualify for NZ Super until they reach the age of entitlement for Australian Age Pension, which is age 67.

I am wondering if it is risky to invest a lot of your money with one provider even if it is diversified across funds? With my example, I have my KiwiSaver with Simplicity, and I also hold an investment fund with them. I am thinking of moving more money across to Simplicity, but putting it into different investment funds. But I’m wondering if I should be diversifying my provider, as well as diversifying my investment fund?

Greg Bunkall, data director at Morningstar, said there isn’t much point in a typical investor spreading their investments across different providers.

The funds you are investing in are already well diversified across businesses, sectors, different parts of the world and asset classes.

“In Simplicity’s case, their high growth fund has over 1000 individual investments, highlighting its strong diversification. In all cases, however, investors should seek independent financial advice and have an expert plan out how their investments are aligned to their goals and objectives.”

Ana-Marie Lockyer, chief executive at Pie Funds, said New Zealand’s regulatory framework requires robust governance, independent custody and strong operational controls – so if what you’re worried about is the provider failing, the risk is really low.

She said there could be benefits to having one provider, too. “Diversifying across asset classes and investment strategies is essential, but diversifying across providers is not typically necessary, provided the chosen manager has strong governance, independent oversight, and a well-designed investment process.”

I would like to caution people against direct debit payments through their bank accounts. Once you set up a direct debit, the recipient has control of what they take from your account – for ever. You have to go through hoops to avoid this and still it seems they have a lifelong access to your account once a direct debit has been arranged.

The Banking Ombudsman has a guide on its website to direct debits.

It notes that a direct debit is not the same as an automatic payment, which is an instruction from you to your bank to make a regular payment of a fixed amount from your account to someone else’s, either for a specified period or indefinitely.

“A direct debit allows the direct debit initiator to submit a specific amount to be debited from your account on each occasion. The amount can be different each time, and this is why some people find it a handy way to pay the likes of telephone and power bills, which vary from month to month.”

It says you should be able to cancel the direct debit at any time.

“The bank must cancel the direct debit when you tell it to do so, but it will also ask you to notify the direct debit initiator. This is a precaution to prevent the initiator unintentionally continuing to send direct debit instructions to your bank.

“If you cancel a direct debit authority but keep using the initiator’s services, you will have to pay in some other way. Direct debits are merely a method of collecting payments. Banks are not responsible for the underlying contract between you and the initiator.”

Deputy banking ombudsman Sarah Parker said open banking should give customers more options, including full control of the timing of the payment.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Transport software company ERoad slumped to a $144.2 million interim loss after a major accounting write-down in its North American assets, which did not deliver to expectations.

Key numbers for the six months ended September compared with a year ago:

• Net loss $144.2m vs $1.5m loss
• Revenue $99.1m vs $95.9m
• Annualised recurring revenue $178.1m vs $166.7m
• Operating earnings (excluding one-offs) $2.5m vs $4.7m
• Non-cash impairment $134.7m

Leaving aside one-offs, its operating earnings fell 47 percent, which ERoad said was due to lower capitalisation of research and development, and faster amortisation because of a large legacy customer termination in North America.

Last month, ERoad announced it would prioritise its New Zealand and Australian investment, as the North American market did not deliver to expectations, amid strong competition and the impact of tariffs.

Chief executive Mark Heine said he was committed to financial discipline while progressing ERoad to its next phase of growth.

“We’ll keep focusing on what we control: generating cash, delivering for customers, and directing investment where it creates the most value,” he said.

“The opportunity in front of us is significant, and the team is ready to make the most of it.”

Its free cash flow position rose to $6.2m in the period, compared to $0.1m in the same period a year ago.

ERoad said the improvement in annualised recurring revenue reflected growth in the Australian and New Zealand market, which was offset by a decline in North America.

Heine told RNZ the company also saw opportunities in New Zealand, particularly around the move to electronic road user charges.

“The government knows we provide a great service to them – close to a billion dollars last year – without any cost whatsoever when it came to eRUC,” he said.

“They are really interested in our solution, but they’re also consulting with the broader industry, and we’re partaking as part of those industry consultations.”

Heine said ERoad was “really confident” that it was “well positioned” to capitalise.

The company maintained its full-year revenue guidance of between $197m and $203m.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Retirement village operator Oceania Healthcare has made a first-half profit, despite a slight drop in total revenue.

The company’s total unit sales rose 5 percent to 271 units, including 161 care suites and 110 independent living units.

Key numbers for the six months ended September compared with a year ago:

• Net profit: $4.9m vs $17.1m net loss
• Revenue: $131.6m vs $132.6m
• Underlying profit: $41.5m vs $38.6m
• Total assets: $3.04b vs 2.82b
• Interim dividend: nil

Sales at the Auckland-based Franklin complex were strong with 11 villa sales ahead of completion of construction, which was on schedule.

“The early sales success at our Franklin development reflects the growing strength of Oceania’s sales capability, with product design, pricing, and location increasingly aligned to customer demand,” chief executive Suzanne Dvorak said.

“The project illustrates the effectiveness of Oceania’s disciplined approach to development.

“The broader housing market has constrained our residents’ ability to sell their family homes over recent times, acting as a handbrake on sales. However, once the housing market cycle starts to improve, we expect the strong demographic drivers to return to the fore.”

Chair Liz Coutts said Oceania would not pay an interim dividend in line with the policy targeting a payout ratio of between 40 and 60 percent of free cash flow, subject as well to capital and investment requirements.

“Dividend payments are expected to resume when the business achieves positive free cash flow from operations, supporting a return to payment of dividends,” Coutts said.

She said the focus was on reducing debt, increasing sales and cutting costs.

Oceania planned to take an annual $20.4m out of the business from the next financial year, with four divestments expected to release about $40m in capital.

Dvorak said progress had been made to ensure Oceania’s strategy can deliver stronger cash generation, a leaner cost base and with balance sheet improvements.

“We said we’d strengthen sales, improve operational efficiency, and reduce debt. We’re delivering on all three,” Dvorak said.

“That disciplined execution gives us confidence as we move into the second half and beyond.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man whose business sat right next to a half-finished apartment block is still waiting to be paid $30,000, after ageing concrete collapsed and blocked his driveway.

The Epsom Central Apartments Project halted six years ago, after Auckland Council found it had not complied with building consent.

The original partnership, Epsom Central Apartments LP, was put into receivership in 2022, and purchased by Xiao Liu, the director at the time, of a company named Reeheng Limited, in September 2023.

In September 2024, RNZ spoke to community members and business owners who described the building as a “blight on the Epsom landscape“, which at one point attracted rats and squatters.

Since then, Forrest Tan, who owned neighbouring business Just Laptops, said, not much had changed to the building – but he did take Reeheng Ltd to the disputes tribunal.

In 2024, Tan said ageing scaffolding and unsafe pieces of metal had started falling from the building. He said this included steel bars falling into his carpark and skewering a worker’s car.

Tan said his Manukau Rd shop had to close for three months until metal shuttering that was a further fall risk could be removed.

Since then, Tan said he and several affected parties took Reeheng Ltd to the disputes tribunal, but days before the hearing one of the directors got in touch wanting to settle.

“We agreed on a $60k group settlement,” Tan said, “but none of us ever received a cent.”

“Since then we had to each pursue a case individually.”

Tan said his business Just Laptops was awarded $30,000 by the tribunal in a ruling that has been seen by RNZ but there was still no payment.

The ruling ordered Reeheng Ltd to pay Just Laptops by October 17, 2024. A second ruling from July 30, 2025, said the money needed to be paid “immediately”.

“On an undefended basis and what was said today and supplied with the claim form, I have been satisfied Just Laptops is entitled to the loss of profits portion of its claim,” the ruling said.

This covered the loss of income from May 15, 2024 to June 21, 2024, while the shop was closed after a row of formwork for concreting collapsed over the driveway blocking entry, it said.

In August, Tan demolished his building in part to prepare for his rebuild, he said, and in part due to damage caused to the building by the concrete collapse.

“This would be an ideal time to demolish the next door building too if they were willing to act,” he said.

“My site is now clear, open space. I asked one of the directors to pass on the suggestion of demolition but no response.”

Tan said once his building goes up if any demolition for the apartment block did end up happening it would be “extremely difficult”.

“It’s a boundary-to-boundary structure on a busy stretch of road. Removing it safely will be a major challenge. I don’t know how this will end.”

Tan had been planning a new building on his site for years and said he received resource consent approval back in 2020 for a four-storey building.

“Due to skyrocketing costs we’ve had to scale back to three-storeys,” he said.

Lack of progress ‘disheartening’ for local businesses

In the past year, Greenwoods Corner Epsom Business Association president Dominique Bonn, said scaffolding at the site had been largely removed along with the immediate risks to public safety – but no “meaningful” progress seemed to have occurred.

“Local businesses, including Exhibit Beauty, have observed a slow but steady dereliction of the property since construction ceased in 2019. The prolonged abandonment is not merely an eyesore-it actively affects nearby traders, residents, and how people perceive safety and security in our neighbourhood.”

Yvonne Sanders Antiques, who neighboured the site, had been broken into three times since then and there had been a rat infestation tracked directly to the site, he said.

“This lack of progress is hugely disheartening for local business and the wider area, which has so much local charm and character.

“Several stalled developments such as this cast a shadow over the area’s reputation and vitality.

“Greenwoods Corner Epsom Business Association is calling for greater clarity, accountability, and constructive intervention so that communities are not left to bear the long-term consequences of failed or abandoned private developments.”

Reeheng Ltd has been approached by RNZ for comment.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Board directors have a strong sense the economy is improving, amid rising concerns about shareholder activism, while other emerging risks go largely unchecked.

The annual Director Sentiment Survey, by the Institute of Directors (IoD) in association with ASB, indicates 55 percent of directors thought the economy would improve over the next 12 months, compared with 52 percent last year and 28 percent in 2023.

“This is the highest level of optimism about the prospects for the national economy that we have seen since the survey began in 2014,” IOD general manager Guy Beatson said.

“Despite the improved outlook, boards continue to prioritise cost control, cashflow and productivity, reflecting uncertainty about the pace of recover.

“Directors are planning for steady recovery rather than rapid growth, with resilience and operational discipline top of mind.”

ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley said the biggest shift was in the number of of directors expecting the economy to get worse at 18 percent compared with 28 percent last year.

“Most of those people have moved into the neutral camp,” Tuffley said, adding there were two factors driving the improving outlook.

“One is the lagging impact of past and future interest rate declines, which will increasingly support household spending, the housing market and, eventually, construction.

“The other is the good run of export incomes in some key industries, although the fruits of this are likely to be gradual in coming through and concentrated in particular regions rather than felt nationwide.”

Shareholder activism seen increasing

Another emerging concern was an increase in shareholder activism, which was expected to increase over the next two years.

Beatson said 44 percent expected activism to have a moderate or high impact on their boards.

“The expectation of shareholder or member activism differs sharply across organisation types,” Beatson said.

“Directors in local authorities (33 percent), Māori organisations (23 percent), and government organisations (21 percent) anticipate shareholder or member activism having a high impact on their boards over the next two years.

“By contrast, only 9 percent of large private companies, 8 percent of not-for-profits, 9 percent of small companies, and just 2 percent of publicly-listed company directors say the same.”

Beatson said the variation in concern suggested activism was viewed less as a market-driven risk and more as a stakeholder or political dynamic, especially in entities with strong public accountability or partnership obligations.

Risk management

Boards were increasingly confident in their risk management with 69 percent saying their systems were appropriate, though some issues, such as succession planning needed more attention.

“Some emerging risks may not be getting the attention they warrant,” Beatson said.

Only 46 percent of boards regularly reviewed physical climate risks, such as storms or floods.

Just 20 percent monitored modern slavery risks, and privacy oversight remained limited, with 57 percent of directors reviewing data-protection risks.

“It seems awareness is ahead of action at this point, in some of these more recent and fast-moving areas,” Beatson said.

The 2025 Director Sentiment Survey drew on 900 responses from directors representing a cross-section of organisations, while nearly half (46 percent) were the chairs.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The price of butter fell 7.6 percent at Wednesday’s Global Dairy Auction , but what will this mean for the price consumers are paying at the supermarket?

In July, the price of butter had increased about 50 percent over the past year, pushed up by high global dairy prices.

Dairy prices fell for the seventh time in a row at the auction, with butter falling the most, but an agricultural expert told Afternoons, the public wouldn’t see a change in supermarket prices straight away.

The auction falls were partly due to a glut of dairy products as farmers produced more to capitalise on strong prices.

NZX Head Of Dairy Insights Cristina Alvarado said labour costs affected the price of butter in supermarkets, but over time, there should be a fall in butter prices.

“We need to take into account there’s a lot of cost that goes into the local supply chain, including manufacturing, and even though the ingredient itself has dropped internationally it’s only been in the last few months.

“It will take time for them to come through.”

However, Alvarado said if the prices of butter kept dropping there would be a downward pressure that would soon be seen coming through at supermarkets.

Alvarado believed New Zealanders were paying a “fair” price for butter at the supermarket.

“If we had much cheaper product it would bring horrible problems internationally for us as a lot of free trade agreements would be in conflict of that.

“In terms of what you pay for butter I would say we should probably accept it a little bit more to help our economy.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Drug maker AFT Pharmaceuticals has reported a strong first-half result with revenue up a third over the year earlier.

The company best known for its Maxigesic pain medication made a first net half profit compared with a loss the year earlier, with the businesses Australian divison being its largest generator of revenue and profit.

Key numbers for the six months ended September compared with a year ago:

• Net profit $2.7.m vs $2.5m net loss
• Revenue $114.9m vs $86.7m
• Underlying profit $4.7m vs $1.8m loss

“We’re seeing some good, solid growth right across the board,” managing director Dr Hartley Atkinson said.

“We’re starting to get great attraction now in our global expansion, we’re selling in 85 countries around the globe.”

Atkinson said the company was continuing to invest in research and development, which was expected to pay off in the long run.

“Despite our big spend in R&D and on advancing the business, we’ve still got a really good increase – 363 percent increase in profit over the year, which is really driven by higher sales.”

AFT expected second half sales and earnings to be greater than the first half.

He said AFT was on track to deliver a full year operating profit in a range of $20m to $24m and to further advance its multi-year growth strategy.

“We continue to make good progress advancing the development of our international business hubs in markets that share similar characteristics with our highly successful Australasian operations,” he said.

“We expect our business hubs in the United Kingdom and South Africa to begin to contribute to earnings in the second half of the year, validating the potential we see in these markets and our investment in them.

“We meanwhile are seeing continuing strong interest in our development portfolio with an out-licensing agreement for our novel iron therapy secured in China, the worlds’ second largest pharma market after the end of the period. We are excited about the expanding prospects for our company.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Meal-kit company My Food Bag posted a flat half-year profit as it paid down debt, while revenue increased as it picked up more customers.

Key numbers for the half year ended 30th September compared with a year ago:

• Net profit $2.9m vs $3.0m
• Revenue $85.4m vs $82.2m
• Underlying Profit $7.2m vs $7.8m
• Gross margin 48.5% vs 49.8%
• Interim dividend 0.75 cents per share

My Food Bag chair Tony Carter said debt reduction remained an ongoing priority.

“We have successfully lowered net debt over the past 12 months from $9.7m to $5.5m at the end of September 2025,” he said.

The company delivered a slight increase in revenue at $85.4 million, but gross margins fell by 1.4 percent as the company adjusted prices more slowly than the rise in food price inflation, which it said was 4.1 percent for the year ending September 2025.

Carter said the company focused on product quality and customer satisfaction while managing cost pressures carefully.

“While the gross margin reduced year-on-year, it remained relatively stable compared to the second half of FY25,” he said.

Challenging second half expected

Chief executive Mark Winter said the company continued to diversify the offerings of its core meal kits via its My Food Bag and Bargain Box brands, and would expand into new categories.

“Beyond meal kits, we are leveraging the strength of the My Food Bag brand to expand into new categories and occasions, with our ready-made meal range and care package and gift solutions through the My Food Bag Shop attracting incremental active customers,” he said.

Winter expected market conditions to remain challenging throughout the second half of the 2026 financial year, and expected full-year profit to be broadly in line with its 2025 result of $6.3m.

“We are continuing to focus on product quality, customer experience, and operational efficiency, and we are well positioned to continue to grow and deliver to thousands of Kiwi households each week,” Winter said.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Car dealer and financier Turners Automotive posted a record first-half result as its loan book grew strongly, while margins also improved, despite subdued consumer demand.

Key numbers for the six months ended September compared with a year ago:

• Net profit $21.9m vs $19.4m
• Revenue $219.0m vs $208.6m
• Operating earnings $34.1m vs $31m
• Interim dividend 8 cents per share

Auto retail earnings lifted on improved margins on owned stock, and a stronger commercial business.

However, Turners said financing was its biggest growth engine during the first half, with 18 percent year-on-year profit growth, and its loan book growing 13 percent.

“Delivering record profit in a challenging economic environment is a significant achievement,” Turners chair Grant Baker said.

“It reflects the strength of our diversified model and disciplined execution across every part of the business,” he said.

Its insurance business also continued to grow, with premium growth of 10 percent, and stable claims ratios.

The company was also growing its servicing and repairs business, with new partnerships with VTNZ.

Turners said despite expectations of a patchy economic recovery, the company remained well-positioned with its diversified model.

It forecast pre-tax profit of around $60 million, which could result in a full-year dividend of at least 32 cents per share, compared to 29 cents per share last year.

Group chief executive Todd Hunter said Turners had performed “exceptionally well” in the period.

“We’ve strengthened every part of our model, from sourcing and lending quality to capital efficiency,” he said.

“As the economy starts to recover, Turners is well positioned to deliver further record years, underpinned by our brand strength, motivated team, and reliable execution.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand