NBR Podcasts
NBR - National Business Review
Each episode explores issues impacting business & the New Zealand economy. Listen to in-depth interviews with NZ CEOs.
NBR (National Business Review) publishes NZ's leading business and finance podcasts, artificial intelligence, covering market shifts, investment, economics, and corporate leadership.
Episodes feature analysis of New Zealand companies, global markets, government policy, and entrepreneurship.
Our podcast shows include:
The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: in-depth interviews with business leaders.
Weekly Wrap: a video round-up of the week on NBR.
Learn more on NBR.co.nz
NBR (National Business Review) publishes NZ's leading business and finance podcasts, artificial intelligence, covering market shifts, investment, economics, and corporate leadership.
Episodes feature analysis of New Zealand companies, global markets, government policy, and entrepreneurship.
Our podcast shows include:
The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: in-depth interviews with business leaders.
Weekly Wrap: a video round-up of the week on NBR.
Learn more on NBR.co.nz
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 25, 2025 • 24min
The remarkable Jamie Beaton
“Fake pass rates” – that’s how Crimson Education’s Jamie Beaton describes the NCEA. He argues our qualifications need “intensity, ambition, and goal orientation” if New Zealand’s going to compete on the world stage. In a fast-talking episode, we also cover Trump, geo-politics, and whether that $1b unicorn valuation is still valid.
Aug 23, 2025 • 37min
Weekly Wrap: Rakon, illegal tobacco trade, cash rate cuts
For the full uncut interviews and articles:Beehive Banter weekly roundupReserve Bank cut the official cash rate by 25 basis pointsAustralia's high tax on cigarettesHow should employers deal with difficult employeesBattle over the boardroom at electronic parts manufacturer Rakon
Aug 18, 2025 • 18min
NZ's Law Industry – a cross-examination
The law touches all of us, but what do we really know about the people that practise it? In a brand new NBR Focus series, NBR Editor Hamish McNicol reveals how big the sector is, the issues it’s facing, and whether AI-generated legal advice might disrupt this opaque industry.Feedback, story ideas, comments, all welcome – email simon@nbr.co.nzLinks to audio clips used here.
Aug 16, 2025 • 50min
Weekly Wrap: Sluggish economy, WFH, green hydrogen dreams
For the full uncut interviews and articles:Gaza debate, polls, pay equity, the Covid-19 inquiry no-showHouseholds, businesses and the Government wait for the recoveryVictoria’s WFH law unlikely to catch on in New ZealandGreen hydrogen dreams, hot air, Net ZeroKōrero with the Continent: the Māori-French trade roadmap
Aug 11, 2025 • 27min
The Du Val saga – one year on
In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: The story of the collapse of the Du Val Property Group has fascinated listeners. Raided and placed into rare statutory management a year ago, it’s been revealed a whistleblower helped spark the FMA investigation into the group and its colourful founders Kenyon and Charlotte Clarke. So why haven’t they been charged? Feedback, story ideas, comments, all welcome – email simon@nbr.co.nzLinks to audio clips used here.
Aug 4, 2025 • 21min
Zespri’s CEO on a record sales year
In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Jason Te Brake took over as Zespri CEO a year ago, the same year the Kiwifruit marketer broke $5 billion dollars in annual fruit sales. He says it’s now our 10th largest company. But can Zespri keep up that momentum and is it really contemplating selling unlicensed gold kiwifruit grown in China under the Zespri brand?Feedback, story ideas, comments, all welcome – email simon@nbr.co.nzLinks to audio clips used here.
Jul 29, 2025 • 23min
The AI strategy – light touch or wild west?
In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: We’re last cab of the OECD rank to have an AI strategy and it hasn’t been well received by the AI industry. The Government’s ‘light touch’ approach has been labelled as ‘wild west’ and ‘severely lacking’. Innovation Minister Shane Reti defends his new strategy but admits there’s more work to do. Feedback, story ideas, comments, all welcome – email simon@nbr.co.nz
Jul 26, 2025 • 33min
Weekly Wrap: RBA dark arts, free trade breaches, short work weeks
For the full uncut interviews and articles:Coalition Government’s challenge to shift economic perceptionsHow not to breach the NZ-EU free trade agreementThe RBA and the dark art of monetary policyFour-day workweek improves worker wellbeing, new research showsLand lease communities an Australian phenomenon
Jul 21, 2025 • 23min
Wegovy - The economics of weight loss
In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Obesity. Conservatively, it's a two-billion-dollar problem. But the latest weight loss drugs are either here or on their way. Are they everything the marketing says they are? And how will sectors like fast food and medical care cope with this so-called revolution?Feedback, story ideas, comments, all welcome – email simon@nbr.co.nzLinks to audio clips used here.
Jul 19, 2025 • 20min
Weekly Wrap: Data centres, vocational education, China
For the full uncut interviews and articles:The great data centre goldrushGovernment’s last opportunity to address skills training concernsThe tricky business of casual vs permanent part-time employeesNo clear path in Australia’s China dilemma
