Ever seen a small ‘B’ logo on a product or website? You were probably looking at a certified B Corporation—a business that meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance. Sharesies co-founder and co-CEO Brooke Roberts sits down with Alex Hannant and Mindy Leow from B Lab—the nonprofit network behind B Corp certifications—to discuss the global B Corp movement and why it matters for investors. The conversation covers growing consumer demand for ethical companies, the role of B Co...
May 01, 2024•34 min
Last week on Shared Lunch James Shaw, former Climate Change Minister, joined Pattrick Smellie to talk climate investment. In this quick bite he shares how he sees the global transition to sustainable technologies as one of the most significant investment opportunities we’ve faced, spanning infrastructure, housing, transport, energy, waste management, agriculture, and more. Check out the full episode: 'Ride the wave or be the wave–James Shaw' For more or to watch on youtube—check out http://linkt...
Apr 29, 2024•3 min
In this Kids & Money school holiday episode, Brooke Roberts chats with ZM Drive host Clint Roberts ( no relation! ). Clint hosts The Parenting Hangover podcast, and shares his money experiences as a dad of two young daughters. We find out about growing up Roto-vegas, his DJ side hustle, and how tips from Hamish Blake & co-host Jordan ' How to Dad ' Watson, have informed his family spending habits. As you'd expect from a nationwide drive show host, it's a great chat, with insightful persp...
Apr 23, 2024•26 min
Join Sharesies co-founder Brooke Roberts in this Kids & Money school holiday episode for her conversation with Jamie Beaton, CEO of Crimson Education and NZ Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2023. Jamie shares his inspiring story of getting into top universities like Harvard and Yale and starting Crimson to help other students achieve their academic dreams. Jamie talks about the money lessons he learned from his family, and multiple business ventures, which has helped form his belief of letting...
Apr 21, 2024•33 min
When it comes to climate investing: where are we? Where do we need to be? How will we get there? We ask former Climate Change Minister and co-leader of the Green Party, James Shaw, before he leaves Parliament on May 1. Shaw explains that while much of his job was telling the truth about a bleak subject, he’s buoyed by the ‘astonishing’ amount of money that’s going into so-called green finance globally. And he believes the transition from fossil fuels is the greatest investment opportunity of a l...
Apr 17, 2024•44 min
In this quick bite, Smartshares CEO Anna Scott, explains some of the advantages when it comes to the tax treatment of NZ based exchange-traded-funds. Plus what to consider—including currency exchange—when buying offshore ETFs versus local ‘wrapper’ versions. This is from our previous episode ‘Why invest in ETFs from NZ?’ For more or to watch on youtube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Brought to you by Sharesies, with BusinessDesk. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Shares...
Apr 15, 2024•4 min
There are many advantages to investing in exchange-traded-funds (ETFs), but with so much choice how do you know whether to invest locally or go offshore? We ask these questions and more of Anna Scott the CEO of Smartshares—a fund manager owned by the NZX. We find out about moves to make it easier to invest in NZ infrastructure. Plus basics around ETFs, tax and currency considerations and what sort of Smartshares Bitcoin offering might be on the cards. For more or to watch on youtube—check out ht...
Apr 10, 2024•31 min
In this bonus episode we talk to Aaron Hockley, fund manager of Vital Healthcare Property Trust Fund , which is the only specialist healthcare property fund listed on the NZX. You’ll find how REITs (real estate investment trusts) work and in particular what’s unique to investing in healthcare real estate using this structure. Plus how rising interest rates have impacted property valuations, what Vital Healthcare's doing to mitigate these risks, and its future direction. For more or to watch on y...
Apr 07, 2024•27 min
Investors are seeing through the doom clouds and investing in shares, while the property market is harder to navigate. We talk to independent economist Tony Alexander about investor preferences in the latest Sharesies quarterly Investing Insights Survey , which also shows crypto is edging back in popularity. Tony's pick for interest rates easing is near the end of the year. He thinks any reprieve for property investors, of which there are many sellers, is some way off. And predicts developers se...
Apr 03, 2024•35 min
Being AI, an AI and web-3 specialist, is the latest company to list on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX), and is now available on Sharesies. We sat down with Nyssa Waters, the CEO and co-founder of Being Consultants, and David McDonald, the CEO of Being AI, to find out more about the company, the people behind it, and its ambition for the future. Find out why they believe AI isn’t just another tech bubble waiting to burst, but a present-day reality that we should embrace for its ability to br...
Apr 01, 2024•23 min
NZ’s biggest retailer The Warehouse Group is getting back to basics after writing off Torpedo7, declining sales and plans to exit e-commerce venture TheMarket.com. We talk to acting CFO Celia Mearns following the Red Shed’s half-year results, which it describes as ‘sobering’. Celia shares the challenges of online sales and competing with the likes of Temu. You’ll also find out how the retailer will navigate ongoing headwinds, why the grocery business is a bright spot, and that the ‘everybody get...
Mar 27, 2024•28 min
On our recent episode we caught up with Skellerup's outgoing CEO David Mair. BusinessDesk's Rebecca Stevenson chatted to David about this exceptional growth, which he puts down to a focus on process and continuous improvement driven by the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen / Kaikaku. David also thinks we're too worried about failure, so what's his approach when situations don't work out as intended? This quick bite is from our previous episode: 'Skellerup’s David Mair on leadership and legacy'. For ...
Mar 24, 2024•5 min
Skellerup—the Kiwi icon famous for Red Band gumboots—has gone from financial troubles to a multi-national solving complex tooling and material problems in industry and agriculture. We talk to star CEO, Skellerup’s David Mair about this journey during his nearly 14 years at the helm, and what the future holds when he steps down at the end of this month. David shares his philosophy for leading and the importance of failure, learning by doing and combination of both speed and velocity. Plus the rol...
Mar 20, 2024•34 min
Steven Joyce, former deputy PM & finance minister, shares his candid perspective on the shifting tides of the nation's business environment under the new government. He reflects on the regulatory burdens and the resilience of local businesses. Plus his take on the 'year of changing gear' and the government policy and business confidence that could redefine New Zealand's economic horizons. This quick bite is from our previous episode: 'Changing gears—Steven Joyce on where business is headed'....
Mar 17, 2024•5 min
How will business fare under the coalition government? What’s working? What needs to change? We sit down with entrepreneur, former cabinet minister and newly appointed board member of The Icehouse & Icehouse ventures Steven Joyce to chew over these and more. You’ll learn why he thinks capital markets could be revitalised with more companies listing if there were fewer restrictions, how private-public partnerships might help our infrastructure crisis, and the sectors he thinks will prosper. P...
Mar 13, 2024•39 min
What are the challenges and risks for investment strategies in the age of AI? In this quick bite Guy Thornewill and Mike Taylor from PIE Funds delve into the impact of artificial intelligence on various business sectors. They share cautionary tales, like how AI has disrupted the business model of companies such as Chegg, and provide insights into which sectors could be negatively impacted by AI advancements. The discussion also explores the potential for AI to enhance productivity and equity mar...
Mar 10, 2024•5 min
The rise of US chip maker NVIDIA has been phenomenal as artificial intelligence changes our world. But how long can NVIDIA’s run last and what should retail investors consider when it comes to AI? We put these questions to PIE Funds Head of Global Research Guy Thornewill and PIE Founder and Chief Investment Officer Mike Taylor. This conversation provides perspective on NVIDIA’s business model, the competitors on its heels, who stands to win and lose, and is the stock overvalued? For more or to w...
Mar 06, 2024•36 min
New Zealand's energy landscape is evolving with the integration of wind power alongside thydroelectricity. Meridian Energy CFO discusses the strategic role of wind as an intermittent, yet valuable, renewable resource. With the Harapaki Wind Farm in the Hawke's Bay due for completion later this year, he explains how wind energy is set to relieve pressure on hydro storage. This quick bit is from our previous episode 'Meridian Energy–winds of change' For more or to watch on youtube—check out http:/...
Mar 04, 2024•3 min
We crunch the numbers with Meridian Energy after its half-year earnings results, and find out how it aims to beat its competitors to retail sales as power prices rise. Chief Financial Officer Mike Roan talks about controlling electricity demand with both residential customers and big industry clients to secure the national supply in winter months But bundling products such as broadband as its competitors do, is not part of the plan. Our conversation covers integrating hydro, wind and solar, EV c...
Feb 28, 2024•52 min
As New Zealand navigates the increasingly expensive energy market, Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge shares his insights on future plans for batteries and solar power. BusinessDesk Editor Pattrick Smellie dives into about Contact's 100-megawatt battery project at Glenbrook and the viablity of solar and renewable energy solutions in Aotearoa's unique landscape. This quick bite is from our previous episode: 'Contact Energy's Power Play' For more or to watch on youtube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedl...
Feb 25, 2024•3 min
Why you’ll be paying more for power We find out in our conversation with gentailer Contact Energy off the back of its improved $153m net profit for six months to December 31. CEO Mike Fuge explains why consumer power prices are set to rise above inflation. Ouch! You’ll also hear Mike’s view on the future of gas and why it’s necessary but tricky. Why the aluminum smelter Tiwai Point must remain open. Why there’s more to batteries. And why solar is niche in NZ. For more or to watch on youtube—chec...
Feb 22, 2024•39 min
In this shorter episode of Shared Lunch, Helen Matterson & Sharesies 3EO Leighton Roberts discuss the ongoing company earnings season, why it matters and how NZ differs to the rest of the world. They also highlight some of the recent drama in the New Zealand and U.S. markets, and the extent of volatility this period often brings to share prices, the macro environment and the all encompassing AI trend. For more or to watch on youtube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Brought to you by Sh...
Feb 20, 2024•18 min
What should homebuyers and investors bear in mind over the next 6 months? Tony Alexander highlights insurance hikes and local rate changes and shares his take on upcoming interest rate trends and how the undercurrents of migration and new NZ residents could effect the dynamics of the housing market. This quick bite is from our previous episode 'Investor v 1st home buyer—who’s winning?' For more or to watch on youtube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Brought to you by Sharesies, with Busine...
Feb 18, 2024•3 min
Navigating the twists and turns of the property market continues to be quite a ride. Independent economist Tony Alexander takes us through the drivers of the market trends in early 2024. You’ll hear why Tony thinks the Reserve Bank won’t be raising or easing interest rates later this month, and why he’s extended his prediction on the window that first-home buyers have. This episode has everything from prices, geographic differences, changes to lending, and the predominance of townhouses… ooh and...
Feb 14, 2024•43 min
With a new government we could be looking at an official KiwiSaver review, so what should that entail? Frances Cook speaks with Velocity Financial's Simon O'Neill about what tweaks are needed to the scheme after 16 years on the go. Potential areas could include: Increased financial education Ensuring the scheme's comprehensibility and transparency to its users. The potential for local investments using KiwiSaver funds to boost the New Zealand economy This quick bite is from our previous episode ...
Feb 11, 2024•6 min
Is it a challenge to keep building that KiwiSaver for a first-home deposit or retirement? With KiwiSaver withdrawals continuing to rise, we look at what you can do if you find yourself in a tight spot, and what does a withdrawal, pause or adjusting your contribution entail? Simon O’Neill, financial advisor at Velocity Financial, sets out the options. And why it’s important not to stop and be in the right fund. Plus what to consider when planning for a first-home deposit withdrawal. For more or t...
Feb 07, 2024•40 min
In this quick bite: Turners Group CEO Todd Hunter shares his take on how Kiwis are adapting their car buying habits during tough times. Plus, how are EV's and Hybrids faring in the used car market? And a big challenge for New Zealand to make our aging vehicle fleet greener, where can we look for a solution? This quick bite is from our previous episode: Tina's Turners remains robust in tough times'. For more or to watch on youtube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Brought to you by Sharesies...
Feb 04, 2024•4 min
What does the near-term future look like for NZX 50 newbie Turners Automotive Group? And what’s the cost-of-living squeeze doing to our car buying habits? Turner's CEO Todd Hunter tells us about new sites opening around the country and how the company plans to increase margins by selling more to the public as well as dealers. You’ll find out that NZers are still buying used cars, but less expensive. And that hybrids are still way more popular than EVs. For more or to watch on youtube—check out h...
Jan 31, 2024•19 min
In this quick bite we explore the complex tax landscape for Bitcoin and Bitcoin ETFs in New Zealand. What is the IRD's stance on cryptocurrencies? Lawyer and crypto expert Jeremy Muir gives an overview on Foreign Investment Fund rules, the differences between crypto and share investments, how U.S. ETFs fall under tax scrutiny, and the implications for retail investors. This quick bite is from our previous episode: The new way to invest in Bitcoin For more or to watch on youtube—check out http://...
Jan 28, 2024•5 min
Do you want to have a better understanding of crypto and what new regulated Bitcoin exchange-traded-funds (ETFs) mean for investors? To understand the significance of the Securities & Exchange Commission approval of BTC ETFs, we talk to Bitcoin and crypto legal expert, Jeremy Muir, a partner at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts. We look at the history of Bitcoin, what a spot BTC ETF offers, the tax implications, environmental considerations, which NZ funds are already invested, and the future of cry...
Jan 24, 2024•42 min