Best of Business

The recent burst of bad weather and growing concerns about inflation have prompted Kiwis to worry about their insurance premiums going up.
Insurance premiums have dropped back down and more buffers have been built since Cyclone Gabrielle, but concerns have been raised.
NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further.
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Following the market downturn in March as a result of the Iran conflict , things appear to be more hopeful towards the end of April.
The ceasefire caused a significant market rally and the S&P 500 saw a boost as a result.
Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explained further.
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AI seems to be having a positive impact on Kiwi businesses.
A new report from 2degrees and Deloitte suggests small and medium businesses using high levels of AI made around $400,000 more in 2025 than comparable non-users.
Larger businesses averaged around $59.1 million more, with 82% of firms using some form of AI.
2degrees Chief Business Officer Andrew Fairgray told Mike Hosking the ones getting the best results are being disciplined and going deep.
He says they’re not just redesigning existing workflows with the addition of AI, they’re stepping back and looking at what they need to do going forward, and how they can leverage AI as an enabler.
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While most of the world will hold interest rates and wait out the energy shock, Australia and New Zealand are set to lift their rates up.
Both nations are looking to bring down inflation, and the ongoing fuel crisis is set to pose additional economic risks.
HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham explained why this is the case.
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New Zealand and India have signed a landmark FTA - which is set to slash tariffs on Kiwi exports to India.
The agreement will now be examined by Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee before legislation is introduced to bring it into force.
The Country's Jamie Mackay explains how Kiwi farmers will benefit from this arrangement.
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