The SME Stream

Built around a Richard Branson quote — employees first, customers second — this episode is a deep dive into how to identify, keep, and lead A-grade talent, even in a tight labour market.
You'll learn:
-What actually defines an "A-grader" (and why they'll leave a B-grade environment no matter the market);
-The annual "Keep Test" — would you fight to keep this person, or feel relief if they left?;
-The Goal-Role-Remind leadership framework for keeping any team aligned and engaged;
-What motivates people beyond pay (autonomy, acknowledgement, purpose); and why "catch it quick, catch it small" applies just as much to praise as to problems.
Beer: Behemoth Hophemoth Triple Hazy IPA (10%) & Urbanaught Altamira Bright Double IPA (8%)
Pie: Hangi pies from Blue Rose Café, Sandringham (pork belly, pumpkin/kūmara & more)

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Do you actually need to become the face of your business to grow it?
This week on Make It Happen, we sit down with ⁨@roimatawilkey⁩ founder of @burst digital to unpack how she built a personal brand that has reached more than 200 million people and turned content into a powerful growth channel for her business.
Roi shares how she went from struggling to post consistently to finding repeatable content formats capable of generating millions of views. We break down what actually makes content perform, from hooks and retention to storytelling, testing and knowing when to double down on what works.
We also get into the bigger business case for personal branding: why people buy from people, how showing up consistently builds trust long before someone becomes a customer, and why not every piece of content needs to lead directly to a sale.
Plus, we talk Instagram vs LinkedIn vs TikTok, how to use your analytics to improve your content, where AI fits into your strategy, and why authentic human content could become even more valuable as AI-generated content floods our feeds.
If you’re a business owner looking to build more authority, reach more people and turn your expertise into a brand people know and trust, this episode is for you.
Ready to start building or scale your existing business?
🔗 Book a free strategy call: https://www.makeithappen.org.nz/
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📣 Share this episode with someone getting ready to launch their first product.
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Buying an established business can give you customers, systems and revenue from day one. But how do you know whether the asking price reflects what you’ll actually earn?
On The Prosperity Project, Nadine talks to The Comic Accountant Sam Harith about the checks to make before buying a business. They discuss financial statements, debt, cash flow, the difference between buying assets and shares, and the risks of taking over a franchise or a business whose customers are loyal to its current owner.
They also ask the question every prospective buyer should consider: are you buying a business, or buying yourself a job?
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With the election just weeks away, a new poll gives us a glimpse into how voters feel about one of the major topics this campaign season – tax.
No new taxes for working people. No new taxes full stop. Taxes for capital gains. Tax the rich. Tax inheritance. Tax landowners.
The campaign season’s only just officially begun but it feels like we’ve already been hearing debates about the subject of taxes and levies for a while now.
The latest Ipsos Issues Monitor survey dove deeper into the tax debate, showing about two-thirds of Kiwis would support a wealth tax.
Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political reporter, Ethan Griffiths is with us to break down the numbers.
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.
Host: Chelsea Daniels
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee
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There's a belief New Zealand First's proposal to slash the tax rate for small businesses could make a positive difference to our business landscape.
The party's promising to lower the tax rate from 28% to 20% for firms with turnover under $30 million.
Its estimated cost is about a billion dollars a year.
BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich told Kerre Woodham it would apply to a majority of our businesses.
She says it would need to be researched for implementation, but it's bold and could transform business in New Zealand
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