Starlink’s number of New Zealand customers jumped 46 percent last year as it passed Spark to become the country’s largest rural internet provider.

The satellite broadband provider - owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX - increased its Kiwi subscribers from 58,000 to 85,000 in the year to June 30, 2025, according to new reports.

Tech commentator Bill Bennett says Starlink's been gathering momentum over the years, and he saw this growth coming. 

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Starlink’s number of New Zealand customers jumped 46 percent last year as it passed Spark to become the country’s largest rural internet provider.
The satellite broadband provider - owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX - increased its Kiwi subscribers from 58,000 to 85,000 in the year to June 30, 2025, according to new reports.
Tech commentator Bill Bennett says Starlink's been gathering momentum over the years, and he saw this growth coming.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Best of Business is the home of all things business at Newstalk ZB, from morning market updates right through to incisive interviews with New Zealand’s top business leaders and decision makers. 

Whether you’re a small business owner or interested in what’s going on in the Big End of Town, this podcast encompasses the sharpest voices and minds in the world of business.

Best of Business is the home of all things business at Newstalk ZB, from morning market updates right through to incisive interviews with New Zealand’s top business leaders and decision makers. Whether you’re a small business owner or interested in what’s going on in the Big End of Town, this podcast encompasses the sharpest voices and minds in the world of business.

Best of Business is the home of all things business at Newstalk ZB, from morning market updates right through to incisive interviews with New Zealand’s top business leaders and decision makers.

Best of Business

Bill Bennett: tech commentator on the growing popularity of Starlink

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/74699ee8-1eb3-4aeb-8bba-b4780081cbd3/transcript

The US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan both made headlines over their recent moves to lift official cash rates, leaving experts to wonder what could be next.

Investors are wondering if there's a longer hiking cycle to come, especially off the back of the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further.

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The US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan both made headlines over their recent moves to lift official cash rates, leaving experts to wonder what could be next.
Investors are wondering if there's a longer hiking cycle to come, especially off the back of the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further.
LISTEN ABOVE

Shane Solly: Harbour Asset Management expert on whether bond markets are positioned for more interest rate hikes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fc7fed9b-847d-4842-94d8-b4cc007fe9b4/transcript

A former Costco NZ boss is mostly on-board with National's election Foodstuff break-up plan to drive down grocery prices, but he likes some Labour ideas, too.

National and NZ First want to split Pak'n Save from New World and Four Square.

Labour's pledging to split Foodstuffs' and Woolworths' retail and wholesale interests.

Patrick Noone says he'd add some Labour policies to National's.

"The unfair contracts should be ended, I think that's straightforward common sense. Junk fees - banned, that should be done as well. And smaller supermarkets can have guaranteed access to wholesale supply, absolutely." 

LISTEN ABOVE

A former Costco NZ boss is mostly on-board with National's election Foodstuff break-up plan to drive down grocery prices, but he likes some Labour ideas, too.
National and NZ First want to split Pak'n Save from New World and Four Square.
Labour's pledging to split Foodstuffs' and Woolworths' retail and wholesale interests.
Patrick Noone says he'd add some Labour policies to National's.
"The unfair contracts should be ended, I think that's straightforward common sense. Junk fees - banned, that should be done as well. And smaller supermarkets can have guaranteed access to wholesale supply, absolutely."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Patrick Noone: former Costco NZ managing director on Labour and National pledging to make Foodstuffs changes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b9386417-32ed-46cc-9732-b4cc0061dcd6/transcript

The supermarket competition debate continues on, with National indicating they'll make changes if re-elected.

The party's proposing to increase competition by splitting Pak'nSave from New World and Four Square - as long as the Commerce Commission agrees.

Kai Co founder and operations director Ethan Vickery says it's hard to tell how this proposed change will impact Kiwi consumers.

"It's really complicated, but I think you have to look at it and be like - why is New World's everyday prices more expensive than Pak'nSave's? Why is Four Square's everyday prices more expensive than New World's? And yet, they all buy from the same DC and they're all part of the same co-op." 

LISTEN ABOVE

The supermarket competition debate continues on, with National indicating they'll make changes if re-elected.
The party's proposing to increase competition by splitting Pak'nSave from New World and Four Square - as long as the Commerce Commission agrees.
Kai Co founder and operations director Ethan Vickery says it's hard to tell how this proposed change will impact Kiwi consumers.
"It's really complicated, but I think you have to look at it and be like - why is New World's everyday prices more expensive than Pak'nSave's? Why is Four Square's everyday prices more expensive than New World's? And yet, they all buy from the same DC and they're all part of the same co-op."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Ethan Vickery: Kai Co founder and operations director on National's bid to break up Foodstuffs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e3e93ec9-3cca-4900-8fea-b4ca0182f86d/transcript

Bill Bennett: tech commentator on the growing popularity of Starlink

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