New Zealand businesses believe things are looking up, with optimism at a high. 

The 2degrees 2025 Shaping Business Study reveals 45% of surveyed business leaders are more optimistic about the year ahead – up on last year's 34%. 

46% of businesses also report they're more productive than last year.  

Business Central CEO Simon Arcus told Ryan Bridge things will probably still fluctuate in coming years.  

He says there are often moments where things seem to improve, then sink back again. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

New Zealand businesses believe things are looking up, with optimism at a high.&nbsp;
The 2degrees 2025 Shaping Business Study reveals 45% of surveyed business leaders are more optimistic about the year ahead – up on last year's 34%.&nbsp;
46% of businesses also report they're more productive than last year. &nbsp;
Business Central CEO Simon Arcus told Ryan Bridge things will probably still fluctuate in coming years. &nbsp;
He says there are often moments where things seem to improve, then sink back again.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Simon Arcus: Business Central CEO on the rising optimism among business leaders

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3523bb31-0663-402e-9b18-b2ff0180ffcd/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 7th of September 2026, National’s promising to make it easier to get into your first home if re-elected, Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson tells Ryan what difference it would make to the property market. 

Former Senior Royal Protection Officer Scott Hamer shares his views on Prince Harry and Meghan's security since moving back to the UK. 

Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce shares 

Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Police in Southeast England accused of being slow to react after major disruption at the Port of Dover in Kent due to a large group of masked men holding a demonstration about illegal migration and Nigel Farage says he "frankly wasn't listening" during a conversation with his former chief of staff and an undercover reporter discussing what appears to have been a scheme to funnel foreign money to Reform UK.

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

LISTEN ABOVE

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 7th of September 2026, National’s promising to make it easier to get into your first home if re-elected, Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson tells Ryan what difference it would make to the property market.&nbsp;
Former Senior Royal Protection Officer Scott Hamer shares his views on Prince Harry and Meghan's security since moving back to the UK.&nbsp;
Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce shares&nbsp;
Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Police in Southeast England accused of being slow to react after major disruption at the Port of Dover in Kent due to a large group of masked men holding a demonstration about illegal migration and Nigel Farage says he "frankly wasn't listening" during a conversation with his former chief of staff and an undercover reporter discussing what appears to have been a scheme to funnel foreign money to Reform UK.
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Full Show Podcast: 07 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0ae30411-31b2-4ce8-a30b-b4bd012ac7bf/transcript

National's plan to expand the First Home Loan scheme could help more people buy their first home - but isn't expected to transform the housing market.

The party wants to widen access to five percent deposits.

If elected, National would increase the income threshold so anyone earning less than 300-thousand dollars combined could access the scheme - up from the current 95-thousand dollars for single buyers or 150-thousand for more than one.

Cotality Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson told Ryan Bridge the change will have a limited impact - and shouldn't push house prices higher.

National's plan to expand the First Home Loan scheme could help more people buy their first home - but isn't expected to transform the housing market.
The party wants to widen access to five percent deposits.
If elected, National would increase the income threshold so anyone earning less than 300-thousand dollars combined could access the scheme - up from the current 95-thousand dollars for single buyers or 150-thousand for more than one.
Cotality Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson told Ryan Bridge the change will have a limited impact - and shouldn't push house prices higher.

Kelvin Davidson: Cotality Chief Property Economist on National's plan to expand the First Home Loan scheme

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/119cb84d-6bef-47c8-9bba-b4bd012b9ada/transcript

Told you when this whole thing kicked off that it wouldn't end tomorrow, and it hasn't.

This is the war between the US and Iran. It is still going on.

The biggest problem was always going to be the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Hormuz is not open.

In fact, there were tankers going through the other day in a shoulder that the US should be said should be safe, and guess what, they weren't. 

Now, over the weekend we've had Leon Panetta, this is the US former US Defence Secretary.

He was also CIA Director under Obama.

He's said, yeah, look, it's one of those things. It's at risk now becoming another forever war in the Middle East, which is exactly what everybody doesn't want.

We've had these before, we've had many before, Iraq, Afghanistan, you name it.

He says the likelihood is this war is going to continue for another six months without being resolved. 

And at the same time, you've got chaos at the Pentagon.

You've got Hegseth going after and firing people left, right, and centre, or senior military commanders leaving their posts.

And just imagine if you were one of the frontline soldiers here, if you were on some Navy frigate in the middle of the Gulf, although they're having a wee holiday in Thailand at the moment, of course, but if you were on a Navy frigate in the middle of the Gulf and you were reading updates on your phone or you're reading updates from command going, oh, he's gone now.

Oh, who's in charge here? And what exactly are we doing? Quite disconcerting.

And I think Leon Panetta makes that point very well.

This war is not going to end in a hurry, certainly not in the next six months. 

Told you when this whole thing kicked off that it wouldn't end tomorrow, and it hasn't.
This is the war between the US and Iran. It is still going on.
The biggest problem was always going to be the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Hormuz is not open.
In fact, there were tankers going through the other day in a shoulder that the US should be said should be safe, and guess what, they weren't.&nbsp;
Now, over the weekend we've had Leon Panetta, this is the US former US Defence Secretary.
He was also CIA Director under Obama.
He's said, yeah, look, it's one of those things. It's at risk now becoming another forever war in the Middle East, which is exactly what everybody doesn't want.
We've had these before, we've had many before, Iraq, Afghanistan, you name it.
He says the likelihood is this war is going to continue for another six months without being resolved.&nbsp;
And at the same time, you've got chaos at the Pentagon.
You've got Hegseth going after and firing people left, right, and centre, or senior military commanders leaving their posts.
And just imagine if you were one of the frontline soldiers here, if you were on some Navy frigate in the middle of the Gulf, although they're having a wee holiday in Thailand at the moment, of course, but if you were on a Navy frigate in the middle of the Gulf and you were reading updates on your phone or you're reading updates from command going, oh, he's gone now.
Oh, who's in charge here? And what exactly are we doing? Quite disconcerting.
And I think Leon Panetta makes that point very well.
This war is not going to end in a hurry, certainly not in the next six months.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: The war in Iran isn't going anywhere

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b0fe394c-47cb-4599-bd31-b4bd012a8144/transcript

Simon Arcus: Business Central CEO on the rising optimism among business leaders

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