South Island business leaders want to be recognised as the engine room of New Zealand's economy. 

The eight chambers of commerce have launched a joint manifesto, representing around seven thousand businesses. 

It calls for policies to lift productivity, with a goal of increasing South Island GDP per capita to at least $130 thousand by 2035. 

Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson told Mike Hosking it shows there's great alignment across the South Island. 

She says if New Zealand wants stronger productivity, higher incomes, and greater resilience, backing the South Island is the smartest investment. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

South Island business leaders want to be recognised as the engine room of New Zealand's economy.&nbsp;
The eight chambers of commerce have launched a joint manifesto, representing around seven thousand businesses.&nbsp;
It calls for policies to lift productivity, with a goal of increasing South Island GDP per capita to at least $130 thousand by 2035.&nbsp;
Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson told Mike Hosking it shows there's great alignment across the South Island.&nbsp;
She says if New Zealand wants stronger productivity, higher incomes, and greater resilience, backing the South Island is the smartest investment.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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Save time searching; subscribe to the SME Stream where you can listen to relevant, timely, business-related content today. 

 

Looking for actionable business insights all in one place? 
We're here to help you find a way with a curation of the &lsquo;best bits&rsquo; from top business podcasts. 
Save time searching; subscribe to the SME Stream where you can listen to relevant, timely, business-related content today.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

The SME Stream

Leeann Watson: Business Canterbury CEO on business leaders' call to back the South Island as a driver of New Zealand's growth

As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina O'Keeffe each week as she gives you a rundown of the biggest stories that could impact your business, so you can make informed decisions with expert advice. 


This week, Unemployment is up but is the picture as bad as it sounds? Insurance premiums are in the spotlight as the government tries to pinpoint what’s driving costs so high … plus how to juggle all the demands on your business without losing focus.

As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina O'Keeffe each week as she gives you a rundown of the biggest stories that could impact your business, so you can make informed decisions with expert advice.&nbsp;
 This week,&nbsp;Unemployment is up but is the picture as bad as it sounds? Insurance premiums are in the spotlight as the government tries to pinpoint what&rsquo;s driving costs so high &hellip; plus how to juggle all the demands on your business without losing focus.

The SME Stream Weekly Wrap - 31st July

It's been a big week for the tech sector, with Meta and Microsoft moving to post their earnings.

But it's sparked concerns about the future of AI, and whether or not another sector bubble is set to burst.

Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further.

LISTEN ABOVE

It's been a big week for the tech sector, with Meta and Microsoft moving to post their earnings.
But it's sparked concerns about the future of AI, and whether or not another sector bubble is set to burst.
Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explained further.
LISTEN ABOVE

Sam Dickie: Fisher Funds expert on whether we should be worried about the AI bubble

Australian fintech pioneer and serial entrepreneur Dom Pym knows a thing or two about starting companies and scaling them into market-leading players.

This week’s episode of The Business of Tech dives into Pym’s extraordinary journey, from bootstrapping niche financial platforms to building one of Australia’s most popular digital banks – Up – and then reinventing himself as one of the region’s most active startup investors. 

Pym’s path into fintech started long before “fintech” was a buzzword. After a whirlwind early career working with Fortune 500 giants, he went on to build a grain exchange platform that digitised how Australian farmers sell their product, followed by Pin Payments, an all‑in‑one payments service that expanded into New Zealand, Asia, the UK and the US before being acquired. 

That set the stage for Up, the app‑based bank that hacked its way through regulatory and infrastructure hurdles to become a breakout success with younger customers and a major strategic asset for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank.

Now, post‑exit, Pym is channelling that experience into backing others. As Australian Investor of the Year, he’s supporting funds and startups via his family office, and pushing for more secondary deals so founders don’t have to wait a decade for liquidity. 

In The Business of Tech, he explains his investing philosophy, why he doesn’t obsess over unicorn valuations, and how he thinks about risk in an era dominated by AI and software.

Pym is heading to Auckland in September to deliver a keynote at the inaugural NZ Tech Expo, New Zealand’s new flagship gathering for founders, investors and corporate leaders. 

If you want a preview of the themes he’ll bring to the stage – and a candid assessment of where New Zealand tech needs to lift its game – check this week’s episode of The Business of Tech, streaming on iHeartRadio or in your podcast app of choice.

Australian fintech pioneer and serial entrepreneur Dom Pym knows a thing or two about starting companies and scaling them into market-leading players.
This week&rsquo;s episode of The Business of Tech dives into Pym&rsquo;s extraordinary journey, from bootstrapping niche financial platforms to building one of Australia&rsquo;s most popular digital banks &ndash; Up &ndash; and then reinventing himself as one of the region&rsquo;s most active startup investors.&nbsp;
Pym&rsquo;s path into fintech started long before &ldquo;fintech&rdquo; was a buzzword. After a whirlwind early career working with Fortune 500 giants, he went on to build a grain exchange platform that digitised how Australian farmers sell their product, followed by Pin Payments, an all‑in‑one payments service that expanded into New Zealand, Asia, the UK and the US before being acquired.&nbsp;
That set the stage for Up, the app‑based bank that hacked its way through regulatory and infrastructure hurdles to become a breakout success with younger customers and a major strategic asset for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank.
Now, post‑exit, Pym is channelling that experience into backing others. As Australian Investor of the Year, he&rsquo;s supporting funds and startups via his family office, and pushing for more secondary deals so founders don&rsquo;t have to wait a decade for liquidity.&nbsp;
In The Business of Tech, he explains his investing philosophy, why he doesn&rsquo;t obsess over unicorn valuations, and how he thinks about risk in an era dominated by AI and software.
Pym is heading to Auckland in September to deliver a keynote at the inaugural NZ Tech Expo, New Zealand&rsquo;s new flagship gathering for founders, investors and corporate leaders.&nbsp;
If you want a preview of the themes he&rsquo;ll bring to the stage &ndash; and a candid assessment of where New Zealand tech needs to lift its game &ndash; check this week&rsquo;s episode of The Business of Tech, streaming on iHeartRadio or in your podcast app of choice.

Leeann Watson: Business Canterbury CEO on business leaders' call to back the South Island as a driver of New Zealand's growth

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