Newsroom

The latest news, insights and stories from the world of work. Fresh perspectives, expert commentary and data-led insights for SMEs.

Low-Wage Window Gives NZ SMEs Room To Grow

Hiring across New Zealand’s small and medium businesses has picked up for a seventh straight month but pay packets have…
Read more: Low-Wage Window Gives NZ SMEs Room To Grow
Excellence Without Exhaustion Is Possible In Small Business

Being an overachiever can be a one-way ticket to burnout for small business owners, says mindset coach Fleur Marks, unless…
Read more: Excellence Without Exhaustion Is Possible In Small Business
RBNZ Slams Brakes On Recovery With Rate Rise

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has increased the official cash rate to 2.75 per cent as small and medium…
Read more: RBNZ Slams Brakes On Recovery With Rate Rise
Blues Boss Says SMEs Don’t Need To Hire Superstars To Win

Blues CEO Karl Budge says NZ small and medium businesses can adopt hard-won lessons from the world of sport to…
Read more: Blues Boss Says SMEs Don’t Need To Hire Superstars To Win
Why A Friction-Free Workplace Can Be Bad For Business

A sea of nodding heads in a meeting can be a sign employees fear speaking up rather than a symbol…
Read more: Why A Friction-Free Workplace Can Be Bad For Business
There’s A Reason NZ Employees Feel Negative About Pay

New Zealand wage growth has slipped into negative territory for the first time in more than a year, resulting in…
Read more: There’s A Reason NZ Employees Feel Negative About Pay
Sleep Like your Business Depends On It

Sleep expert and behavioural scientist Dr Jemma King says small business owners who sacrifice shut-eye in pursuit of success may…
Read more: Sleep Like your Business Depends On It
What A Big Inflation Number Means For Small Businesses

New Zealand’s annual inflation rate has climbed to its highest level in two years, driven by soaring fuel and electricity…
Read more: What A Big Inflation Number Means For Small Businesses
NZ SMEs Are Stable Again But Aren’t Ready For Growth Mode

New Zealand small businesses are hiring again, but holding the line on pay, as the latest Employment Hero Jobs Report…
Read more: NZ SMEs Are Stable Again But Aren’t Ready For Growth Mode
SMEs Are Warned They May Be Making Inflation Worse

High inflation squeezes margins for small and medium businesses, but some owners may not realise their pricing strategies can make…
Read more: SMEs Are Warned They May Be Making Inflation Worse
There’s Positive News For SMEs Despite Interest Rate Hike

Interest rates are on the rise in New Zealand as the Reserve Bank performs a balancing act to tame inflation…
Read more: There’s Positive News For SMEs Despite Interest Rate Hike
Kiwis Feel Calm But Conflicted About AI At Work

The AI Paradox Report reveals that while Kiwi workers are calmly welcoming AI into workplaces, businesses must fill adoption gaps…
Read more: Kiwis Feel Calm But Conflicted About AI At Work
AI Paradox Report 2026

A global survey reveals the AI-at-work story, unearthing five paradoxes every employer navigating AI adoption needs to understand.
Read more: AI Paradox Report 2026
SMEs Are Seeing More Conflict And Fewer Hard Conversations

Small businesses are enlisting communication experts like Leah Mether to tackle rising workplace conflict and teach employees the human skills…
Read more: SMEs Are Seeing More Conflict And Fewer Hard Conversations
NZ Small Businesses Are Still Hiring Despite Economic Headwinds

NZ small businesses are growing headcount despite flat wages and rising costs. See what Employment Hero’s May Jobs Report reveals…
Read more: NZ Small Businesses Are Still Hiring Despite Economic Headwinds
Why Connection Is An SME’s Secret Weapon

Leadership expert Kylie Paatsch explains why genuine human connection is the most underused productivity lever in small business, and shares…
Read more: Why Connection Is An SME’s Secret Weapon
What SMEs Need To Know About The 2026 Budget

New Zealand small business owners are digesting a budget without sweeteners, with modest tax compliance and infrastructure spending set to…
Read more: What SMEs Need To Know About The 2026 Budget
Why AI in HR Is No Longer a Luxury for SMEs

As AI enables candidates to flood employers with highly-polished applications, small businesses are discovering the only way to keep pace…
Read more: Why AI in HR Is No Longer a Luxury for SMEs
How SME Owners Can Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity

In a world of relentless global and technological shifts, leadership consultant Chris Power argues that the most successful SME owners…
Read more: How SME Owners Can Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity
SMEs Are Being Told To Ditch The Hard Sell

Many reluctant small business owners consider sales a dark art but author Kate Toon says anyone can sell with success…
Read more: SMEs Are Being Told To Ditch The Hard Sell
If You Think Running An SME Costs More, Here’s The Proof

New Zealand fuel prices have surged to multi-decade highs, yet food prices remain flat, a sign that small businesses may…
Read more: If You Think Running An SME Costs More, Here’s The Proof
Casual Roles Rise In A Two-Speed NZ Labour Market

Employment Hero’s latest Jobs Report shows New Zealand small and medium businesses are still creating jobs, but have changed the…
Read more: Casual Roles Rise In A Two-Speed NZ Labour Market
SMEs Are Forced Pay More For Loans in NZ Than In Australia

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand wants greater transparency from banks after revealing Kiwi SMEs pay significantly more for business…
Read more: SMEs Are Forced Pay More For Loans in NZ Than In Australia
SMEs Remain Defensive Despite Better NZ Jobs Data

New Zealand’s unemployment rate has dipped slightly, but the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict threatens to stall the…
Read more: SMEs Remain Defensive Despite Better NZ Jobs Data
Navigating The Messy Middle Of Small Business Ownership

Leadership facilitator Andrew Horsfield says SME owners need to know how to navigate the ‘messy middle’ – the gap between…
Read more: Navigating The Messy Middle Of Small Business Ownership
What The New Zealand-India Free Trade Deal Means for Kiwi SMEs

New Zealand and India have signed a “once-in-a-generation” free trade agreement that slashes tariffs on key exports and introduces new…
Read more: What The New Zealand-India Free Trade Deal Means for Kiwi SMEs
HeroForce Is Fixing Employment Complexity With AI

For the first time, New Zealand small and medium businesses can eliminate their compliance burden thanks to a new ‘power…
Read more: HeroForce Is Fixing Employment Complexity With AI
Hot Inflation Signals Cost Squeeze Will Continue For NZ Businesses

New Zealand’s latest inflation data and a collapse in business confidence are putting pressure on SME employers as they juggle…
Read more: Hot Inflation Signals Cost Squeeze Will Continue For NZ Businesses
NZ SME Jobs Are Growing But Wages Are Falling Behind

Exclusive Employment Hero Jobs Report data shows New Zealand SMEs are hiring but wage growth is trailing inflation, as cautious…
Read more: NZ SME Jobs Are Growing But Wages Are Falling Behind
The Invisible Duty To Protect SME Staff From Mental Health Hazards

Burnout is rife among New Zealand workers, yet some employers don’t realise managing psychological harm at work is not just…
Read more: The Invisible Duty To Protect SME Staff From Mental Health Hazards
Steady Interest Rate No Comfort For SMEs As Inflation Looms

New Zealand’s central bank has kept interest rates steady, but a sharp inflation forecast is raising the stakes for small…
Read more: Steady Interest Rate No Comfort For SMEs As Inflation Looms
Your Business Has An Honesty Problem And Here’s How To Fix It

Author Dom Thurbon argues most business challenges are not structural or strategic, they’re honesty problems that stem from workplace white…
Read more: Your Business Has An Honesty Problem And Here’s How To Fix It
SMEs Are Facing An Easter Compliance Test

Navigate April 2026’s three public holidays and Mondayisation rules. Learn Easter pay requirements and ANZAC Day compliance for NZ SMEs…
Read more: SMEs Are Facing An Easter Compliance Test
SMEs Are Being Asked To Take A Hit On Rising Costs

The Reserve Bank has flagged rising fuel and input costs from the Middle East conflict as a direct threat to…
Read more: SMEs Are Being Asked To Take A Hit On Rising Costs
NZ’s Fragile Recovery Under Threat: What the RBNZ’s Middle East Inflation Warning Means for Employers

New Zealand’s central bank has flagged rising fuel and input costs from the Middle East conflict as a direct threat…
Read more: NZ’s Fragile Recovery Under Threat: What the RBNZ’s Middle East Inflation Warning Means for Employers
Hackers Armed With AI Are Targeting NZ Businesses

AI is helping hackers cast their net wider, prompting a warning for SMEs to step up cyber security measures.
Read more: Hackers Armed With AI Are Targeting NZ Businesses
Meet The Highest-Paid And Hardest-Working Staff In NZ SMEs

Exclusive Employment Hero data reveals who is earning the most and working the longest hours in New Zealand small businesses.
Read more: Meet The Highest-Paid And Hardest-Working Staff In NZ SMEs
Exclusive Jobs Data Highlights Caution For NZ SMEs

New Zealand SMEs are cautious as RBNZ and Employment Hero data raises hopes of an economic rebound.
Read more: Exclusive Jobs Data Highlights Caution For NZ SMEs
The Jacket-Swapper of Milan: Benoit Richaud the King of the ‘Fractional’ Economy?

The 2026 Winter Olympics has demonstrated the prevalence of multi-national coaching in an era where poly-employment is openly redefining the…
Read more: The Jacket-Swapper of Milan: Benoit Richaud the King of the ‘Fractional’ Economy?
Why 2026 Should Be The Year Of Less Red Tape for NZ SMEs

After a compliance-heavy 2025, New Zealand’s employment law pendulum is now swinging back toward employers, as reforms slash red tape…
Read more: Why 2026 Should Be The Year Of Less Red Tape for NZ SMEs
Data Reveals The Onboarding Mistakes That Are Hurting SMEs

Exclusive Employment Hero data reveals avoidable onboarding mistakes are making successful candidates regret switching jobs.
Read more: Data Reveals The Onboarding Mistakes That Are Hurting SMEs
Is Your Business Being Seen In An Age Of AI Visibility?

Small businesses risk becoming invisible to customers unless they first catch the attention of AI assistants, in the age of…
Read more: Is Your Business Being Seen In An Age Of AI Visibility?
Is Job Ghosting Haunting Your Hiring Process?

Job seekers are feeling spooked by a rise in job ghosting and ghost jobs but hirers say the reasons are…
Read more: Is Job Ghosting Haunting Your Hiring Process?
Beware The Rise Of The One-Week Job Interview

A viral post rejecting a demand for a one-week job ‘interview’ has raised questions about how far employers can go…
Read more: Beware The Rise Of The One-Week Job Interview
NZ Job Numbers Rise but Skills Gaps Widens and Hours Shrink

New data reveals a productivity gap: while NZ job numbers rose, hours worked fell 4.7%. Tech skills declined 3.7% as…
Read more: NZ Job Numbers Rise but Skills Gaps Widens and Hours Shrink
This Program Is Offering Grants To Build A Kiwi SpaceX

Have a ‘ready to fly’ concept? The government is offering grants to test tech in orbit. Discover the 5 key…
Read more: This Program Is Offering Grants To Build A Kiwi SpaceX
Why It’s OK For Small Businesses To Stay Small

Chef Ben Shewry of Attica shows why chasing endless scale is not the only path to success and how staying…
Read more: Why It’s OK For Small Businesses To Stay Small
A Giant Competitor May Not Be Bad For Small Businesses

IKEA’s New Zealand launch may boost nearby SMEs. Discover overseas insights, economic trends, and how small businesses can prepare and…
Read more: A Giant Competitor May Not Be Bad For Small Businesses
A Top Chef’s Recipe for a Winning Business Culture

Chef Ben Shewry explains how hospitality businesses can balance high standards with kindness, wellbeing and culture that keeps teams thriving.…
Read more: A Top Chef’s Recipe for a Winning Business Culture
The Positive News Kiwi SMEs Need To Hear

New Zealand’s latest rate cut offers small businesses breathing room but not a windfall as wages and hours soften. See…
Read more: The Positive News Kiwi SMEs Need To Hear
Relentless Price Rises Are Not Your Imagination

New data shows sharp price rises in New Zealand hitting food energy and wages for small businesses. Learn how businesses…
Read more: Relentless Price Rises Are Not Your Imagination
5 Mistakes SMB Owners Make That Ruin Summer Break Before It Even Starts

A new report highlights five common mistakes leaving NZ small business owners overwhelmed before summer. Here’s what SMEs should avoid…
Read more: 5 Mistakes SMB Owners Make That Ruin Summer Break Before It Even Starts
5 Ways Kiwi Businesses Are Preparing for the Holiday Rush

NZ businesses are gearing up for the holiday rush with hiring, cash-flow planning, automation and early closedown prep. Here are…
Read more: 5 Ways Kiwi Businesses Are Preparing for the Holiday Rush
5 New Workplace Regulations You Should Prepare for This Year

Major workplace changes are coming in 2026, from Holidays Act reform to KiwiSaver increases and new privacy rules. Here are…
Read more: 5 New Workplace Regulations You Should Prepare for This Year
5 End-of-Year Checks to Future-Proof Your Business

Prepare for 2026 with five essential end-of-year checks for NZ businesses. Reduce risk, improve systems and start January ahead with…
Read more: 5 End-of-Year Checks to Future-Proof Your Business
5 Creative Ways to Celebrate the Holidays With Your Team

From volunteering to virtual events, here are five creative ways NZ employers can celebrate the holidays while strengthening culture and…
Read more: 5 Creative Ways to Celebrate the Holidays With Your Team
How To Stop People Falling Through The Retirement Gap

New Zealand’s Retirement Commissioner has called for sweeping changes to KiwiSaver, releasing recommendations that would change the way SMEs manage…
Read more: How To Stop People Falling Through The Retirement Gap
Jobs In New Zealand Are Coming Back And These Industries Are Leading The Growth

New Zealand hiring is bouncing back across construction, agriculture, hospitality and tech. See which sectors and regions are creating new…
Read more: Jobs In New Zealand Are Coming Back And These Industries Are Leading The Growth
Westpac’s new NZ$100 million lending program aims to give early-stage entrepreneurs the capital to scale.

Westpac commits $100m to help New Zealand start-ups access funding and scale. Learn how the new Closer platform supports early-stage…
Read more: Westpac’s new NZ$100 million lending program aims to give early-stage entrepreneurs the capital to scale.
Weird And Wild Jobs In Nz That Are Hiring Right Now

From glow worm guides to volcano watchers, discover New Zealand’s most unusual jobs hiring this month – for anyone chasing…
Read more: Weird And Wild Jobs In Nz That Are Hiring Right Now
Gen Z and Regional New Zealand Drive Labour Market Comeback

Young Kiwis and the South Island are powering NZ’s labour market recovery. Explore how Gen Z’s casual momentum and Otago’s…
Read more: Gen Z and Regional New Zealand Drive Labour Market Comeback
Why Mentally Healthy Leadership Is the Next Competitive Advantage

Forward-thinking leaders are redefining success by embedding mental health into the core of business strategy, proving that wellbeing isn’t just…
Read more: Why Mentally Healthy Leadership Is the Next Competitive Advantage
NZ Employers Face Big Changes As Sick Leave, Holiday Pay Set For Overhaul

New Zealand’s Holidays Act reform will simplify leave, fix payroll confusion, and remove the parental leave penalty – big changes…
Read more: NZ Employers Face Big Changes As Sick Leave, Holiday Pay Set For Overhaul
Wages Stumble and Hours Plunge as New Zealand Job Market Hits a Slowdown

Despite ongoing job growth, new data reveals a softening New Zealand labour market, with falling hours and stalling wage momentum…
Read more: Wages Stumble and Hours Plunge as New Zealand Job Market Hits a Slowdown
New Zealand SME Job Market Steadies As Report Reveals South Island Powering Ahead

New Zealand’s small business job market is showing early signs of stability, with employment growth in the South Island outpacing…
Read more: New Zealand SME Job Market Steadies As Report Reveals South Island Powering Ahead
Annual Jobs Report: Work in Motion 2025

Annual Jobs Report 2025: Work in Motion Built on real-time aggregated and anonymised data from over 2.5 million employees and…
Read more: Annual Jobs Report: Work in Motion 2025
Youth and Flexibility Lead New Zealand’s Jobs Boom

New Zealand’s labour market is roaring ahead, powered by casual roles, surging youth employment, and demand in admin and construction.
Read more: Youth and Flexibility Lead New Zealand’s Jobs Boom
New NZ Bill Eyes Major Workplace Overhaul

New Zealand’s Employment Relations Amendment Bill passes its first reading, signalling a bold step toward reshaping job security, wage protections…
Read more: New NZ Bill Eyes Major Workplace Overhaul

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