National Business Review
March 2026
Weekly Wrap: AI supply chain risk, RBNZ caution, Aussie politics
Heinz Wattie’s confirms 300 jobs axed
Few places to hide as Iran war ravages markets
It has sent the price of oil soaring, with Brent crude — the global benchmark — up more than US$30 to US$100 per barrel ($52 to $173)
Ending this looks like the Strait of Hormuz being open,
Those traditional safe havens haven’t proved to be very safe at all,
The conflict in the Middle East has created significant uncertainty for the economic outlook and is hitting people in the back pocket already,
A short-lived disruption and a temporary increase in petrol prices can — and should — be looked through from a monetary policy perspective if it is unlikely to have an impact on medium-term inflation outcomes,
The debate on strengthening New Zealand’s ailing democracy
Seismic shift in Australian politics as One Nation surges
Low-income families get support through in-work tax credit boost
RBNZ risks repeating Covid-era mistakes on Iran, academic warns
Govt to temporarily allow fuel that meets Aussie specifications
The Government is temporarily allowing fuel that meets Australian specifications to be supplied to the New Zealand market as part of its response to the oil crisis
Willis rejects further changes to personal tax thresholds
Peters says NZ First would split power companies up
Halter touting new valuation of more than $3.4 billion
Kiwi agritech unicorn Halter is reportedly in talks for a new funding round that would increase its valuation to more than $3.4 billion
Mitigating a fuel crisis as long as a piece of string
Oil shock response and when the personal becomes political
New Zealand’s fledgling recovery is now under threat as petrol prices soar above $3 a litre in response to the ongoing conflict between the US and
Iran knocks out natural gas, eyes shift off AI
Strait talk needed by Trump on oil and gas fears
NZX50 sinks as Iran strikes on Qatar chill Asian markets
New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 index joined the global slump after Iran’s attack on Qatar pushed oil prices higher and chilled investors, with the fog of war clouding the outlooks for the Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan as they kept their respective key rates on hold
It’s all a reaction to Israel’s attack on an Iranian gas field and Iran’s attack on Qatar, and fears of this whole thing spiralling out of control,
That will probably mean the Reserve Bank will remain on hold for a bit longer,
Hotter inflation a headache for the RBNZ
The Middle East conflict is putting central banks on notice for uncomfortable higher inflation pressures and uncertain economic growth prospects
Opportunity Party names election candidates
They will sit alongside its tax policy, which includes introducing a small land value tax, a flat tax rate and a citizen’s income
The Treasury’s optimistic economic view of the Iran conflict
There was no surprise that Finance Minister Nicola Willis held a news conference this week to update reporters on the Government’s planning for the economic chaos caused by the United States and Israel bombing Iran
New report puts ‘Robodebt’ scandal to bed, but smell lingers
Trump targets Nato over Strait of Hormuz; oil prices move higher
A lot of people are saying that he’s badly disfigured. They’re saying that he lost his leg, one leg, and he’s been hurt very badly. Other people are saying he’s dead, nobody’s saying he’s 100% healthy,
Miles Hurrell resigns as Fonterra boss
Flurry of central banks mull rates amid uncertainty
Long-time Adobe CEO to step down
Long-time Adobe chief executive Shantanu Narayen announced his intention to step down on Thursday US time, but will remain chair of the company
I believe this is the right decision for Atlassian,
By Anthropic’s best estimate, for 2026, the government’s adverse actions risk hundreds of millions, or even multiple billions, of dollars in lost revenue,
This is a vital step in our mission to build the world’s first truly global bank,
Market not ‘fully in fear mode’ despite Iran conflict uncertainty
Brent Crude oil had increased 17% between the day before hostilities occurred and