Bosses Rebuilding

It has been a rollercoaster year for one of our iconic retailers. The first lockdown decimated revenue at Briscoes Group, but Kiwis more than made up for it with a shopping boom over the rest of the year. Briscoes Group managing director Rod Duke...

First, we had Bosses in Lockdown, and then we had Bosses Rebuilding. Now, it's coming to the end of this crazy, crazy, year and we thought it would be great to touch base again with some of the Kiwi bosses we spoke to earlier this year. It was...

If there's one story you might not have predicted during the thick of the Covid lockdown this year, it's the story of the housing market. Back in April, headlines were talking about house prices coming well off the boil, as New Zealand stared down the...

First, we had Bosses in Lockdown, and then we had Bosses Rebuilding. Now, it's coming to the end of this crazy, crazy, year and we thought it would be great to touch base again with some of the Kiwi bosses we spoke to back in March and April. Tourism...

First, we had Bosses in Lockdown, and then we had Bosses Rebuilding. Now, it's coming to the end of this crazy, crazy, year and we thought it would be great to touch base again with some of the Kiwi bosses we spoke to back in March and April. Jason...

Covid threw a serious curveball to the world's movie industry this year, including local listed cinema software company, Vista Group. But instead of retreating, Vista doubled down, and they believe it's now ending the year in a stronger and more...

Many of you will know Les Mills, the New Zealand gym chain. But what many of you might not know, is that Les Mills is also a super successful export product. Les Mills International exports workout programmes to 100 other countries and to tens of...

This time last year, the tourism industry was talking about needing an extra 40,000 workers. Such was required from the influx of international visitors this country was basking in. So Matt Stenton set up a new support service called 'go with...

The story of Waikato company Fiasco is nothing short of an extreme Covid pivot. Before the pandemic, they were making those really cool road cases that bands use for all their stuff on tour, but then Covid hit, and they turned their attention to...

Fisher and Paykel Healthcare said its first-half net profit shot up by 86 per cent to $225.5 million, driven by demand for its respiratory products arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. The company said that based on stronger hospital hardware sales to...

One of the first businesses to fall victim to Covid in New Zealand was Bauer Media. In early April, the German magazine giant closed iconic magazine titles, including North and South. Now, like a phoenix from the ashes, the current affairs magazine is...

Like many sectors, the Covid pandemic has turned the global insurance industry on its head. On one hand, there's been a surge in health, travel and business interruption claims. But on the other, this new Covid-world has also brought opportunity. Ian...

Farmlands Co-operative has announced a $7 million net profit for the 2019-20 financial year - a result chairman Rob Hewett says could have been "a damn sight worse". Profit was down from last year's $8.4 million result, while turnover was $2.6 billion...

For almost 30 years, kiwi footwear exporter Bobux has laid claim to making the world's best shoes for little people. The bobux brand is all about science and style and making podiatrist-approved shoes for babies and toddlers. Bobux is finishing up...

During this rollercoaster of a year, it's no secret that many of us have probably had a few more drinks at home than usual. Not least, of course, because hospitality has been hit hard by the lockdowns. So how has all of this played out for Lion, New...

An incredible milestone today for a Kiwi company that's crowdfunding its effort to make the world’s first biobead Covid vaccine. This is the Covid vaccine corporation  - or CVC - and their campaign on Pledgeme has got off to a dream start today. Dr...

The story of Lewis Road Creamery is now the stuff of urban legend. Back in 2014, the company caused a sensation when it teamed up with Whittaker's and made that chocolate milk. Supermarkets had to employ extra security guards it was so popular and...

It’s not often Bosses Rebuilding focuses on a global business giant, but Unilever has a big footprint in New Zealand. The company owns household brands like Lipton, Dove, Rexona, Vaseline and Persil, amongst others. But when Covid hit this year, the...

Sometimes, success in business can mean being in the right place at the right time. Enter the chnnl app. It's a workplace well-being app for medical staff that launched at the end of 2019. And then covid hit, and suddenly, demand was off the charts....

The cold, hard Covid-19 reality of this year has been tough for a lot of Kiwi workers. Thousands of people have been made redundant, others have lost businesses, and many are taking stock of their working life. But it's not all bad news. Business is...

It has been a hell of a year for most of our tourism businesses, thanks to the Covid-91 pandemic which has ravaged most if not all forms of trade. When the borders closed back in March, Hobbiton, near Matamata, was forced to let go of around 250...

The story of marketing company "Reach Media" is not unlike other Kiwi businesses who were smacked in the face this year by covid. Back in level four lockdown, revenue fell off a cliff as advertisers withdrew their campaigns. Fast-forward seven months,...

Has the Covid crisis forever changed the fashion industry? It’s not just about trackpants and activewear sales going through the roof, there are calls for a new type of fashion revolution. Designer Kate Sylvester is one of the names behind "mindful...

What if it's not a business that needs rebuilding because of Covid, but in fact an entire industry? Arrowtown-based Sam Brough has just launched a new tourism venture called Kiwi Welcome. It's an online membership programme that gives discounts to...

The Covid recession has driven huge changes in the way people choose to make their living, with lots of people turning towards freelancing and self employment, to boost their income. The good news is, that's meant busy times for one of New Zealand's...

It's no surprise the local hotel sector has been turned on its head. Hotel chains are either relying only on domestic travellers to fill occupancy, or they're taking up a new income stream as a managed isolation facility. But here's the good news,...

A cool innovation story for you tonight, it's called Upstock, and it's an app which is making waves in the hospitality sector. It's an online stock ordering system for bars, restaurants and cafes, which replaces the pretty-medieval pen and paper...

When the first lockdown hit this country, Kiwi tech firm Joy Business Academy lost a monthly revenue stream of a million dollars, overnight. At the same time, CEO James Coddington had 46 staff wanting to know if they still had a job. So what did he...

The social enterprise 'Eat my Lunch' has undergone an incredible overhaul since the first lockdown, when suddenly it had no-one in offices to buy their lunches and no kids at school to deliver to. This story is the type of nimble thinking we all can...

The business of retirement and aged care has been thrown into uncertainty with the Covid pandemic. There's the physical issue of keeping residents safe, a closed border affecting its workforce, and the impact on some operators property values. Earl...

Sky TV has reported a net loss of $156.8m for the year to June 30, including a non-cash impairment of goodwill of $177.5m - but raised its guidance for FY2021, saying the faster-than-expected return of sport will see a return to net profit, and at a...

Pushpay is a Kiwi success story.  The company provides digital payment and operations services to the religious sector in the US, think those giant mega churches. Covid-19 has meant people have been staying away from churches recently, so the company...

Cancelled holidays seem to have boosted profits for the company that owns Briscoes, Rebel Sport and Living and Giving. It's made a net profit of nearly $28 million dollars for the half year ended July 26, just 1.3 percent down on last year....

SkyCity Entertainment Group's net profit fell 60 per cent from $164.6 million last year to $66.2m this year and the company won't pay shareholders a final dividend. But the result was still at the upper end of the target range the company released...

You have got to love stories of businesses who are clever enough to not just move with the times, but actually get ahead of the curve. They're thinking smarter, and innovating. Amongst those companies includes Pita Pit, the quick service lunch...

Kiwibank's profit has taken a big hit from Covid-19 impairments and lower interest rates. The state-owned bank today announced its net profit after tax was down 47 per cent to $57 million for the year to June 30. Kiwibank chief executive Steve...

Port of Tauranga has posted group net profit of $90 million and increased container volumes, despite the pandemic storm that lashed global shipping and trade in the final months of its financial year. New Zealand's largest port said net profit after...

NZ King Salmon has held operating earnings within guidance despite its sales revenue falling by 50 per cent during the level 4 lockdown response to Covid-19. The world's biggest producer of premium king salmon posted operating ebitda of $25.1m for the...

Spark has reported across-the-board full-year growth, in spite of the tough economic times. Net profit for the year to June is up 4.4 percent, to $427 million. Covid has been a mixed bag for Spark. There's been increased demand for mobile, broadband...

TVNZ has plunged into the red, reporting a $25.8 million net loss for its year to June 30 - against its year-ago profit of $2.9m and its first loss since 2010. But even before the pandemic hit, or the first lick of flames had crept along the roof of...

At a time when global demand for high quality produce is only growing, New Zealand exporters are well-placed to capitalise. Gareth Edgecombe is the CEO of T&G, which used to be known as Turners and Growers. He joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on Bosses...

Construction has been hammered by Covid-19, with delays to projects to foreign workers unable to come in to advance projects.  So where to from here for the sector? And what happens when the current pipeline of activity finishes up? Rick Herd is the...

Mercury Energy has kept the faith with thousands of its mum and dad investors by eking out an increased final dividend for the June year and predicting another increase in the payout in year ahead. Drought and disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic...

Taking your business global is maybe not what comes to mind when you think about rebuilding your operations during a global pandemic. But plenty of businesses do, and you only need to look at the likes of Zespri, Fonterra and Xero to see the value in...

When Covid-19 hit, there was one Kiwi company which you might say was tailor-made to succeed. Fine Wine Delivery has long been an industry leader when it comes to trading online. Before lockdown, it was already doing 42 percent of its business online....

New Zealand's primary industries believe its unrealistic to replace all migrant workers with unemployed Kiwis. With the borders still shut due to Covid-19 restrictions, the flow of overseas workers have come to a halt. Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell told...

Running a successful restaurant is a tough business in the best of times, but in the worst of times, it's a whole new ball game. Chef Nic Watt is the man behind three Auckland restaurants, SkyCity's Masu, Akarana eatery in Okahu Bay, and Newmarket’s...

Kiwi Property CEO Clive Mackenzie believes kiwis will increasingly rent instead of buying, and the Covid-19 pandemic will not impact this. Mr Mackenzie told Heather du Plessis-Allan currently, just over 50 per cent of Aucklanders rent. "At the moment...

Opening the country's tallest building during a pandemic, on the rare occasion it happens, is unheard of. But that's what CEO Scott Pritchard and his company Precinct Properties did, building Commercial Bay in Auckland's CBD with both retail and...

The Covid-19 pandemic likely showed the New Zealand public just how good their fibre internet is. It is so good, Chorus CEO JB Rousselot says it is one of the best in the world that makes other countries envy kiwis. Mr Rousselot told Heather du...

If it was not for Covid-19, the Olympic Games would be getting underway tomorrow from Tokyo. They are not derailed, just delayed. The Games are set to start one year later in 2021, which means we are now exactly one year out from the opening ceremony...

When the Covid-19 pandemic began, it seemed that nobody could get their hands on sanitiser, PPE, or ventilators. One of the things you couldn't order was respirator hoods. If you haven't seen these before, they look a little bit like a see-through...

Just about every boss in the country has faced the following question: Can I hold on to all of my staff? And if not, how do I handle redundancies and restructures? Samantha Gadd is the chief executive at HR company Humankind. She's been advising...

If Covid has taught business anything, it's the importance of being able to operate online. Whether it's a website, e-commerce or being able to operate remotely, having a digital presence is now more important than ever. Romi Dexter, director and...

The school holidays have marked the return of some of the biggest cinemas, but with the rest of the world still reeling from Covid-19, new releases are few and far between. Jane Hastings is the CEO of Event Hospitality & Entertainment, who run cinemas...

Our latest Bosses Rebuilding guest is a prime example of the importance of research and development in the post-Covid world. E-Road is in the business of road transport. They have managed to wane truckies off the manual logging of driving hours and...

It's hard enough to lead a company through Covid-19, but imagine taking over as the new chief executive during these volatile times.Neeraj Lala took over the reigns at Toyota New Zealand at the end of last month. He's faced with a car industry that's...

In a pandemic, your mind wanders quite naturally to the question, what if I die? Usually Kiwis are notoriously bad at confronting the end of their life. Naomi Ballantyne is the Managing Director for Partners Life. Not only was she leading her company...

So far on Bosses Rebuilding, we have told you many stories of businesses who are regrowing after the Covid lockdown. They have been hit hard, but many of them have told us they're regrowing bigger and better. Simon Pound is the managing director of...

When Covid-19 effectively shut down global travel, Kiwi corporate booking platform Serko saw its bookings and revenue fade away too. The good news is though that business is beginning to bounce back. Serko founder and CEO Darrin Grafton joined Heather...

One thing that Covid-19 has brought to countries around the world is a revolution in the classroom. Tonight, we're delving into local education tech business Kami, which has seen exponential growth these past few months. Founder and CEO Hengie Wang...

The health response to Covid-19 has been well documented. But what about the business of health - the industry on the front line in every sense of the word? Entrepreneur Sam Hazledine is the founder and managing director of MedWorld, Australasia's...

Car park operators are hurting following the Covid-19 lockdown, as more people decide to stay away from New Zealand's city centres and work from home. Ryan Orchard is the chief executive of Wilson Parking NZ. He joins Andrew Dickens as part of our...

While the sharemarket took a deep dive at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, for those who were courageous enough there were some great bargains to be had. And with a little more time on our hands than usual, the time of the lockdown saw a spike in...

The global Covid pandemic is showing no signs of abating, but overseas, demand for New Zealand agriculture and food products is holding up. So what does that tell us about the value of New Zealand inc at this time, and how can that be protected in the...

The Covid-19 crisis has brought with it an enormous shock to the New Zealand racing industry, a sector which was already facing financial troubles before the lockdown. Now, the focus is on recovery. Paul Wilcox, CEO of Auckland Racing Club and...

In a rarity for business at the moment, the country’s fourth largest businesses: a case of Covid-19 not being as bad as feared. Mainfreight has been pleasantly surprised at the pickup in activity it's seeing. Managing director Don Braid joined Heather...

New Zealand's film industry is taking bold new steps despite covid-19 uncertainty. Film and lighting company Xytech has launched its biggest and newest X3 film studio in Auckland. Chief Executive Stephen Pryor says New Zealand's low-covid status has...

Let's take a closer look at one of our most important local travel businesses. Intercity buses usually carry about 1.5 million passengers a year, on more than 100 daily services around the country. They connect up all of our local towns, with 85...

The country has been warned that another wave of unemployment might yet be upon us, as businesses make tough decisions, and the wage subsidy scheme comes to an end for some. Simon Bennett has a unique perspective on the job market, heading up the...

Zespri has a lot to celebrate. The kiwifruit company has reported a 12 per cent increase in annual profit - returning almost $2 billion to the industry. Zespri was regarded as an essential service and was able to keep business going during the...

There have been a few big hits to our retail sector over the past few weeks. The news about Max Fashions today, The Warehouse and Bunnings are also closing stores, and then there's H&J Smith, the list goes on. One man who knows the temperature of...

Businesses are continuing to steer their firms through financially tough times due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. AA Insurance CEO Chris Curtin, who has held the position for 25 years, told Heather du Plessis-Allan the pandemic has been one of the more...

While the number of Covid-19 cases in New Zealand may be dropping, businesses are still bearing the brunt of the pandemic, effects that are set to continue for some time. Many chief executives are at the pointy end of businesses right now, making big...

Sport returns under level two, but business life is still very tough for the large events industry. ZB’s Boss in Lockdown tonight is Nick Sautner, the CEO of Eden Park. He joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss their plans for level two, how...

In-store retailers are preparing to open their doors, but that doesn't mean its over for online shopping. While physical shopping was off the cards, many Kiwis moved online to satisfy their retail craving. Hallensteins and Glassons boss Mary Devine...

Level 2 will mean back to business for Skyline's luge and gondola operations - but it'll be smaller operation. The Rotorua and Queenstown tourism operator is planning to open by this weekend. But chief executive Geoff McDonald says they're having to...

Netball New Zealand has confirmed that the ANZ Premiership will return when the country moves to Covid-19 alert level 2 – but all games will be played at one venue. The Government has confirmed that professional sport, including netball, will be...

The time is nearly hair for you to head along to your local hairdresser or barber and finally get that long-awaited tidy up. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has given the green light to reopen but only after the country made the move to alert level 2....

ZB’s Boss in Lockdown tonight is Frances Benge, the CEO of Cure Kids. Cure Kids is a charity which is one of New Zealand’s largest funders of child health research. Benge joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss how the lockdown has affected...

Auckland Airport's boss says exploring options for a trans-Tasman bubble is critical. Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison have confirmed Australia and New Zealand are committed to introducing a trans-Tasman travel zone as soon as it is safe to do so....

The office lights are off, but Kiwis are still using almost the same amount of power. Energy companies have been forced to adapt as power usage migrates from the inner cities to the suburbs. Our Boss in Lockdown tonight is Vector Chief Executive Simon...

Our Boss in Lockdown tonight is Freightways chief executive Mark Troughear. He joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss how the company's work has changed under levels 3 and 4. LISTEN ABOVE

ZB’s Boss in Lockdown tonight is Tim Lightbourne, CEO of Invivo Wines. The wine business was assigned essential status during level four, and appears to be holding up pretty well. Lightbourne joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss how they’ve...

A large chunk of the construction industry is finally back on the tools, getting used to a new normal at level three. Our Boss in Lockdown tonight is Peter Reidy, the CEO of Fletcher Construction. He joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss how they...

The latest entry in ZB’s Bosses in Lockdown series is David Banfield, the CEO of Comvita. The Manuka honey company is perhaps one of few which has seen some good silver linings from the Covid-19 crisis. Banfield joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to...

It’s no secret that one of the sectors doing it toughest during lockdown is retailers, and that’s even if you've got the privilege of having being able to sell essential items. Our boss in lockdown tonight is Briscoe Group Managing Director Rod Duke....

The head of NZME is welcoming the government's media relief package, but wishes more had gone to print and digital media. $50 million has been put aside to help the industry stay afloat. A massive drop in advertising revenue has caused job losses and...

Gym giant Les Mills has asked those who have put their memberships on hold during lockdown to start making payments again. Headlined "Back us to restart", an email to customers says the company is "facing the biggest hurdle of its 52-year history" and...

In ZB Drive’s Bosses in Lockdown series, Al Keating, CEO of Coffee Supreme, joins Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss what effect the lockdown has had on one of the country's most iconic coffee brands. LISTEN ABOVE

In ZB Drive’s continuing Bosses in Lockdown series, Heather du Plessis-Allan spoke with Tony Burt, CEO of East Imperial, an artisan beverage company. Burt is a former CEO of M&C Saatchi, and has a unique perspective on the hospitality industry during...

SKY Television are reporting steady subscriber numbers despite the absence of live sport.  CEO Martin Stewart has told Heather du Plessis-Allan streaming services Neon and Lightbox is keeping the company afloat.  Meanwhile, ensuring that sports...

The story of tourism during the Covid crisis reads like a nightmare. With our borders effectively closed for the foreseeable future, the industry is planning for zero tourists - and zero revenue. Our Boss in Lockdown tonight is Grant Webster, the CEO...

New Zealand’s property market has shifted quite dramatically in the past two months, with forecasters moving from predictions of a lift in house prices, to warnings of a downturn. Our Boss in Lockdown tonight is Peter Thompson, the managing director...

When it comes to the economy, our retail banks are on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis, both in their dealings with business customers and mortgage holders. Bosses in Lockdown tonight centres on Vittoria Short, the chief executive of ASB. She...

Our Bosses in Lockdown continues with Russel Creedy, the Chief Executive of Restaurant Brands. Under the level four restrictions, the company has closed its entire New Zealand operation - 148 stores across its KFC, Pizza Hut, Carl's Jnr and Taco Bell...

We're continuing our series of checking in with the country's CEOs, how they're going working from home, and how this crisis is affecting their business. CEO of Z Energy Mike Bennetts joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss how he's faring at home,...

As the country nears the halfway point of the lockdown, ZB Drive is going to start looking in on some of the country's big bosses, CEOs and leader to find out how they're coping with running their businesses from home during the lockdown. First up is...