Simon Shepherd
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NBR Senior Journalist and podcast host
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Articles by Simon Shepherd
Podcast #129: Election 2026 – suffering from overhang hangover
LISTEN/WATCH: An attempt to explain the unexplainable, featuring a former government minister, a business leader, and our own political editor. WATCH: Former National MP Chris Penk, Business Canterbury's Leeaan Watson and NBR's political editor Brent Edwards join the NBR Podcast. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: It was historic, but not decisive.
Two people in Rakon insider trading case named, plead not guilty
Law Name suppression lapses for Mike Daniel and Paul Smit, while two others remain suppressed. Mike Daniel. Rakon investor Mike Daniel, who held about 7% of the company before it was acquired earlier this year, is one of four people facing insider trading charges brought by the Financial Markets Authority. The FMA in September confirmed it had filed in the Auckland District Court 20 insider trading Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #128: The odds of turning around SkyCity
In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: It’s been a tough few years for the SkyCity Group but now it’s in turnaround mode. Chief executive Jason Walbridge has overseen the cutting of 250 jobs, selling offices and a hotel, and put the Adelaide Casino on the market. But there are Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
No ‘nefarious’ intent in $8.6m house sale, Watson associate says
No ‘nefarious’ intent in $8.6m house sale, Watson associate says Tim Connell and William Gibson are fighting orders freezing NZ assets as part of a US $100m fraud case brought by an Egyptian billionaire family. The $8.6m property in Ti Point. © All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription. © All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Podcast #127: The $15 million online casino bet
In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Online casino gambling has been growing rapidly in New Zealand and now it’s going to be regulated. The auction for 15 licences has closed, topping out at $15 million per licence. So, who’s won them and how big is the market they are Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #126: The Firmus flop
LISTEN/WATCH: What went wrong with the blockbuster proposed IPO of the Aussie data centre startup? WATCH NOW: It was going to be the biggest ASX IPO in decades, but the Firmus listing suddenly fell over. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: It was going to be the biggest ASX IPO in decades, but the Firmus listing suddenly fell over. We look at the founder’s back story, why investors got cold feet, and whether it has ramifications for the wider AI investment boom.
Podcast #125: Dealmakers 2026
In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: To mark NBR’s annual Dealmakers series we’ve been at the NZX’s first-ever Tech Investors Day. We talk to bankers from UBS, Chapman Tripp partner Roger Wallis, and two companies – Mint and AoFrio – about the challenges of raising Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #124: Treasury boss Iain Rennie
LISTEN/WATCH: What does the Prefu mean for you and is it already out of date? WATCH: Treasury chief executive Iain Rennie joins senior journalist Simon Shepherd on The NBR Podcast. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: The numbers look rosier but the risk remains. The financial future of New Zealand depends on the work of the Treasury, so when it opens the books for the election, everyone is poring over the economic tea leaves. Which is why we have Treasury Want to read more?
Liquidators take failed SolarZero directors to court
Directors are alleged to have caused ‘significant losses’ to creditors. Liquidators of Government-backed solar energy company SolarZero have filed High Court proceedings against four former directors of the company. Adele Hicks and Malcolm Moore from Grant Thornton NZ have brought the claim against the directors of Lunar Infinity Ltd, which was formerly known as Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #123: Victoria Harris on bending The Curve
LISTEN/WATCH: Victoria Harris is taking a female-first approach to investing with her new managed fund named after the successful podcast, The Curve. Victoria Harris is taking a female-first approach to investing with her new managed fund named after the successful podcast, The Curve.
Podcast #122: Sam Stubbs vs the finance industry
LISTEN/WATCH: The founder of Simplicity celebrates 10 years of KiwiSaver and says fund manager fees should be capped by the Government. WATCH: Simplicity founder Sam Stubbs speaks with Simon Shepherd. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Simplicity founder Sam Stubbs celebrates 10 years and says maybe it’s time the Government regulated fees charged by KiwiSaver funds.
Police notified as Hatch investors’ data hacked
Stolen details include income, assets and portfolio value. Share trading platform Hatch New Zealand investors who use the share trading platform Hatch may have had their sensitive personal data stolen after its American provider was hacked. Customer details taken could include income and net asset range, portfolio value and cash balance, as well as their name, address, phone number, Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Failed property developer sentenced over Covid 19 fraud
Martin Kells will serve community detention after falsely claiming $70,800 from a small business support scheme. A bankrupted Auckland developer once behind a failed waterfront property project has been sentenced to 6 months community detention for a Covid 19 fraud. Martin Kenneth Kells faced a representative charge of dishonestly using a document to get money he wasn‘t entitled to when he appeared for Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #121: Election 2026 - Small Business Debate
LISTEN/WATCH: Who is the party for small business? National’s Nicola Willis and Labour’s Barbara Edmonds state their cases. WATCH: Finance minister Nicola Willis and Labour finance spokesperson debate small business with Simon Shepherd. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: National has long touted itself as the party for small business but Labour has been rolling out policy after policy.
Podcast #120: Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman
LISTEN: The economy has tightened so the Reserve Bank hikes the cash rate – why? WATCH: RBNZ Governor Anna Breman speaks with Simon Shepherd. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Fresh from delivering an OCR raise, the Reserve Bank Governor sits down to talk about what’s happening in our two-speed economy, dealing with politicians like Winston Peters, and whether she’s mastered the art of choosing her words Want to read more? It's easy.
Featured Rich Listers: Gallagher family
The Gallagher Group had a changing of the guard last year with both Sir John and Sir William retiring from the board of the family company, replaced by sons Ian and Keith, who work in the business. Sir William Gallagher.
Podcast #119: Election 2026 – Saving for the future
LISTEN: There’s a political push to make KiwiSaver compulsory, like the Aussies have. Should we? WATCH: NBR Senior journalist Simon Shepherd discusses compulsory Kiwisaver and New Zealands saving future. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Make KiwiSaver compulsory and we could turbocharge savings up to $1 trillion. The finance sector is keen but others are not.
‘Bargain’ buy boosts Sky TV’s performance
The bargain basement buy of Three and ThreeNow for $1 has paid off for Sky TV. Advertising revenue for the Sky TV group more than doubled to $131 million in what chief executive Sophie Moloney called a ‘step change’ after absorbing the former WBD channels into Sky Free 11 months ago. Merging Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #118: The Lawyers 2026
LISTEN: It’s the second NBR series focusing on our legal industry – and it’s doing okay! WATCH: NBR co-editor Hamish McNicol discusses The Lawyers series with podcast host Simon Shepherd. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: The second edition of NBR’s focus series, The Lawyers, has found that when times are tough, people need their lawyers. Which means the industry is thriving. NBR co-editor Hamish McNicol has surveyed the big and small firms about how busy Want to read more?
Google outage affects users across New Zealand and Australia
The search giant says there is no workaround while engineers establish the root cause. Google says multiple users of its services in New Zealand and Australia are finding the service 'slow'. Its Google Workspace Dashboard shows an incident began around midday New Zealand time. "Our engineering team is currently working on a potential fix while continuing to investigate the full root Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #117: NZR CEO Steve Lancaster on not pleasing everyone
LISTEN: What’s it like to step into a job, watch a friend get sacked, chase tens of millions of dollars, and carry a nation’s hopes? WATCH/LISTEN: New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Lancaster joins Simon Shepherd on The NBR Podcast. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Steve Lancaster is in for a big chat.
Morrison appoints former Biden diplomat for new global group
Dr Kurt Campbell was previously US Deputy Secretary of State and responsible for the Indo-Pacific. Former US diplomat Dr Kurt Campbell will head Morrison's new global advisory group. New Zealand-founded infrastructure investment manager Morrison has set up a new global advisory group to help navigate shifting geo-political risks like energy security and technology supply chains. Its founding member is Dr Kurt Campbell, who was Deputy Secretary of State under President Want to read more? It's easy.
Insurance industry renews call for tax cuts on health schemes
Research commissioned by the Financial Services Council says it could lead to a $198 million economic boost. Financial Services Council chief executive Kirk Hope. Research commissioned by the Financial Services Council claims that removing the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) on health insurance offered by employers could boost New Zealand’s economy by almost $200 million. The modelling was carried out by NZIER and released at the council's annual Amplify Want to read more? It's easy.
Featured Rich Listers: Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay
Featured Rich Listers: Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay Last year was a landmark year for the Lindsays after Brendan was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and philanthropy. Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay. © All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription. Category: Investment $875 million See all profiles, rankings and feature articles on The NBR Rich List 2026 home page.
Podcast #116: Rob Morrison
In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Rob Morrison wears two important hats. He is chair of Kiwi company Morrison & Co, which flies under the radar while doing global infrastructure deals worth billions. He also chairs Invest NZ, the government agency tasked with attracting Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
William Gibson fights ‘draconian’ order freezing his NZ assets
Law Egyptian billionaire family is pursuing the Kiwi businessman as well as Eric Watson and 12 others in a US$100m fraud case. Sam Watson and his father Eric are both defendants in the litigation. Kiwi businessman and longtime Eric Watson associate William Gibson has asked an Auckland High Court judge to dismiss ‘draconian’ orders freezing his New Zealand assets. Gibson and another Watson associate, Tim Connell, are being pursued by five claimants, led by Voltaire Capital Holdings.
Kahl Betham’s ‘real burning desire to actually be an owner’
Outgoing Gallagher chief executive reveals his next move after 30 years at the Kiwi company. Outgoing Gallagher CEO Kahl Betham. “I've got this statistic in my mind that you spend 90% of the time with your kids before they leave home.” That’s one of the main reasons Gallagher Group chief executive Kahl Betham is leaving the company after almost 30 years. His four children are aged between 16 and eight. When Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #115: The property plunge
LISTEN: The housing market is staying down, so could this time really be different? In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: is our obsession with buying and selling houses over? There are some regional bright spots but the overall market remains down and it’s a hard slog for builders and investors. Our new love interest, it seems, is shares – but we’re Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #114: The art of ‘lawfare’
LISTEN: How Kiwi startup Montoux was ‘devastated’ after a legal stoush with a massive American competitor. LISTEN: Montoux director Serge Van Dam and Chapmann Tripp partner Matt Sumpter discuss the use and side-effects of 'Lawfare' with Simon Shepherd. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Do Kiwi startups and their founders need to toughen up when it comes to taking on big competitors in the courts?
Gallagher Group chief executive Kahl Betham resigns
Gallagher Group chief executive Kahl Betham is to leave the iconic Kiwi company after almost 30 years, including five of them in the top job. Betham will stay for the next nine months, until the end of the 2027 financial year. He joined Gallagher in 1997 as a software engineer and from 2015 led
Podcast #113: Too many charities, not enough money
LISTEN: Barnardos boss Matt Reid on the charity’s generational plan to invest in Kiwi kids. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: “It has never been this bad for children in Aotearoa,” says the CEO of Barnardos. In a wide-ranging interview, Matt Reid says too many charities chasing the same dollars means some have to close or merge. He also takes exception to the Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #112: Super El Niño economics
In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: So we’ve had a recent drought, high inflation, and the war in the Middle East. Now a Super El Niño has been declared, peaking in late spring. We look at what it means for farmers, fishers, and the overall health of the economy. All the Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #111: Commerce Minister Cameron Brewer seeks FMA reset
LISTEN: The new commerce minister is interviewed on the market regulator, supermarket competition, and the shape of our capital markets. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: With the FMA losing its chair and the CEO leaving next year, Commerce Minister Cameron Brewer says it's time for a reset. Brewer is the third minister to hold the post this political term and sits down for his first extended interview on the Want to read more? It's easy.
Wealthy family member jailed for child sex offences gets parole
A member of a wealthy family who was last year convicted and jailed for possessing thousands of files depicting child sexual abuse has been granted parole after serving less than 11 months in jail. The 46-year-old man, who has permanent name suppression, appeared before the Parole Board on June 24, where his parole was approved. He will be released on July 8, a Parole Board spokesperson confirmed, with a written decision expected by the end of this week.
Podcast #110: The China slowdown
LISTEN: Economic activity in our biggest trading partner is dropping off, so what does that mean for Kiwi companies? In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Once dependent on property to fire its economic engine, China is pivoting to AI and robotics. The country is now producing more robots than babies. So we took the pod to the annual China Business Summit to hear what’s happening under the Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #109: SpaceX to the Moon
LISTEN: The biggest-ever listing and the world’s first trillionaire. One week on from going public, how has SpaceX been trading and will the money-go-round ever stop spinning? In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: The stock popped 40% and, at one stage, SpaceX was worth more than Amazon. Yet it doesn’t make money. A week on, we ask whether the valuation was justified and where will it go from here? Plus, could there be an investor windfall for NZ’s Want to read more? It's easy.
Featured Newcomers: Faull family
Gavin Faull’s target is to expand the Swiss-Belhotel global portfolio to 530 hotels comprising 60,000 rooms by 2035. Gavin Faull and his three sons, from left: Mathew, Edward, and Oliver. Category: Tech & Services $100 million See all profiles, rankings and feature articles on The NBR Rich List 2026 home page. After a Covid-induced hiatus, hotelier Gavin Faull and his family are back on the NBR Rich List. As co-owner and president of the Swiss-Belhotel International hospitality Want to read more?
Unlocking Aotearoa: tech guru Bowen Pan
WATCH: The final in our weekly series on what is holding Aotearoa back, and how we can unleash its potential. WATCH: Growth NZ co-founder Bowen Pan speaks with NBR senior journalist Simon Shepherd.
Podcast #108: The 40th NBR Rich List
LISTEN: Co-editor Hamish McNicol outlines who’s up and who’s down and how the wealthiest of the wealthy have changed over the past 40 years. NBR co-editor Hamish McNicol covers off 40 years of Rich List reporting. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: The 40th edition of the NBR Rich List reveals that the wealth of NZ’s wealthiest has rocketed by $27b in just 12 months. So, what’s driving it? Which people and families have moved the most? And how many Newcomers are there?
Unlocking Aotearoa: entrepreneur Cecilia Robinson
WATCH: Our weekly series on what is holding Aotearoa back, and how we can unleash its potential. WATCH: Tend founder & co-CEO Cecilia Robinson speaks to NBR senior journalist Simon Shepherd. NBR believes business leaders should be both seen and heard.
Podcast #107: Gallagher – on track to $1 billion
LISTEN: We are marking this week’s Fieldays with iconic Waikato company Gallagher Group. CEO Kahl Betham says Gallagher’s enjoying a ‘hockey stick’ moment that will take it to $1b in revenue. WATCH/LISTEN: Gallagher Group CEO Kahl Betham joins Simon Shepherd. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Company growth is 'rocketing'. And while there has been a changing of the guard at board level, Gallagher is still family-owned.
Unlocking Aotearoa: Naomi Ballantyne
WATCH: Our new weekly series on what is holding Aotearoa back, and how we can unleash its potential. WATCH: Insurance entrepreneur Naomi Ballantyne speaks to NBR senior journalist Simon Shepherd. NBR believes business leaders should be both seen and heard.
‘Money makes a difference’: Customs fights name suppression
Law Permanent name suppression was given to wealthy family member convicted of possessing thousands of child sex abuse files. A High Court judge has reserved his decision on whether permanent name suppression should be lifted for a member of a wealthy family convicted of possessing child sex abuse material. The 46-year-old man was jailed last August for two years, five months for importing and possessing 11,775 Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #106: Would you trust a humanoid?
LISTEN: There’s a new data gold rush and it’s all about training physical AI for robots. Perhaps people are just training their replacements. In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: Would you trust a humanoid? Former Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley tells us her answer after a robot asked the question during a conference in China. There’s plenty of humanoid hype around but their development needs a new ‘physical Want to read more? It's easy.
Unlocking Aotearoa: Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust CEO Lisa Davis
WATCH: Our weekly series on what is holding Aotearoa back, and how we can unleash its potential. WATCH: Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust CEO Lisa Davies speaks with Simon Shepherd. NBR believes business leaders should be both seen and heard. So, with an election looming in November and global politics in turmoil, we are running a limited series of interviews each Wednesday with chief executives, chairs and founders, based on a common theme: What is holding the country back Want to read more? It's easy.
Podcast #105: Grant Baker talks vodka, cars, and cancer
LISTEN: He’s a serial business builder of some of our most well-known companies. Grant Baker looks back on big deals, his love for Ferraris, and why bowel cancer didn’t slow him down. Businessman Grant Baker speaks to Simon Shepherd.
Unlocking Aotearoa: TPT Group founder Mike Marr
WATCH: Our weekly series on what is holding Aotearoa back, and how we can unleash its potential. NBR believes business leaders should be both seen and heard. So, with an election looming in November and global politics in turmoil, we are running a limited series of interviews each Wednesday with chief executives, chairs and founders, based on a common theme: What is holding the country back Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Govt to cut 8700 public service jobs
Finance Minister wants to save $2.4b through merging departments and AI efficiencies. Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Public service job cuts, merged departments and AI efficiencies are all part of the Government’s plan to save $2.4 billion over the next four years. At a pre-budget speech to Business North Harbour in Auckland’s northern suburbs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis outlined three goals to Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Podcast #104: what's next for NZX as CEO exits
In this episode of The NBR Podcast with Simon Shepherd: The highs and lows of leading the NZX. After nine years Mark Peterson is making an exit. He says the 'house is now in order', it's investing and wealth technologies are growing but acknowledges it's a tough competition for capital with other Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
Govt cuts $300m from budget operating allowance
Union says cuts will further damage public sector and drive more experienced workers away. The Prime Minister says the next Budget has been signed off with a $300 million reduction in operating spend. In a pre-Budget speech organised by Business NZ in Auckland this afternoon, Christopher Luxon said the new net operating package would be $2.1 billion rather than December’s forecast Want to read more? It's easy. Choose your subscription Already have an account?
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