Entitled or unethical? Big business and the wage subsidy

Entitled or unethical? Big business and the wage subsidy
Rebecca Stevenson
It was designed to pump billions into the hands of business owners; and it did.The wage subsidy scheme, through its several iterations, pushed cash quickly to small business owners who make up the bulk of New Zealand’s employers, and equally to large companies and many listed on the NZX top 50 index.It is the large and listed that have caused some concern. Recently, retailer Briscoes announced it would increase the dividend it will pay shareholders after accessing about $11.5 million in taxpayer-backed funding, and reported a first-half n...

More Economy

First look at NZICC, and SkyCity's hopes for $70m fund
Economy

First look at NZICC, and SkyCity's hopes for $70m fund

SkyCity's COO says a new govt fund should help fill empty hotel rooms across Auckland.

Banks revise economic outlooks for Q2 GDP contraction
Finance

Banks revise economic outlooks for Q2 GDP contraction

Economists now see NZ's GDP contracting in Q2, but doubt a technical recession in Q3.

Adrian Orr’s first commercial post-RBNZ gig revealed
Economy

Adrian Orr’s first commercial post-RBNZ gig revealed

Orr backs the Māori economy in his first executive gig since quitting.

Pattrick Smellie 12 Sep 2025
Retail card spending climbs for third month
Retail

Retail card spending climbs for third month

The total amount spent using electronic cards was $9.3 billion.

Chido Machingura 12 Sep 2025