Business Writer
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
![Christopher Niesche: Australia’s corporate scandals have exposed leadership failures](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Australia’s corporate scandals have exposed leadership failures
Optus, Qantas and PwC have all been embroiled in controversy.
![Christopher Niesche: Wannabe Aussie first home buyers sailing in troubled waters](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Wannabe Aussie first home buyers sailing in troubled waters
OPINION: Why home ownership will increasingly be determined by who one's parents are.
![Christopher Niesche: A lesson for Optus - don’t mock your customers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: A lesson for Optus - don’t mock your customers
A handy crisis management tip.
![Opinion: No one copped more wrath from Qantas investors than this man](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Opinion: No one copped more wrath from Qantas investors than this man
Executives are now flying economy "more often".
![Christopher Niesche: Diabetes ‘miracle’ drug slims health industry profits](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Diabetes ‘miracle’ drug slims health industry profits
Will the rise of Ozempic keep eating into other companies' profits?
![Christopher Niesche: RBA’s rate hikes finally starting to bite](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: RBA’s rate hikes finally starting to bite
OPINION: RBA says many households are experiencing a "painful squeeze on their finances".
![Christopher Niesche: Qantas scandals show bosses are boys in a bubble](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Qantas scandals show bosses are boys in a bubble
OPINION: Investors are wondering why Qantas CEO Alan Joyce got away with so much.
![Departing Qantas boss leaves train wreck in his wake](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Departing Qantas boss leaves train wreck in his wake
OPINION: There is hardly a stakeholder group Qantas hasn’t antagonised.
![Another ‘banana republic’ moment](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Another ‘banana republic’ moment
Report paints a bleak picture of how Australia and NZ will cope with ageing populations.
![Christopher Niesche: Why Australia’s commercial property sector is feeling the squeeze](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Why Australia’s commercial property sector is feeling the squeeze
OPINION: Vacancy rates in Sydney and Melbourne towers are running around 15 per cent.
![Christopher Niesche: Aussie accounting scandal - profits before principles](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Aussie accounting scandal - profits before principles
OPINION: The big Aussie accountancy firms have only themselves to blame.
![Christopher Niesche: PwC scandal and fire sale leaves questions open](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: PwC scandal and fire sale leaves questions open
Opinion: It’s hard not to have some sympathy for the partners in PwC scandal.
![Australia's largest law firm held ransom by cyber attack](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Australia's largest law firm held ransom by cyber attack
Plus: Aussie set to follow NZ into recession.
![PwC’s future in Australia under threat as tax advice crisis grows](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
PwC’s future in Australia under threat as tax advice crisis grows
Business with 9200 employees and A$2.6 billion in annual revenue is under pressure.
![Opinion: Reputational stench could linger around PwC Australia for some time](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Opinion: Reputational stench could linger around PwC Australia for some time
The scandal currently engulfing the "Big Four" accounting firm has a long way to run.
![Australia gets first Budget surplus in 15 years](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Australia gets first Budget surplus in 15 years
Billions in incentives for doctors to provide more free consultations, energy bill relief.
![Christopher Niesche: Funeral firm’s classic dance around takeover bid](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Funeral firm’s classic dance around takeover bid
The steps (and missteps) around a private equity firm's bid to take over InvoCare.
![Christopher Niesche: Only the brave would bet against the ‘dream team of retail’](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Only the brave would bet against the ‘dream team of retail’
Aussie retail giants eye expansion in the current downturn.
![Christopher Niesche: Will the Silicon Valley Bank collapse cause judders down under?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Will the Silicon Valley Bank collapse cause judders down under?
There are key differences from the setup in the US.
![Christopher Niesche: Greenwashing becoming harder to get away with](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Greenwashing becoming harder to get away with
Regulators put companies' emissions profiles under the spotlight.
![How Aussie winemaker adapted after being shut out by China](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
How Aussie winemaker adapted after being shut out by China
Australian wine exports plunged from $1.3 billion before the 2020 tariffs to $12.4m.
![Christopher Niesche: RBA looks for signs of consumer spending drop-off](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: RBA looks for signs of consumer spending drop-off
When will Aussies cut their spending enough to cool inflation?
![Christopher Niesche: Billionaires were bound to fall out](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Billionaires were bound to fall out
Daring project: Moguls planned world's largest solar farm. What went wrong?
![Christopher Niesche: Irony and steel as race to curb emissions has a tariff twist](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Irony and steel as race to curb emissions has a tariff twist
Green tariff for swathe of goods including cement, electricty and others.
![Christopher Niesche: Rate hikes fail to deter Aussies from flying and buying](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Rate hikes fail to deter Aussies from flying and buying
What the performances of Qantas and Harvey Norman say about the heat in the Aus economy.
![What went wrong with the ASX’s technology upgrade?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
What went wrong with the ASX’s technology upgrade?
Failure of the project is a blow to Australia's reputation as a modern financial centre.
![Christopher Niesche: Betr’s big gamble pays off - but its losses could have been huge](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Betr’s big gamble pays off - but its losses could have been huge
A promotional bet could have cost Betr between A$30 million and A$50m.
![Christopher Niesche: The downside to Victoria premier's green power plan](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: The downside to Victoria premier's green power plan
Three coal generators in the state will be forced to close earlier than expected.
![Christopher Niesche: A big green deal for Supermarket giant Coles](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: A big green deal for Supermarket giant Coles
Plus: Why are Australians the richest people in the world?
![Christopher Niesche: Airline's passengers lose patience](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Airline's passengers lose patience
Frustrated travellers will no longer cut the airline any slack.
![Christopher Niesche: Mining giant BHP eyes OZ Minerals in billion-dollar deal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Mining giant BHP eyes OZ Minerals in billion-dollar deal
BHP has its eyes squarely on the future.
![Why shareholders are nervous as ANZ eyes Suncorp](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Why shareholders are nervous as ANZ eyes Suncorp
On the face of it, the A$4.9 billiontakeover looks like a good idea.
![Christopher Niesche: Buy now pay later pain, CEO bonuses soaring](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Buy now pay later pain, CEO bonuses soaring
End of a boom in one sector but no end to huge bonuses for CEOs
![Christopher Niesche: Neobank Volt's exit a blow for all Aussie bank customers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Neobank Volt's exit a blow for all Aussie bank customers
Volt was one of a handful of neobanks promising to challenge the Big Four.
![Christopher Niesche: Australia in midst of mergers and acquisitions boom](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Australia in midst of mergers and acquisitions boom
But what happens when the private equity firms start to hop off the merry-go-round?
![Christopher Niesche: First home buyer relief may soon sour](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: First home buyer relief may soon sour
There are a lot of mortgage holders out there who will struggle if rates rise much more.
![Christopher Niesche: Australian budget looks no further than end of May](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Australian budget looks no further than end of May
COMMENT: Budget full of one-off cash payments but little to address structural issues.
![Christopher Niesche: Board and management must be held to account for casino's activities](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Board and management must be held to account for casino's activities
Review reveals major failings in governance and oversight at Australian casino group.
![Christopher Niesche: The big challenge to billionaire's bid to turn Australia's energy market green](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: The big challenge to billionaire's bid to turn Australia's energy market green
AGL shareholders will need to decide which option is the best for creating value.
![Christopher Niesche: Fund manager loses his halo as share price tumbles](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Fund manager loses his halo as share price tumbles
When investors lose faith, it's tough to win it back, writes Christopher Niesche.
![Christopher Niesche: Australian firms, laid low by Omicron, turn to RAT-hunting](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Australian firms, laid low by Omicron, turn to RAT-hunting
Covid variant has cut a swathe through businesses across the Tasman.
![Australia updates its payment system rules for the age of the digital wallet](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Australia updates its payment system rules for the age of the digital wallet
Govt eager to level playing field between high-tech payment providers and the banks.
![Why some Aussie electricians are now earning $130,000](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Why some Aussie electricians are now earning $130,000
Two Aussie law firms have raised lawyers' salaries by 10 per cent, another by 15 per cent.
![Christopher Niesche: Australian banking giant positioning itself to capitalise on a decarbonising world](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Australian banking giant positioning itself to capitalise on a decarbonising world
Macquarie has more than 300 renewable energy projects in the pipeline.
![Christopher Niesche: The remarkable turnaround of Aus pay TV network Foxtel](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: The remarkable turnaround of Aus pay TV network Foxtel
Christopher Niesche finds that the death of pay TV may have been exaggerated.
![Christopher Niesche: Australia risks trade sanctions over climate change failings](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Australia risks trade sanctions over climate change failings
The country is still going full steam ahead with coal mine development.
![Christopher Niesche: A shot in the arm for Australia's economy](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: A shot in the arm for Australia's economy
The big question is what the state Premiers decide to do.
![Mining giant BHP turning its back on fossil fuels - will investors follow?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Mining giant BHP turning its back on fossil fuels - will investors follow?
Will investors be happy with a smaller BHP – one without petroleum and less coal?
![Christopher Niesche: Why Aussie banks are snapping up broadband companies](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Why Aussie banks are snapping up broadband companies
OPINION: Why banks are looking to offer their customers something different.
![One in ten Aussies a US dollar millionaire - how does NZ compare?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
One in ten Aussies a US dollar millionaire - how does NZ compare?
Being a millionaire doesn't mean what it once did.
![Christopher Niesche: Billionaire Kerry Stokes soon to notch up another big win](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Billionaire Kerry Stokes soon to notch up another big win
The dyslexic boy from the slums of Melbourne outsmarts business rivals to build a fortune.
![Investors the losers from Australia's move on proxy firms](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Investors the losers from Australia's move on proxy firms
Super funds will be less aware of the performance of companies they have invest in
![Christopher Niesche: China's punitive tariffs on Australian goods](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: China's punitive tariffs on Australian goods
OPINION: Treasury Wines has accepted that the China market is effectively closed to it.
![Christopher Niesche: Australian house prices surge back up](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Australian house prices surge back up
COMMENT: House prices in Australia are rapidly scaling new heights.
![Christopher Niesche: Governments need to come down hard on Facebook](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Governments need to come down hard on Facebook
Facebook has show why governments need to come down on it like a ton of bricks.
![Christopher Niesche: Google's threat to turn Australia's search function off](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Google's threat to turn Australia's search function off
OPINION: Google is willing to forgo its hefty earnings from the Australian market.
![Australian Govt caves to pressure from Google, Facebook](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Australian Govt caves to pressure from Google, Facebook
Facebook threatened to stop showing news by Australian media companies in its feeds.
![Christopher Niesche: Australia's plan to stamp out inequitable property tax](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Australia's plan to stamp out inequitable property tax
COMMENT: New South Wales Government introducing a bold plan to abolish stamp duty.
![Renewable energy: Covid an opportunity to reduce emissions and create jobs](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Renewable energy: Covid an opportunity to reduce emissions and create jobs
COMMENT: Countries can meet their emissions reduction targets as they create jobs.
![Christopher Niesche: Review of AMP assets - could this spell the end?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Review of AMP assets - could this spell the end?
COMMENT: AMP board has kicked off a review of all of its businesses and assets.
![Chris Niesche: Seek's short term pain and JB Hi-Fi's gain](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Chris Niesche: Seek's short term pain and JB Hi-Fi's gain
The winners and losers in Australia's financial reporting season.
![Christopher Niesche: Rio Tinto's controversial business move in Australia](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Rio Tinto's controversial business move in Australia
COMMENT: The miner's decision to put profit ahead of principle might yet backfire.
![Christopher Niesche: Will Aussie mortgage holiday extension delay the inevitable?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Will Aussie mortgage holiday extension delay the inevitable?
Almost 900,000 home borrowers and businesses have deferred AU$266 billion worth of loans.
![Niesche: Qantas CEO moves to slim down airline for survival](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Niesche: Qantas CEO moves to slim down airline for survival
Plan came a day before Bain Capital bought Virgin Australia.
![Christopher Niesche: Aussie PM back to his old tricks](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Aussie PM back to his old tricks
COMMENT: Scott Morrison is hoping to kickstart Oz economy with a home renovation boom.
![The rebel Aussie tenant who acted fast when Covid-19 hit](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
The rebel Aussie tenant who acted fast when Covid-19 hit
Solomon Lew didn't wait for permission to stop paying rent.
![Billionaire's China stance puts pressure on government](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Billionaire's China stance puts pressure on government
COMMENT: How much are we prepared to let China push us around?
![Christopher Niesche: ASX bounce doesn't gel with harsh reality](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: ASX bounce doesn't gel with harsh reality
COMMENT: The index is now just 23 per cent off its record high in February.
![Christopher Niesche: Is Govt aid enough to keep economies intact long term?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Is Govt aid enough to keep economies intact long term?
COMMENT: The downturn is likely to be much deeper than the SARS-induced downturn in 2002.
![Christopher Niesche: What IPO failures tell investors about the share market](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: What IPO failures tell investors about the share market
Fund managers have been burned by several dismal floats in the past few years
![Christopher Niesche: Banks must blame themselves for tougher controls](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Banks must blame themselves for tougher controls
Disclosure of information that is too complex doesn't help consumers.
![Christopher Niesche: How Westfield's technology start-up came unstuck](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: How Westfield's technology start-up came unstuck
Plus, why house prices in Sydney and Melbourne are roaring back
![Christopher Niesche: Something sour about Aussie dairy deal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Something sour about Aussie dairy deal
Christopher Niesche takes a more cynical at the facts behind the Bellamy sale.
![Christopher Niesche: Lifting lid on loyalty schemes](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Lifting lid on loyalty schemes
Most of us have no idea what we're giving up in exchange for rewards.
![Christopher Niesche: Results hint at retail recovery in Oz](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Results hint at retail recovery in Oz
COMMENT: JB Hi-Fi's strong results continue without much help from the internet.
![New Zealand's shock cash rate cut sends ripples across Tasman](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
New Zealand's shock cash rate cut sends ripples across Tasman
COMMENT: NZ move has reminded Aussies how vulnerable their much larger economy is.
![Niesche: Miner's green move breaks new ground](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Niesche: Miner's green move breaks new ground
COMMENT: BHP Billiton is drawing a powerful line in sand for industry.
![Christopher Niesche: Where's the consumer guarantee for property?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Christopher Niesche: Where's the consumer guarantee for property?
COMMENT: Australia could learn a thing or two from New Zealand's leaky building crisis.