Infoblaze New Zealand (2025)

28/09/2025

Localsville Launches to Boost Local Connections and Businesses in New Zealand

Auckland entrepreneur Julie MacCulloch has launched Localsville, a new online service designed to connect communities, foster friendships, and drive customers to local businesses — all while encouraging safe, independent socialising.

The St Heliers–based founder says the platform is a culmination of years of development, evolving from her earlier ventures into social networking, through to a broader vision of building stronger local economies and communities.

From Dating to Community Connection

Before Covid-19, MacCulloch was working on “5050 Dating,” a niche dating platform with a simple principle — each person pays their own way. The idea aimed to remove any sense of obligation and foster respectful, equal connections. But building a social networking site from scratch proved challenging, and when pandemic restrictions hit, and people had to stay within their bubbles, the dating concept became unworkable….
http://infoblaze.com/news/details/114829

Julie MacCulloch

Via nzentrepreneur.co.nz

25/09/2025

Commerce Commission alleges cartel activity involving significant players in real estate market

The Commerce Commission has today begun civil proceedings alleging cartel conduct in the Christchurch real estate market.

The alleged conduct involves Harcourts franchisees Four Seasons Realty 2017 Limited, Gold Real Estate Group Limited, Grenadier Real Estate Limited, and Holmwood Real Estate Limited as well as the businesses’ franchisor, Harcourts Group Limited.

Commerce Commission Chair Dr John Small says because the franchisees competed with each other for customers, entering into agreements that affected the prices they charged customers – including commission rates – constitutes alleged cartel conduct under the Commerce Act. The franchisor, Harcourts Group, was a party to those agreements....
http://infoblaze.com/news/details/114783

Commerce Commission

25/09/2025

🎣A Taranaki innovation dubbed the "crayfish sea sausage" has won Operational Innovator Award at MPI’s Seafood Sustainability and Innovation Awards 2025.

Made from crayfish waste, the Sustainable Pioke Longline Bait project (aka sea sausage) has gone from strength to strength, having also won the Future Adaptation Award at the 2025 New Zealand Seafood Conference in August.

Starting with an idea from Rob Ansley (Ocean Pearl Fisheries Ltd) and then a call from Egmont Seafoods Ltd in 2023, the project gained immediate support from the Massey University–Venture Taranaki partnership, leading to funding application support, student recruitment, and a $63K scholarship via Bioresource Processing Alliance. The partnership also supported progression from design phase to sea trials, product refinement, and work towards commercialising and upscaling production.

It’s great to see that when local industry has a great idea and leverages the expertise of research partners and the resources available via Venture Taranaki, great things can happen!

Congratulations to Ocean Pearl Fisheries, Egmont Seafoods, Massey University, and the Fiordland Lobster Company on another impressive win.

Photo features Caroline Read, Fishserve Chief Executive (Award Sponsor), Jerome Chua and Keith Mawson

Photo credit: Ministry for Primary Industries

21/09/2025

For many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in New Zealand, cyber security has often been viewed as something only large corporates need to worry about. The perception is that banks, government agencies, and multinationals are the main targets. In reality, SMBs are increasingly being singled out by cyber criminals. Attackers understand that smaller organisations often lack formal processes, dedicated security teams, and layered defences, making them an easier entry point.

The rise in ransomware, phishing, and financial fraud affecting businesses with fewer than 100 staff is evidence of this trend. For some, the consequences have been severe, ranging from reputational damage and financial loss to complete business closure. The cost of a single incident is no longer theoretical. It is being felt directly in profit margins and customer relationships.......
Cyber Security for SMBs in New Zealand: Raising the Standard with SMB1001
http://infoblaze.com/news/details/114718

Niel Chapman

Via nzentrepreneur.co.nz

21/09/2025

Food Recall Alert – Aldi Stores Urban Eats Japanese Style Vegetable Gyoza 750g

ALDI Stores are conducting a recall of the above product. The product has been available for sale in ALDI Stores in NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, SA and WA.

Date Marking: BEST BEFORE 10.04.2027 to 15.06.2027

The recall is due to the presence of foreign matter (glass).

For more information see: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/industry/foodrecalls/recalls/Pages/default.aspx

20/09/2025

Commerce Commission welcomes enhanced focus on competition

The Commerce Commission today welcomed the government’s announcement that it will update the Commerce Act with measures to enhance competition, including to deter creeping acquisitions and predatory pricing, and make changes to the Commission’s governance structure to support its growing role.

“The changes will allow us to accelerate and deepen the direction we are taking to enhance competition in the economy, and improve choice and quality for New Zealanders,” says Dr John Small, Chair of the Commerce Commission.

“The Government’s decisions will ensure the Commission is future-focused and has the right tools. This means we will be ready for the competition challenges in the years ahead.....
http://infoblaze.com/news/details/114704

Commerce Commission

09/09/2025

Business & Economy Headlines - New Zealand
10 September 2025

• Eighty-five workers lose jobs after traffic management company liquidated owing $1.58m https://bit.ly/47Ch1de
• Commerce Commission takes CityFitness to court over hidden fees https://bit.ly/3V97HG7
• Rotorua tech startup Bike Matrix announces collaboration with big German player BIDEX https://bit.ly/46bAZZX
• NZ trade deal to be signed within months, Indian minister says https://bit.ly/4nmXdyP
• Inland Revenue uses ‘advanced data mining’ to track student loan debtors https://bit.ly/3HTcets
• Transpower to spend $1.1b on Cook Strait link upgrade https://bit.ly/3HPzCIj
• ANZ NZ says no big job cuts amid 'Nuno-geddon', staff fear otherwise https://bit.ly/3IeeaN6

http://infoblaze.com/news/details/114604

08/09/2025

Business & Economy Headlines - New Zealand
09 September 2025

• Brookfield closes in on $2b Kiwi energy distribution giant Clarus https://bit.ly/3V6JkJi
• Raising the bar in wine tourism: Casita Miro leads the way https://bit.ly/46hktaP
• Ashley & Co. on its collaboration with Ozone Coffee, a marriage of coffee and beauty https://bit.ly/47zNssO
• Workplace safety failures cost NZ $5.4b, report finds https://bit.ly/46r1Jqt
• Investore taps investors to buy Auckland’s Silverdale Centre https://bit.ly/45WzvE1
• Tourism Holdings to exit Sydney, Brisbane dealerships https://bit.ly/45UukEr
• $745m in a year, $20b in 20 years: the NZ Super Fund's active jackpot https://bit.ly/3JQCYvb
• Contact Energy lodges fast-track application for Southland windfarm https://bit.ly/3Vr9AhL

http://infoblaze.com/news/details/114584

07/09/2025

Business & Economy Headlines - New Zealand
08 September 2025

• Testing the 'world's healthiest breakfast product' https://bit.ly/481nUVu
• Sealord proposing factory closure in Nelson, 79 jobs at risk https://bit.ly/4m010B9
• Our AI strategy needs to include everyone, not just business https://bit.ly/4g8HWiQ
• NZ’s largest Chinese media firm purchased out of insolvency https://bit.ly/4pddyb9
• Xero hour in bid to fix NZ’s productivity problem https://bit.ly/486vr5j
• Modern slavery is not just a moral failure https://bit.ly/4pcJPPw

http://infoblaze.com/news/details/114572

06/09/2025

ComCom action results in $2.25 million penalty for after misleading Kiwi consumers

One of the largest airlines operating in New Zealand, Jetstar, has been fined $2.25 million after misleading consumers about their rights to compensation when flights were delayed or cancelled for reasons within its control, breaching the Fair Trading Act.

Commerce Commission General Manager, Competition, Fair Trading and Credit, Vanessa Horne says it is disappointing that an airline promoting itself as ‘low cost’ has acted in a way that resulted in thousands of consumers being left out of pocket after their claims were unfairly denied, especially when people often had to spend extra on last minute flights and accommodation.

“Jetstar’s conduct was serious, widespread and deserving of one of the biggest penalties ever imposed under the Fair Trading Act,” Ms Horne says.....
http://infoblaze.com/news/details/114543

Commerce Commission

04/09/2025

Business & Economy Headlines - New Zealand

05 September 2025

· Sweet As Choice Bakery owner follows her ambitions to create Kiwi classics https://bit.ly/45MnalI

· More than half of NZ SMEs have experienced cyber threats, says NCSC https://bit.ly/3HV3mn4

· Kathmandu to close 21 stores in bid to turn its fortunes https://bit.ly/4lZ6njY

· New deal to improve gas market transparency https://bit.ly/3V30eZf

· Aotearoa Energy executes NZ’s first exchange-traded gas option https://bit.ly/4ge1OkS

· KMD Brands announces $25m ‘cost reset’ in bid to revive growth https://bit.ly/47tIf5A

· Not just Auckland: Ikea eyes online sales at 25-35% https://bit.ly/45YJmJz

https://bit.ly/4lXjZMI

03/09/2025

Business & Economy Headlines - New Zealand
04 September 2025

• Brand new central Christchurch stores coming https://tinyurl.com/mwcb984u
• Making your cash flow faster with new Kiwibank business app https://tinyurl.com/2sbzh3ws
• How an influencer/content creator partnership can work for a small business brand https://tinyurl.com/3tduzdwc
• NZ sharemarket dragged down by a2, Ebos https://tinyurl.com/cc43dn3x
• New rules cut red tape for food exporters https://tinyurl.com/4w2ppprc
• 'AI is real': Xero CEO unveils new features at Xerocon https://tinyurl.com/29errz4z
• Cook Strait ferry project reaches milestone with shipyard letter of intent https://tinyurl.com/2wxvnvpk

http://infoblaze.com/news/details/114503

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