Shared Lunch

Electricity demand worldwide is booming, but New Zealand’s numbers are surprisingly flat. Octopus energy's Margaret Cooney explains why, and what could flip the switch. For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunchShared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Octopus Energy has over 11 million customers worldwide and a reputation as an innovator—but Octopus NZ COO Margaret Cooney says that in Aotearoa, market settings are holding them back. In the face of security of supply issues and rising costs, Margaret believes our energy sector has been “complacent” for too long. So are there smarter ways to optimise power delivery? Should we be importing innovations like 'zero-bill homes'? What will it take for the country to get ahead of the demand curve? And if we have more than 50 electricity providers, why does Margaret say choice is dwindling for Kiwi households? Plus, Margaret explains how technology can help consumers schedule their demand to reduce power bills and support the adoption of renewables.  For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunchShared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stewart Hamilton is 12 months into his role as CEO of Mercury NZ—and despite a record-dry year and a dip in earnings, he's forecasting a billion-dollar 2026. In this episode, he lays out what’s next for Mercury and its investors. How are Mercury and other big players teaming up to secure NZ’s troubled power supply—and are they forming an energy "cartel" in the eyes of the Commerce Commission? Would breaking up the big energy gentailers help make electricity affordable, or is the current model more efficient? Does the Government’s stake in Mercury create a conflict of interest? Hear about the "renaissance" of geothermal energy, Mercury’s focus on new generation projects, and the role New Zealand could play in training AI. For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are so many Kiwi packing up for Australia? Kiwibank economist Jarrod Kerr says it’s not just better wages—it’s savings, infrastructure, and an economy that’s simply outpacing ours. From compulsory super to big bold projects, Jarrod compares what Aussie gets right and NZ could improve on. For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunchShared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do we need to slash interest rates even further to get the economy going? Jarrod Kerr, Kiwibank Chief Economist, reckons the Reserve Bank needs to do more.  Hear Jarrod’s belief that politicians have skimped on infrastructure investment for 30 years, and why he’s not afraid of increasing the deficit. What does the reality of US tariffs mean for Kiwi exporters and consumers? What makes the economy healthier in certain places—with Christchurch topping Wellington, and Australia topping Aotearoa? Do governing parties need more time between elections to get things done? For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunchShared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

💸 From lotto to a “life raft” against inflation — is crypto gambling, the next property boom, or a store of wealth like Bitcoin believers say? In this quick bite, we dig into why more Kiwis are paying attention to Bitcoin, what drives the hype, and why trust (and education) matters.This quick bite is from our previous episode 'Creating opportunity in a cost of living crisis' For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Kemeys—podcaster, business advisor, and recipient of a CAANZ fellowship for his work as a money educator—shares the biggest thing he sees holding people back from financial success.  Hear where Luke sees opportunities to get ahead during lean times, and why he believes action is the antidote to money anxieties. Find out why he chose to ditch the housing market, his views on Bitcoin, and how our brains perceive the risks and rewards of shares, property investing, and playing the lottery.  We also hear how business owners in NZ skew much older than other nations, and how this could play into the massive wealth transfer as older generations leave the workforce.  For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leverage can supercharge your gains… or wipe you out. In this bonus clip from our previous episode with Bryce from Equity Mates, we break down how leveraged ETFs work, why they’re tempting, and the real risks behind those big returns. Hear how leverage can range from cautious gearing strategies to the “rollercoaster” of triple-leveraged Bitcoin.Plus, lessons from Warren Buffett’s 50+ years of investing, and why even the legendary stock picker backs simple index funds for the long haul.For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunchShared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch this on YouTubeWhen the options are overwhelming and the markets are choppy, are ETFs the answer? Bryce Leske from Equity Mates tells us why exchange-traded funds have become central to his investing strategy, and how they can help investors get past the ‘paradox of choice’ and sleep better at night. Bryce covers the basics on how ETFs work, how they’re different from traditional shares, and why he believes in them. We explore fund categories from classic index funds to thematic ETFs that focus on trends like AI or cryptocurrency.  Find out how to choose an ETF that fits your strategy, and why it's important to pay attention to the management fees, not the share price.  For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunchShared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curious how company leaders assess value? In this Quick Bite, Susannah Batley asks Channel Infrastructure CEO Rob Buchanan which metrics matter most to him. Drawing on decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), Rob shares the key indicators he uses to gauge performance, from dividend yield to free cash flow, and explains why cash generation often tells a clearer story than headline numbers. Plus, he reflects on what makes a smart acquisition and why knowing your strengths is crucial before taking on something new. For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website. Investing involves risk. You might lose the money you start with. If you require financial advice, you should consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of the presenters, guests, or the entities they represent. Their views are their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.