2025 NZIA Canterbury Award

3.0% OCR – and heading lower. Is this the moment your business says YES instead of ‘not yet’? Yesterday’s Reserve Bank announcement wasn’t just another rate cut. Dropping the OCR to 3.0% , with Reserve Bank now signalling a reforecast OCR track towards ~2.5% . This marks a decisive shift in the effort to reignite growth across New Zealand. Here’s what matters: - A split vote at the RBNZ , with two members pushing for a deeper 0.5% cut – urgency is building. - The once “neutral” OCR of 3% has been redefined lower. That’s a reflection of how persistent the post-Covid economic drag has been. - 40% of Kiwi households will refix mortgages in the next 6 months. Lower rates mean more disposable income – and more confidence – flowing into the economy. For mid-market business owners , this is a moment of opportunity. Affordability and confidence are the twin engines of investment – and both just got a boost. If your business has strong cashflow and a clear strategy, the next 12 months could be the time to act: whether that’s growth investment , expansion , or capitalising on opportunities others hesitate on. A reminder worth repeating: politicians don’t save economies – business owners do . Policymakers build the platform, but it’s businesses that drive recovery.  With financing conditions improving and recent Investment Boost scheme announced by government adding fuel, the platform is being built. The real question is: who will be bold enough to use it?

Last week we were delighted to host at our offices our second event featuring Sharon Zollner, Chief Economist at ANZ, who presented on the challenges and opportunities shaping the economic outlook for 2025 and the coming year. With her trademark clarity and engaging style, Sharon shared her expert analysis on key trends in forecasting and economic performance—offering valuable context to navigating an increasingly complex environment. From inflation and interest rates to global market dynamics, her insights were both timely and highly relevant. Attendees from our client base and network responded enthusiastically, highlighting the value of Sharon’s ability to make complex topics accessible and actionable. We’d like to thank everyone who joined us, and especially Sharon for her time and expertise. Events like this are part of our commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for discussion among our clients and networks. If you'd like a copy of Sharon's presentation, please email rachel@anthempartners.co.nz