Shared Lunch

Are New Zealand homes becoming riskier to insure as extreme weather becomes more frequent?

In this clip Tower CEO Paul Johnston explains what the insurer is seeing in its own storm data, and why the cost of weather events has been trending higher. He unpacks how Tower is responding with increasingly granular risk-based pricing and why two homes just one street apart can have very different risk profiles.

This clip is a bonus from our previous episode 'How Tower is pricing a riskier New Zealand'

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Insurance is getting more expensive and more sophisticated, as climate change, extreme weather and rising costs reshape how insurers price risk.

Tower CEO Paul Johnstone explains why the price of risk in New Zealand has materially changed over the past 15 years, and how Tower is using up to a billion data points to price individual properties based on their exposure to hazards like floods, earthquakes, landslides and sea surge.

He also discusses what rising weather-related losses mean for the insurance industry — and why he still believes insurance is a good business to be in. 

P...

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · Jacki Neumann, Head of Capital Markets at Sharesies

Note: Filmed Monday 31 August

↑ WHAT'S UP — US indices edged higher, with the S&P 500 up 0.5% and the Nasdaq up 0.9%, while the ASX 200 added 0.4%, propelled by results including Qantas’ 4.8% jump on a $2.06 billion underlying profit, Coles rising 5%, and NEXTDC beating guidance with revenue up 16% on surging AI infrastructure demand.

↓ WHAT'S DOWN — The NZX 50 fell 1.5% in its worst week since May, snapping three weeks of gains. DroneShield sank 11% despite a 74% revenue jump as it swung to a $32.2 million loss, Air New Zealand posted a $336 million full...

Is New Zealand too conservative with how we reward our top executives, and could that be hurting our public markets?

In this clip from Shared Lunch, Gentrack CEO Gary Miles responds to his headline-making position as the NZX’s highest-paid CEO, and tackles the bigger question of executive pay in New Zealand. Could too much scrutiny of remuneration make it harder for public companies to attract top talent? And is there a risk it pushes more businesses into private ownership?

This clip is a bonus from our previous episode ‘Gentrack chases global power’

For mor...

Gentrack is the NZX-listed software company running the systems behind power companies and airports worldwide, as the energy transition creates challenges in pricing, metering and managing power. 

CEO Gary Miles traces Gentrack’s five-year climb from around $100 million in revenue to about $230 million — and the share price wobble that followed the rollout of its new G2 technology stack. Gary explains where that dip came from, their drive to expand into 40 countries, and why he ended up in the headlines as the NZX's highest-paid CEO.

Plus, why Gentrack bought a Wellington pricing startup that had just one c...

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 24 AUGUST 2026
Jacki Neumann, Head of Capital Markets at Sharesies

Note: Filmed Monday 24 August

↑ WHAT’S UP — The materials sector outperformed the broader ASX, rising 5.6%: BHP's underlying profit jumped 30%, with copper overtaking iron ore as its biggest earnings contributor for the first time, while Evolution Mining rallied over 16%. Healthcare climbed more than 9% driven by CSL and Cochlear, and the NZX 50 bucked the global trend to add 0.9%.

↓ WHAT'S DOWN

US stocks fell under the weight of bond yields, with the S&P 500 down 1.4% and the Nasdaq 2%. The ASX 200 slipped 0.6%, with local...

Debt is everywhere, from mortgages to paying for lunch. But when is it useful, and when does it become a problem?

In this bonus clip from Shared Lunch, Luke Kemeys of Keep the Change breaks down the good and bad sides of debt. He explains why borrowing can be a powerful tool for building wealth, how everyday debt can quietly eat into your cash flow, and why keeping some cash aside matters when life doesn’t go to plan.

Plus, Luke looks at the relationship between debt and investing—and why understanding how your money is s...

Why are we more comfortable talking about our voting preferences than our KiwiSaver balances?

Luke Kemeys of Keep the Change tells us why money is New Zealand's last taboo — and the opportunity cost of that silence. So why do so many Kiwi avoid even sharing their finances with family? What’s the downside of our cultural love of holding cash? Is a culture of Tall Poppies holding back our economy?

Luke shares his own history of credit card debt and the backlash to branding himself as a millionaire, and how normalising wealth conversations could make the...

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 17 AUGUST 2026
Jacki Neumann, Head of Capital Markets at Sharesies

Note: Filmed Monday 17 August

↑ WHAT’S UP — US markets saw slight gains, with the S&P 500 up 0.4% and the Nasdaq up 0.2%, while the NZX 50 added 0.2%. Super Micro jumped 19% on an earnings beat and upbeat guidance, and Commonwealth Bank posted a record annual cash profit of $10.98 billion, up 7%.

↓ WHAT'S DOWN — The ASX 200 fell 1.6%, dragged by financials: Westpac lost almost 6% after a 20% drop in mortgage applications, while Suncorp's and IAG's profits fell 44% and 25% respectively. In the US, solid numbers didn't prevent declines, with RocketL...

AI can scan thousands of stocks and decades of data in minutes—but should it be trusted to make the final call?

In this bonus clip from Shared Lunch, Mike Taylor and Kent Williams of Pie Funds explain how they’re using AI to automate their day-to-day work. They unpack how the technology can speed up investment research, why they stop short of letting AI make trading decisions, and what the rise of the “T-shaped” portfolio manager could mean for the next generation of investors.

This clip is a bonus from our previous episode 'Infrastructure: funding...

Airports and ports, pipelines and power lines. Infrastructure is all around us — and demand for it could be entering one of its biggest booms in generations.

In this episode, Mike Taylor and Kent Williams of Pie Funds unpack what’s driving that demand, from the rapid buildout of AI and data centres to growing pressure on power grids and the electrification of everyday life.

How does Pie decide which infrastructure assets to invest in? Can power supply keep up with rising demand? Will the enormous sums being spent on AI deliver a return? And why is o...

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 11 AUGUST 2026
Jacki Neumann, Head of Capital Markets at Sharesies

Note: Filmed Monday 10 August

↑ WHAT’S UP — The S&P 500 hit a new record close to finish the week up 3.6%, the Nasdaq up 5.2% in its best week since May, and the ASX 200 climbing 3.2% to its own new record. Strong corporate earnings helped power the rally: Palantir jumped 29.5% after 93% revenue growth, AMD posted record quarterly revenue of US$11.5 billion, and SpaceX surged around 23% on its first public results.

↓ WHAT’S DOWN — ResMed shares fell after a mixed underlying result. Oil was choppy, fallin...

Christchurch has quietly become one of New Zealand's strongest economic success stories. Independent economist Tony Alexander shares how affordable housing, a booming tourism sector, and major infrastructure projects, are all driving momentum.

Plus why Auckland still holds the key to New Zealand's overall economic performance, and how projects like the City Rail Link could help shape its future.

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—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...

House prices have fallen four months in a row, and investors are on the sidelines. Is property still Aotearoa's favourite wealth-builder?

Independent economist Tony Alexander gives us an overview of the latest data, where 49% of agents are seeing fewer investors, even as first home buyers finally get a break. Find out how the rising cost of debt changes the maths, why older landlords are selling early, and why Tony warns rates could go higher and stay there longer than most forecasters expect.

Plus, Auckland's townhouse oversupply, a rise in building consents, and what the looming...

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 3 AUGUST 2026
Jacki Neumann, Head of Capital Markets at Sharesies

Note: Filmed Monday 3 August

↑ WHAT’S UP — Equity markets snapped back, with the S&P 500 up around 1%, the Nasdaq up 1.6%, and the ASX 200 gaining 2.3% to break a falling streak. Rio Tinto shared strong results, while Microsoft and Amazon rose on Azure and AWS cloud growth.

↓ WHAT’S DOWN — The 30-year US Treasury yield jumped to its highest level since 2007 as investors demanded more compensation to hold amid lingering inflation doubts. Meta's earnings fell short on legal and AI infrastructure costs and Apple's re...

What actually makes a bank a bank?

New Zealand is overhauling the way our banking system is regulated, meaning that more organisations may soon be able to call themselves a "bank", while new deposit insurance gives you peace of mind. 

University of Auckland finance expert Chanelle Duley explains why more competition isn't always straightforward, what to look for when you choose where to put your money, and how regulation and technology could reshape banking over the next decade.

This is a bonus clip recorded for our episode: Blurring the lines of banking

Who qualifies as a bank? The rules are about to change, and we’ve got questions for Lecturer in Economics Dr. Chanelle Duley and two challengers to the “big four” banks: SBS Bank Group’s Mark McLean and General Capital’s Brent King.

So, will a new definition of “bank” enable these smaller players to rival the Australian-owned market leaders? What do new rules mean for your money’s safety? Find out what the new $100,000 deposit compensation scheme protects, why more competition could finally win you a better rate on your deposits, and whether a smaller, nimbler lender is riskie...

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 28 JULY 2026
Jacki Neumann, Head of Capital Markets at Sharesies

Note: Filmed Tuesday 28 July

↑ WHAT’S UP — Renewed Middle East conflict drove Brent crude oil up nearly 14% for the week and back above US$100 a barrel, lifting ASX energy names like Santos and Woodside. The NZX 50 gained around 0.6% even while overseas markets fell.

↓ WHAT’S DOWN — Alphabet fell 7% despite solid results and Tesla around 14%, dragging the Nasdaq down 2.1% and the S&P 500 down 0.6%. The weakness rippled into the ASX tech sector, down 6.6%, and the ASX 200 falling 0.3% for a third straight week.

...

It might feel like the world is changing faster than ever, but is it really? Futurist Mark McCrindle explains why today's AI revolution isn't the first period of massive disruption, what history can teach us about navigating change, and why distinctly human skills will matter more than ever. Plus, his advice for every generation—from Boomers to Gen Alpha—as we prepare for the decades ahead.

This bite is from our episode: Aussie futurist on the 2050 economy

Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in N...

A higher salary or a share of equity: which would you choose? In this conversation, Sharesies Business's Susannah Batley and Andrew Morrow, fresh from PartsTrader's $650m acquisition, argue that ownership, not wages alone, are the pathway to real wealth. 

So, what does new research say about how Kiwi workers really want to get paid? How do employees actually make money from company shares, and how did that work for PartsTrader?? Find out about the trade-offs of becoming a shareholder, from concentration risk to tax rules, and the structures that are safest for employees.

Plus, why A...

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 22 JULY 2026
Jacki Neumann, Head of Capital Markets at Sharesies

Note: Filmed Tuesday 21 July

↑ WHAT’S UP — As US–Iran tensions re-escalated, Brent crude oil spiked more than 13% for the week. US banks posted strong results on record ECM and trading revenue off the back of the SpaceX IPO and AI infrastructure fundraising.

↓ WHAT’S DOWN — A tech-led sell-off pulled the S&P 500 down 1.5% and the Nasdaq 2.9%. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index tumbled almost 10%, closing more than 20% below its June peak. Materials and tech led an ASX pullback.

! BIGGEST SURPRISES — June...

Analysing the investing behaviour of over one million customers, the quarterly Sharesies Index tracks where investors are putting their money—and what those decisions might tell us about confidence in the market.

Jordan Cunningham, Sharesies Head of Data & Analytics, joins Laura Marwick to explain the latest trends, including:

Read the full Sharesies Index on the Sharesies website.

For more places to fo...

What does Mark McCrindle know about 2050 that the rest of us don’t? The futurist and social researcher explains our changing world, and what’s next for our family units, working lives, social norms, and wealth. Mark outlines emerging trends around AI pessimism and screentime backlash, and the skills we’ll need in the decades to come.

We explore how house prices have under-35s looking for assets beyond property, and why that carries real long-term risk. Hear how parents and grandparents are "giving with warm hands," passing on their wealth within their lifetimes, and how multigenerational househ...

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 15 JULY 2026
Laura Marwick & Jordan Cunningham, Sharesies Head of Data & Analytics

Note: Filmed Tuesday 14 July

↑ WHAT’S UP — Meta surged 14.8% on plans to add 14 gigawatts of compute, driving the Nasdaq up 1.74% for its fourth gain in five weeks. SK Hynix's US debut raised US$26.5 billion, the largest-ever US listing by a foreign company.

↓ WHAT’S DOWN — The ASX 200 fell 0.4% to 8,806 as miners tumbled over 4%, while the Dow was  down 0.5% and Russell 2000 0.6%.

! BIGGEST SURPRISES — The RBNZ lifted the OCR 25bps to 2.5% — its first hike in three years — and signalled that more tightening...

Why are younger investors embracing ETFs while older generations are more likely to have built wealth through property?

In this bite from Shared Lunch, Smart's Tom Bentley explains how rising house prices, changing demographics, and easier access to investing are reshaping the way people build wealth. He also shares why treating ETFs as long-term investments—not short-term trades—can make all the difference.

This bite is from our previous episode "Why ETFs Keep Breaking Records."

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch

Shared Lunch is brough...

What lured a trillion dollars into ETFs in the US alone during the first half of 2026?

Thom Bentley of Smart talks us through the wave of capital moving into ETFs, an asset class now worth $23 trillion.

Find out which exchange-traded fund just passed $1 trillion, and how a memory-chip ETF pulled in $10 billion in 50 days. We cover the acceleration effect of investment platforms and the COVID years, and how AI is reshaping thematic investing even while the biggest AI companies are private. Tom also breaks down the generational divide in ETF awareness, with under-35s far...

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 8 JULY 2026
Jordan Cunningham, Sharesies Head of Data & Analytics

Note: Filmed Tuesday 7 July.

↑ WHAT'S UP — Markets rallied. The Dow gained 2%, the S&P 500 rose 1.8%, the Nasdaq climbed 2.1%, and the ASX 200 finished up 0.9%, helped by its strongest trading session in three weeks.

↓ WHAT'S DOWN — Semiconductor stocks lagged despite the broader tech rebound, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index falling 4.4%. Reports that Meta could sell excess AI computing capacity reignited questions about whether the industry has built too much infrastructure.

! BIGGEST SURPRISES — US nonfarm payrolls increased by just 57,000 in June, well below expect...

New Zealand has long relied on property to build wealth—but is that holding small businesses back?

In this bite from Shared Lunch, Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr explains why so many business owners borrow against their homes, how the banking system encourages it, and what could change.

This bite is from our previous episode "Let’s get out of this recession”.

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—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...

Is a hike really the right move for the Reserve Bank? Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr, the lone voice calling for rate cuts last year, wants the cash rate to hold fast.

Jarrod explains why he thinks the latest inflation spike is a reactive blip, and why the new Governor of the RBNZ may be under pressure to hike anyway. What’s the influence of the US Federal Reserve and other big central banks? What’s a weak Kiwi dollar doing for exporters, and how are election-year nerves affecting business decisions? 

Plus, how rising house price...

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 30 JUNE 2026 With Laura Marwick and Jordan Cunningham, Sharesies Head of Data & Analytics

Note: Recorded Monday 29 June

↑ WHAT'S UP — Money moved out of big tech and defensives and cyclicals outperformed, with healthcare up 7.9%, real estate up 4%, and utilities up nearly 4%. The Dow added 0.6%, the Russell 2000 rose 1%, and the equal-weight S&P beat the headline index by more than two points.

↓ WHAT'S DOWN — The NASDAQ fell 4.6% and the S&P 500 dropped 1.95%, with losses concentrated in AI; Nvidia at -8.6%, Google -8.3%, and Qualcomm -16.3%. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 8% for the week.

! BI...

In this bonus clip, the Shared Lunch panel unpacks the boldest claims in SpaceX's prospectus, from a million people on Mars to a trillion-dollar business, and explores why the company believes AI and compute—not rockets—could drive its biggest opportunity.

This clip is from our previous episode 'How SpaceX rewrote the IPO rules'

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch

Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the ti...

As IPOs take over market headlines, in-house analysts Jacki Neumann and Susannah Batley break down SpaceX's Nasdaq debut and what's different about this wave of listings. 

Hear how a $2T market cap renders conventional valuation metrics "almost not meaningful", and how index funds are now effectively required to buy SPCX. And with OpenAI and Anthropic expected to go public next, we examine how a series of mega-cap IPOs might be about to impact your portfolio. Learn how the AI arms race is prompting private companies to turn to the public for funding, pushing demand for data centers a...

SHARESIES · MARKET MOVEMENTS · 24 JUNE 2026 Jacki Neumann, Head of Capital Markets

Note: Filmed Tuesday 23 June

WHAT'S UP — US markets extended their run with the S&P 500 up 0.9% and Nasdaq climbing 2.4%, led by a 7.3% surge in semiconductors and an 18% jump in memory stocks.

↓ WHAT'S DOWN — Energy lagged, falling 6.6% for the week, as a preliminary US–Iran peace deal sent Brent crude down nearly 10% on the week and around 25% over the past month.

! BIGGEST SURPRISES — In Kevin Warsh's first meeting as Fed Chair, forward guidance was dropped and half of Fed members pencilled in a rate hike...

Recorded live from the grounds of Fieldays, hear from a panel featuring Gus Hewitt of Halter, Cheyne Gillooly of the NZ Young Farmers Association, and 2024 FMG Young Farmer of the Year George Dodson on the future of farming. 

With the average farmer in their mid-60s, meet the new demographic of globally connected, cautious early adopters. The panel breaks down how young farmers are embracing innovation, bypassing the traditional land ownership process, and building fast equity directly through business performance and private equity funds. 

With Halter’s solar-powered smart collars transforming herd management, we find out...

Note: Filmed Tuesday 16 June

↑ WHAT'S UP: The S&P 500 +0.65%, Nasdaq +0.70%, ASX 200 +2.1%, and NZX 50 +1.8%, semiconductors surged over 9% and SpaceX raised US$75B in the largest IPO in history.

↓ WHAT'S DOWN: Software fell over 5% and big tech lagged as capital rotated toward the SpaceX IPO, with Microsoft and Apple among the weaker performers for the week.

! SURPRISES: SpaceX shares surged ~40% above their IPO price in the first days of trading, and reports emerged of a US–Iran memorandum of understanding taking shape.

◎ WHAT TO WATCH: Wednesday's Fed rate decision and updated projections; the Bank of...

In this quick bite, political writer and researcher Max Rashbrooke explores the growing pressure on New Zealand's retirement system, the case for means testing, and why changing NZ Super could become one of the country's most politically challenging debates.

This clip is from our previous episode 'Are kids the key to a better KiwiSaver?'

For more places to follow Shared Lunch—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch

Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at...

As the retirement debate heats up ahead of the general election, we’re talking to Max Rashbrooke, a political writer and researcher, and Matt McPherson, the head of Sharesies KiwiSaver. With the launch of the Sharesies Kids contribution, we explore the power of compounding interest to renew our national savings and revive home ownership hopes—and why the current system could leave nearly half of us facing a retirement below the poverty line. 

Hear proposals to improve all of our futures, from making employer contributions mandatory to enrolment at birth, and how putting 100 ordinary New Zealanders in a roo...

Wellington has been through a tough few years. In this quick bite, Yu Mei founder Jessie Wong reflects on Wellington's unique creative identity, the world-class talent emerging from the capital, and why creativity is a cultural and economic asset. 

This clip is from our previous episode 'Yu Mei founder on Wellington’s creative future'

Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided.

Appearance on Shared Lunch is not an endorsement by Sharesies of the views of th...

In this special episode, Brooke Roberts sits down with Yu Mei founder Jessie Wong to hear what it takes to build a creative business in Aotearoa, and to introduce Common Material, a pilot event celebrating Wellington's creative industries.

Taking place 5–7 June, during a special limited opening of Wellington City Gallery, Common Material will bring together the capital’s design creatives for three days of free exhibitions, runway shows, and talks. Hear Jessie discuss the potential of our creative economy, the community impact of this event, and the broader ambition to position Wellington as the creative capital of the...

“So many people feel like they’re falling behind.”

In additonal to our recent chat with Luke Kemeys from Keep the Change, Leighton and Luke share their thoughts on wealth, gratitude, opportunity, and why New Zealand still has something special.

For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch

Shared Lunch is brought to you by 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...