The softer New Zealand dollar means more Australian tourists are flocking across the ditch for holidays and long weekends. Meanwhile, Kiwis are increasingly migrating to Australia to escape their country’s economic weakness.

On this week’s Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Chris Bourke talks with Ainsley Thomson in Wellington about why New Zealand’s currency has weakened, the impact on its tourism industry and why Kiwis are leaving in droves.

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Macquarie’s reputation as Australia’s “millionaires factory” is under strain. The investment giant’s latest profit fell short of expectations, sending its shares sliding and investors questioning whether its golden era is fading. Commodities trading – once the powerhouse of the bank – is losing steam amid regulatory pressure and a calmer market, while leadership faces scrutiny over pay and performance.

Bloomberg’s finance editor Adam Haigh joins Rebecca Jones to unpack what’s gone wrong, where the bright spots remain, and whether CEO Shemara Wikramanayake can steady the ship. Plus, how Macquarie stacks up against Australia’s big four banks in an increasingly competitive lending and investment landscape.

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Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest person, has seen her fortune grow even larger in the last few years, thanks to astute early investing in rare earths. In this episode, we look how the Rinehart-owned Hancock Prospecting Pty almost doubled its stake in Arafura Rare Earths Ltd. and the broader global landscape of the tussle for rare earths.

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Westpac shares have gained 21% this year, outperforming the broader S&P/ASX 200 Financials index. This week on the podcast, CEO Anthony Miller talks to host Rebecca Jones and finance editor Adam Haigh after delivering his first full-year earnings report. They discuss those results, Miller’s outlook for the Australian economy, AI and hybrid work arrangements.

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With just two Reserve Bank meetings left in the year, will Australia see another interest rate cut before Christmas? Chris Bourke speaks with Adam Bowe, head of portfolio management at Pimco Australia, about what the latest inflation data means for the RBA’s next move - and whether borrowers can expect any relief soon.

They also unpack how bond markets are interpreting rate expectations, what makes this economic moment particularly tricky for the central bank, and why more retail investors are eyeing the bond market. Plus, Bowe shares how global forces, including the US Federal Reserve, could shape the outlook into 2026.

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Australia’s defense tech sector has a new star. DroneShield has seen its stock soar more than 500% this year, catapulting the Sydney-based company from a niche player to an ASX 200 member. Once built to fend off paparazzi drones, it’s now supplying counter-drone technology to militaries and governments around the world.

In this episode, Rebecca Jones talks to Sydney Bureau Chief Ainslie Chandler and reporter Carmeli Argana about DroneShield’s journey from meme stock to military mainstay, whether the company’s explosive rally can last, and how its CEO’s remarkable backstory fits into this unique company’s rise.

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ANZ’s new CEO Nuno Matos is moving fast to remake Australia’s fourth-largest bank. In just five months, he’s announced thousands of job cuts, paused a share buyback, and pledged to refocus on core lending and business banking — part of an aggressive push to simplify operations and rebuild investor and regulator trust.

Bloomberg finance editor Adam Haigh joins host Rebecca Jones to unpack what Matos’s overhaul means for ANZ’s strategy, shareholders, and staff. They discuss his plan to lift returns, repair relationships with regulators, and steer the bank through an increasingly competitive market.

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Few economies are as closely watched in this region right now as New Zealand’s as it navigates inflation pressures, productivity challenges and a shifting global environment.

In this special bonus episode, Wellington Bureau Chief Matthew Brockett interviews New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis live on stage for the Bloomberg Address in Auckland on Oct. 10. Now in its fifth year, the annual event has become a cornerstone of New Zealand’s policy calendar.

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