Economy, AI, and exports dominate 2025 business outlook [Video]

Amid economic uncertainty, New Zealand businesses are turning to productivity, AI, and export opportunities to drive growth in 2025, according to a new business outlook survey.

Economic uncertainty has surged to the forefront of business concerns in New Zealand, according to Datacom’s 2025 Business Outlook Survey. A significant 77 percent of surveyed leaders in organisations with over 100 employees identified it as their biggest challenge for the year, a sharp rise from just 13 percent in 2024. However, the research also reveals optimism as businesses focus on productivity, growth, and leveraging technology.

Economic data released at the end of 2024 indicated that New Zealand entered a recession in the third quarter of 2024, with GDP contracting by 1.0 percent. This downturn, the largest since 1991 excluding the pandemic period, has heightened concerns about the economic outlook.

International factors such as potential trade tensions and global economic slowdowns are also contributing …