NZ Tech Podcast

The 2026 NZ Hi-Tech Awards highlight a sector reaching new heights in innovation, global growth, and impact, celebrating the organisations and individuals driving New Zealand’s tech success story. In this special episode, host Paul Spain speaks with several of this year’s standout winners. Hear from Dr Yoram Benit, CEO of Tait Communications, named NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year, and Matty Blomfield, co-founder and CEO of Hectre, winner of both the NZTE Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Solution and the Greenmount and Poutama Trust Māori Hi-Tech Company of the Year. We also recognise Vaughan Fergusson’s contribution to the industry as this year’s Flying Kiwi, alongside insights from Jock Richardson and Peter Tait of TCS, winners of the Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for a More Sustainable Future. Plus, Arash Tayebi and Noreen Wilson of Kara Technologies share their journey after taking out the 2040 Ventures Hi-Tech Startup Company of the Year. With tech now contributing $24 billion to New Zealand’s economy, this episode explores the momentum behind the sector’s growth and what’s next.
Thanks to our partners: One NZ, Workday, 2degrees, Spark, Fortinet, and Gorilla Technology.

Join Host Paul Spain and Bill Bennett, tech and telecommunications journalist, for a wide-ranging discussion on the latest tech news from New Zealand and beyond, including:
Car-sharing startup Mevo goes into liquidation
Rural connectivity funding report
Mobile Network Outages and Resiliency
Hydrogen-fuelled vehicles in New Zealand
Chrome’s Silent AI Download
AI backlash at US university graduations
Apple’s privacy moves to auto-delete Siri/AI conversations
Intel Core Ultra Series 3

A big thank you to our show partners One NZ, Spark, Workday, 2degrees, Fortinet and Gorilla Technology.

Paul Spain visits Mike Casey at Electric Cherries in Central Otago for an inspiring dive into tech-driven sustainable farming. Discover how Mike went from tech startup success in Sydney to building New Zealand’s first fully electric cherry orchard, where self-generated solar power slashes costs and future-proofs the business. Explore practical insights on electrification, energy economics, and why making smarter tech choices at every level can transform New Zealand’s prosperity and sustainability.
Special thanks to our show partners: 2degrees, Fortinet, One New Zealand, Spark New Zealand, Workday, and Gorilla Technology.

Host Paul Spain is joined by Cam Richardson, founder of Paysquad, to dive into the latest in tech news and innovation. They discuss Amazon scrapping its West Auckland data centre plans, the expansion of AI-powered infrastructure in Invercargill, EV charging with ChargeNet, movie deal for a Kiwi-led Roblox game, Apple’s Vision Pro headset future and data security concerns around Chinese EVs. Plus, they break down new rules at the Oscars regarding AI-generated content and Taylor Swift’s play for control in the AI era. Cam also shares the origin, mission, and future vision of Paysquad, a Kiwi fintech making group payments possible at checkout.
Thanks to our Partners One NZ, Workday, 2degrees, Spark, Fortinet and Gorilla Technology

Listen in as Paul Spain sits down with Shan Moorthy, Chief Technology Officer for APAC at Workday, for an in-depth conversation on the rapid evolution of AI in the workplace. They explore the latest trends around generative and agentic AI, discuss real-world successes and setbacks from AI adoption, and dig into strategies for organisations looking to leverage AI safely, efficiently, and at scale. This episode offers valuable insights on navigating the complexities of AI integration, covering everything from proof-of-concept pitfalls, governance and compliance to the future of hybrid human-agent workforces.
A big thank you to our show partners One NZ, Spark, Workday, 2degrees, Fortinet and Gorilla Technology.