NZ Tech Podcast

Paul Spain sits down with Rory Birkbeck, co-founder of Safe Surfer, to explore the urgent challenges of keeping young people safe online. Hear about Safe Surfer’s journey from startup to scale-up, their pioneering tech for families, and a partnership with Samsung for kid-safe devices. Discover eye-opening statistics on online harm, the complexities of digital safety, and why transparency and innovation are crucial for the next generation’s digital wellbeing. This conversation is packed with valuable perspectives on navigating the digital world safely and responsibly.
Keeping Safe on the Web with Kyle the Kingfish – Safe Surfer
Parent Resources-thelightproject
A big thank you to our show partners: One NZ, Spark, PwC, Workday, 2degrees, Fortinet, and Gorilla Technology.

Hear from Paul Spain and Nyssa Waters, founder and CEO of Possibl.ai and RCRT, as they discuss the opportunities and challenges of AI adoption, touching on privacy, ethics, and data sovereignty. Nyssa Waters shares her own journey of launching Possibl.ai and RCRT, offering insider perspectives on how businesses can harness AI for innovation and growth.
Plus, the latest in tech news including:
Rocket Lab's major US Space Force contract and expansion in Alaska
EFTPOS NZ's biometric payment terminals
Robotaxis operating without steering wheels
US bans on foreign-manufactured robots
EU debate over the cost and risks of replacing Huawei equipment
AI-model cybersecurity breaches continue
Coldcard Bitcoin wallet software vulnerability and resulting theft
Revved: New Zealand Business & Leadership Summit and more

Special thanks to our show partners: Fortinet, Workday, Spark New Zealand, One New Zealand, 2degrees, PwC New Zealand and Gorilla Technology.

Host Paul Spain sits down with Scott McLiver, partner and Chief AI Officer at PwC New Zealand, to explore how artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming business. Scott shares insights from his frontline experience helping organisations adapt to AI, emphasising the importance of leadership, practical adoption strategies, and upskilling teams to unlock real productivity gains.
Plus, the latest in tech news and developments including:
• Revved: New Zealand Business & Leadership Summit
• Spark signals potential business sale as it splits into two
• Taumarunui earthquake mobile phone warnings
• Hackers hijack hotel Wi-Fi DNS to steal Microsoft 365 accounts
• Hugging Face hacked by rogue AI agent
• American’s push back against Flock Cameras
• White House intervention on AI models
• A look at Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and more

Thanks to our partners: Fortinet, One NZ, Workday, 2degrees, Spark, PwC New Zealand, and Gorilla Technology.

Host Paul Spain is joined by Josh Robb, Co-Founder and COO of Tend Health, for an in-depth look at how Tend Health is transforming primary healthcare in New Zealand through digital innovation, AI-powered clinical tools, and the challenges and opportunities of integrating traditional medical centres into a modern, connected care network.
Paul and Josh also explore the latest tech news, including:
• The rise of maritime drones for surveillance and defence
• Skyroot's launch marks a new era for the Indian space industry
• SpaceX's sharp decline in share price
• An AWS glitch delivers a trillion-dollar surprise in estimated cloud bills
• Japan's massive sovereign investment in AI infrastructure
• Microsoft's major patch update, and more
A big thank you to our show partners: One NZ, Spark, PwC, Workday, 2degrees, Fortinet, and Gorilla Technology.

Join host Paul Spain and Neeharika Chowdhary, General Manager of AI and Data Products at One New Zealand. Neeharika shares insights from the recently released 2026 AI Trust Report and discusses how AI is being deployed at scale to enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, and accelerate innovation.
Discover how One NZ is approaching AI adoption, building trust, and unlocking new opportunities for customers, employees, and businesses across New Zealand.
Plus the latest tech news including:
Trade Me joins Tech NZ’s online scams code
NZ Government chooses regulation over crypto ATM ban
New York becomes first US state to ban smart glasses
The fight to stop 3D-printed “ghost guns”
Apple files lawsuit against OpenAI over trade secret claims

Special thanks to our show partners: Fortinet, Workday, Spark New Zealand, One New Zealand, 2degrees, PwC New Zealand and Gorilla Technology.