How close did Northland’s Ngāwhā geothermal plant come to being closed down? Spoiler alert – very close indeed. Why? And how did lateral thinking save the day?In this week’s episode of the True North podcast we speak with Fabian Hanik, assistant plant manager at the Ngāwhā geothermal power station near Kaikohe, about how close Northland came to losing its prized geothermal generation plant.And how some radical out-of-the-box thinking, backed by some Number 8 wire and a company with a lot to lose, averted closure.There are some fantastic lessons in here for businesses anywhere. About fostering and enabling innovation at subject matter expert-level, about trust, about capability, andabout backing your own people when the temptation might be to rely on the views of outsiders.Links to items referred to in the show:News stories about the government’s City and Regional Deal decision:https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/565742/government-begins-negotiations-with-councils-for-regional-dealshttps://www.dia.govt.nz/Regional-Deals-MoUs-underway RNZ story about the payment to former FNDC chief executive Blair King:https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/565312/far-north-district-council-ordered-to-pay-former-ceo-blair-king-210-000Kaipara District promotional website:https://www.kaipara.govt.nz/news/post/859-New-website-launched-to-showcase-KaiparaNorthern Advocate story about McKay building electric ferries for Samoa:https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/on-the-up-whangarei-firm-mckay-to-make-samoas-first-electric-boats/CIGYUSFTPFAFPHJPNQDORSAPO4/Ngawha 'Carbon Zero' Project - detailed technical presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAvRtZy1vCE
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#7: Buying In
How much focus is our regional economic development agency placing on inward investment? Is Northland’s vibrant “no!” culture scaring investors away?Why is take-up of space at the Ngāwhā Innovation and Enterprise Park so thin from companies outside Northland? Why has the promise of heavily discounted electricity not proven more of a game-changer for potential investors in the park? What inward investment barriers does Northland face other than the obvious ones around transport infrastructure? And what do Northland businesses and iwi entities need to do tohelp sell Northland to potential investors both domestically and internationally?In this week’s episode of the True North podcast we speak with Paul Linton, chief executive of Northland’s regional economic development agency Northland Inc, about what’s being done – and what still needs to be done – to tempt investors to buy into the Northland promise.Links to items referred to in the show:Results of each council’s consultation on their recommended way forward:Whangarei District CouncilKaipara District CouncilFar North District Council ASB’s Q1 2025 Regional Economic Scoreboard:https://www.asb.co.nz/documents/economic-research/regional-economic-scoreboard.html Media stories with details of the names and composition of each consortium bidding for the next section of the Northern Expressway: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/three-bidders-confirmed-for-next-northland-expressway-section/LR43WNPAYZCWZKCZC6BRRUJM7Y/https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/infrastructure/global-builders-investors-shortlisted-for-multi-billion-dollar-northland-expressway-project (PAYWALLED)
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#6: Bumps in the road
How will our local roads be funded in future? Will commercial traffic be tolled? Is local road funding likely to keep up with population growth and usage trends?In this episode of the True North podcast we speak with district councillor Ann Court, one of the most clued-up people in Northland on the vexed issue of our historically woeful road network.Ann’s very clear – continued and ongoing conversations around Northland’s economic potential, and locally-driven moves to realise that potential, are the quickest and best way to ensure that Northland’s roads get the attention they're crying out for.And while at least one of Northland’s three district councils is now inspecting its belly-button – yet again – and conducting a reality check over its wild ambition to manage its local road network in-house, we explore with Ann the thinking (or lack of it?) that prompted local government in the region to kill off the regional roading organisation, the Northland Transportation Alliance. It’s a funny old world. And this back and forth on roading policy might indeed be worth a laugh – if it didn’t cost anything. But it does.Links to items referred to in the show:Stuff NZ: Barrier Air articlehttps://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/360697868/we-are-here-stay-tiny-nz-airline-taking-air-new-zealand
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NORTHERN LIGHTS #1: Jane Hindle, R. Tucker Thompson Sailing Trust
How close did Northland’s iconic R. Tucker Thompson come to being driven onto the financial rocks? How did those at the wheel steer the ship into calmer waters?In this episode of the True North podcast we speak with Jane Hindle, a perpetual energy source for the R. Tucker Thompson Sailing Trust, based around the beloved and iconic tall ship in the Bay of Islands.Jane helped establish the Trust along with original owner Russell Harris back in 2006, and served for many years as anExecutive Trustee. Now, 20 years later, and after a small break, she recently joined the Trust’s Board. We explore the ups and downs, ins and outs, and whys and hows of her journey with the Trust and the beautiful old vessel at the heart of it all, the R. Tucker Thompson herself.This is the first of our ‘Northern Lights’ series of chats with unexpected Northlanders. For this first episode we’ve beena little untrue to our vision for this series. It’s meant to focus on some of the surprising people who, unexpectedly, live among us. People who have carved out successful careers for themselves – often internationally – and who now call Northland home for a variety of interesting reasons. They live among us, quietly and unrecognised, and we aim to tell at least some of their surprising or entertaining stories.As one of our most high-profile business leaders, Jane doesn’t exactly fit this bill. But we hope you enjoy the chat anyway. Links to items referred to in the show:Northland Inc (Tai Tokerau Impact Fund)https://www.northlandnz.com/business/get-business-support/te-tai-tokerau-impact-fundMerlin Labs news releasehttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250522589351/en/Merlin-Secures-Experimental-Certificate-of-Airworthiness-in-New-Zealand-Accelerating-Certification-Flight-Testing
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#5: Same old same old?
How can Northland businesses win Crown or Council work? Will new Government Procurement Rules eliminate the social engineering? Or is it the same old same old?In this episode of the True North podcast we speak with George Hulbert of The Clarity Business, which specialises in helping businesses win bids and tenders. Particularly bids and tenders from government agencies and local government .If you’re involved with any sort of organisation tendering for any type of work from New Zealand central government, a government agency or even local government, you’ll want to be across what George has to say about proposed changes to the Government Procurement Rules.At first glance it looks like the proposed changes may kill off the previous Labour government’s ‘Broader Outcomes’ procurement policy – which required companies bidding for the government dollar to demonstrate delivery against various social, cultural, environmental and economic measurements.However, on closer inspection it seems that this might not quite be the case. For the full picture, take a listen to this episode.
From Spirits Bay to Bream Bay, from the Hokianga to the Heads, we cover the business news of New Zealand’s North and speak with the people who make it happen.
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