NZ Tech Podcast

Host Paul Spain is joined by financial advisor Darcy Ungaro ( Ungaro & Co. ), as they explore the latest tech news, and take a closer look at the cryptocurrency landscape. Darcy shares insights from his experience as a financial advisor and discusses the balance between being your own bank and the risks involved with cryptocurrency. The conversation also covers crypto firm Ledger co-founder su...

Marian Johnson joins Host Paul Spain , and shares her journey within New Zealand’s Tech sector, including her role as the former chief executive of Ministry of Awesome , and her current roles as Founder and CEO of CareerWise and chair for Electrify Aotearoa Women Founder Programmes and the NZ Hi-Tech Trust. Together they discuss the significance of the NZ Hi-Tech Awards and its role in highlightin...

Join Josh Webb ( Hypr NZ ) and host Paul Spain as they delve into cybersecurity concerns following the alleged hacking incident on the U.S. Treasury. They explore key trends from CES 2025 including autonomous systems, innovative robotics and AI virtual training, and discuss New Zealand's pioneering geothermal projects. The episode also covers Northland internet outage and the impact of emerging sa...

Listen in as host Paul Spain and guest Adrian Smith , CEO of BlinkPay , dive into the dynamic world of digital banking and fintech. Adrian sheds light on BlinkPay's innovative journey, highlighting their partnership with the Bank of New Zealand and the development of modern financial solutions. The conversation also touches on challenges related to fraud and the importance of customer data control...

Join host Paul Spain and Levi Fawcett , founder of Partly as Levi shares insights from All Goods, delves into the complexities of the automotive industry, and discusses Partly's mission to revolutionise car parts procurement. Discover his journey from Rocket Lab's innovative culture to addressing a $1.9 trillion market with groundbreaking solutions. Fawcett emphasizes ambition, transparency, and p...

Join Paul Spain and Andy Patrick ( Argus Tracking ) as Andy shares insights into Argus Tracking and their fleet management solutions. Plus tech news from the week including: Microsoft’s new NZ based data centre Fullers hydrofoil electric ferry Pause on Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill Township pitches in for CCTV surveillance ZURU Tech's Innovations in housing construction New York mystery drones...

Hear former Prime Minister Sir John Key (Director - Palo Alto Networks ) and Misti Landtroop (Managing Director NZ- Palo Alto Networks), as they join Paul Spain to explore the evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Sir John Key shares unique perspective drawn from his current and past experiences, including: - Prime Minister of New Zealand - Minister responsible of Special Intelligence Service (SIS)...

Listen in as host Paul Spain and Renee Mateparae ( Spark NZ ) delve into Spark's plans for data centres, the benefits of 5G Standalone, transition from 3G and the role of AI in service enhancement and Spark's strategic vision for the future of telecommunications. Plus tech news from the week including: NZ banks' new scam protection tools Cheap phone charger sparks house fire Parking fines highligh...

Host Paul Spain sits down with 2degrees ' CEO Mark Callander , as They delve into New Zealand's connectivity landscape, exploring rural broadband advancements, the future of 5G, and strategic mergers shaping the industry. Mark shares insights on satellite technologies, Network for Learning partnership, customer-centric innovations and how 2degrees is positioning itself as a value player amidst eco...

Host Paul Spain sits down with venture capitalist Lance Wiggs ( Punakaiki Fund , Climate VC Fund ), as they delve into the evolving landscape of venture capital in New Zealand and its critical role in nurturing Kiwi tech startups. Together they explore the history, challenges, and successes of venture capital, innovative climate investments and current NZ tech startups. Listen in and gain insights...

Join Paul Spain and Danu Abeysuriya ( Rush Digital ), as they look into Kiwi AI innovation in Brazil, security guidelines for start-ups, social media accountability steps in Australia and Malaysia, and TikTok controversies in Canada and France. Learn about the implications of Trump's re-election on tech policy and bitcoin. Plus hear about Rush Digital's journey in tackling global AI challenges. Sp...

Hear from Paul Spain and Logan Ransley ( Landlord Studio ), as they delve into some of this week's tech news and innovation including ListAssist's breakthrough in the US real estate market, precautionary advice on NZ Post scams and Apple's satellite service expansion. We also explore the significance of the Internet Archive and how hydropanel's are helping hydrate remote communities. Plus, a look...

Join Paul Spain and Bill Bennett as they discuss the latest tech news and developments including: The shutdown of 3G roaming Apple's new hearing health Meta reintroduces facial recognition to combat celebrity scams Zoom's innovative AI-powered avatars AI lawsuits against Character. AI and Google over teens death Creatives sign petition opposing use of works for AI Training How to get Google's...

Hear from Paul Spain and Keith Patton ( Vivara ) as they discuss the latest tech news, including: One NZ's testing of Starlink's satellite-to-mobile SMS service NZ Government's Identity Check facial recognition system Tesla's Robotaxi plans Quantum computing breakthroughs by Chinese scientists SpaceX's innovative rocket-catching technology Plus a look at Vivara personalised wellness guidance Thank...

Join Paul Spain  and  Seeby Woodhouse  ( Voyager ) as they delve into tech news from the week including, the impact of social media on traditional journalism as Google threatens to stop links to NZ news sites, Starlink in-flight connectivity and NZ police dismantled a large-scale smishing scam. They also explore the complexities of autonomous driving technologies, with Hands off exp...

 Join host Paul Spain and Jo Hilson , Chief Technology Officer of Tourism Holdings , as they discuss the latest tech news, including NZ police unauthorised access to facial recognition sites, Sparks TransGo partnership with Transpower, Te Whatu Ora's digital upgrade, Teachers concerns on AI usage, Qualcomm considers Intel takeover, Apple news and hands on review of Google TV streamer 4K and i...

Listen in as Paul Spain joins Barry Dowdeswell ( Otago Polytechnic ) as they dive into this week’s Tech news including, Scooter bans in Wellington, Tax exempts for Kiwi tech startups, privacy concerns with IRD data sharing, United Airlines and Starlink partnership, and Polaris Dawn Mission's first privately funded spacewalk. Plus, a look at the new iPhone16 and GoPro’s Hero 13’s latest innovations...

Hear host Paul Spain and Sulabh Sharma , Co-Founder at Debut NZ , as they discuss fintech and the impact of open banking for New Zealand and the potential influence of governments on social media platforms. Plus, Tech news from the week including, the right to repair tech in NZ, Amazon’s new Alexa updates, Meta's COVID censorship under Biden government, Brazil's first days without X and Couple sue...

Join Paul Spain and Stephen Phillips ( Snyk ) for an insightful discussion on EdTech’s Kai’s Education and Kami, major layoffs hit Spark, 2degrees, and One NZ, the impact of AI on job interviews, fintech Debut’s aim to launch NZ’s first open banking and AI-driven bank, Telegram’s CEO arrested and law enforcement access to encrypted communications, Qantas first-class coding error, a look at Austral...

In this episode of the NZ Tech Podcast, host Paul Spain welcomes Josh Webb from HYPR NZ to delve into the latest tech news. They celebrate Uber’s 10-year milestone in New Zealand, discuss the implications of lifting the genetic engineering ban, and examine AI’s impact on the music industry. The conversation also highlights Rocket Lab’s impressive achievements, the end of an era for Fitbit, the int...

In this episode, host Paul Spain and guest Bill Bennett look into the rise of AI surveillance and its impact on New Zealand society. They discuss the impact of Huawei's exit from the New Zealand telecommunications market and the implications of the deployment of AI cameras on New Zealand buses for road safety. Plus, hands on with AI tech: HP OmniBook , Samsung Z Fold and more. The surveilled socie...

Join host Paul Spain and Mark Knowles , Executive General Manager for Security at Xero , as they delve into the evolving nature of cyber threats, the importance of privacy and data protection, and the need to stay ahead of technological advancements and potential security risks. They also look at tech news from the week including: New Zealand's move towards a digital currency  NZ Defence Forc...

Join the conversation as host Paul Spain and Seeby Woodhouse ( Voyager ) explore NZ Post’s hydrogen-powered trucks, Trans-Tasman space research projects, the ethical implications of AI, Seeby's intriguing 5-day experience with Tesla's full self-driving capabilities on New Zealand roads, and the development of autonomous vehicles. Plus, a look at Voyager's migration to OpenStack and the competitive...

Host Paul Spain is joined by advisor and consultant, Vincent Heeringa , as they delve into the aftermath of Crowdstrike's computer crash, discussing the impacts on key organisations and the cybersecurity industry. They explore the challenges faced by tech giants in response to crises, investor reactions, and the company's road to recovery. Plus, a look into the complexities of valuing cybersecurit...

Tune in to Paul Spain and Tom Roberts; the team lead for threat and incident response at Cert NZ (Computer Emergency Response Team) and NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre). Tom highlights the increasing complexity of cybersecurity threats in New Zealand and an in-depth look at cybersecurity challenges and the government's involvement in New Zealand's cybersecurity landscape. The discussion cover...