The Better SMB Podcast

Episode SummaryHutch — founder of Plan AConsulting and former NZ Police detective — joins David Altena and Rob Bull to share what 15+ years of working with Kiwi SMEs has taught him. From running petrol stations to advising businesses across New Zealand, he unpacks thepatterns holding owners back and the practical steps to break free. Episode Highlights1. From the Police Force to Petrol StationsBur...

New Zealand earns $21 billion a year from dairy exports. Yet the performance gap between the best farms and the rest is enormous — and it has almost nothing to do with technology, weather, or market access. It's leadership. Tennielle Ellingham has spent 20 years inside this gap. Through Beyond the Gate, she works with farmers, vets, advisors, and rural business owners on the part of farm performan...

What does it take to build a high-performing business — and then hand it on to the next generation? David and Rob sit down with Jeff and Sasha Langham, the father-daughter team behind Drain Ninjas — a West Auckland drainage company and winner of the High Performance Award at the 2025 Northwest Country Business Association Business Awards. Drain Unblocking Auckland | Vacuum Loading | Drain Ninjas T...

It might be a bit late in posting, but David and Rob came back after the summer break to kick off 2026 with a look under the hood — reflecting on what's worked, what's ahead, and how you can help shape the conversation. With 31 episodes now in the wild and a growing audience, the highlights from the past year include some standout guests, a government minister on the show, a top-rated episode with...

Every construction project generates thousands of documents, drawings, decisions, and specifications. Then the project ends — and most of that intelligence disappears, buried on USB sticks or lost in SharePoint folders nobody revisits. In this episode, hosts David and Rob sit down with Jon Sinclair of Performance Building Technologies to explore why the construction industry's data problem is cost...

Most small and medium businesses think of governance as box‑ticking, compliance, or something only “big corporates” need. But what if governance was actually your competitive advantage? In this episode, we sit down with Dr Peter Crow, an internationally recognised governance advisor and director, to unpack what governance really means for SMBs — and why almost everything business owners think abou...

Innovation isn’t just about technology or government policy, it’s a leadership choice. In this episode of The Better SMB Podcast, we sit down with Sean Doherty, former Callaghan Innovation leader, to unpack why New Zealand’s prosperity depends on the decisions business leaders make today. Sean shares insights from decades in engineering, manufacturing, and national innovation programmes, challengi...

In this episode of The Better SMB Podcast, hosts Rob Bull and David Altena sit down with Ray Everest, educator, entrepreneur and co-founder of Future Focus, to explore what it takes to build a business that thrives without you. From humble beginnings in Tokoroa to leading six early learning centres in Papamoa, Ray shares his journey of scaling with purpose, removing ego from leadership, and creati...

In this episode of The Better SMB Podcast, we welcome Chris Parnell, Co-Founder and CEO of SetSeed, as both our guest and announce their official sponsorship of The Better SMB podcast. Chris shares his inspiring journey from Rotorua to building a global Customer Experience Platform that simplifies websites, CRMs, e-commerce, and email marketing for businesses worldwide. We dive into why SetSeed ch...

In this episode, we spend some time with Danielle Hancock, General Manager of the North West Country Business Association, to explore one of Aotearoa’s most connected, community-driven business regions. We talk about what makes the North West so unique, the generational businesses that continue to thrive, and the deep sense of collaboration that sets this region apart. We also unpack the partnersh...

In this episode, Rob and David sit down with Patrick McKibbin, Chief Executive of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, to explore how one region is redefining what local business leadership can look like. Patrick shares how the Chamber has evolved from being a traditional networking body into a hub for innovation, collaboration and advocacy, supporting a $10 billion economy with the ambition to gr...

In this episode of The Better SMB, Rob Bull and David Altena go behind their NZ Manufacturer article “Leadership from the Top: How Government Must Reflect What It Asks of Business.” They explore what genuine leadership across the system looks like, from the Beehive to the boardroom, and why consistency, accountability and execution matter more than ever. Building on their conversation with Ministe...

In this episode of The Better SMB Podcast, we sit down with Katia Holland , Associate at McCaw Lewis, to explore how Māori worldviews and tikanga reshape how businesses in Aotearoa think about success. We unpack what it means to prioritise intergenerational responsibility over short-term wins, and how principles like whakapapa, manaakitanga, and kaitiakitanga can be applied to strategy, governance...

In this episode of The Better SMB Podcast, sponsored by SetSeed , David and Rob reflect on their recent interview with Dave Bunting of Architectural Glass Products (AGP) and connect it to a recent NZ Manufacturer column: Expect to Win: Raising the Bar and Aiming at Excellence  They explore how AGP became one of New Zealand’s most operationally excellent manufacturers, and, more importantly, how an...

In this episode, David and Rob dive back into the world of economic reports and ask a tough question: who are they really for? They take some time to revisit one of the first and most popular topics, they ever covered on the show and explore what’s changed over the past 12 months. The discussion covers:  Why reports from Stats NZ, MBIE, and MFAT fail to provide practical value for SMBs  How produc...

In this episode, we dive deep into the role of leadership from the top, exploring how government can model performance and create the conditions for business to thrive. Our guest, Hon Chris Penk (Minister for Small Business, Manufacturing, Building & Construction, and more), shares his perspectives on aligning public and private efforts to lift New Zealand’s productivity. We discuss:  Why lead...

In this episode, David and Rob take stock of The Better SMB's podcast's progress halfway through the year. It’s an honest look at what’s gone well, what’s been challenging, and where they’re heading next in their mission to become the go-to voice for small and medium business owners in New Zealand. They share real numbers, like a 50% growth in Spotify followers and 65% increase in episode plays, a...

In this episode, David and Rob break down the themes from their latest NZ Manufacturer column, Own It: Leadership is a personal responsibility, not a title. This candid and practical conversation explores how business performance is inextricably linked to leadership quality and why many SMB owners unknowingly hold their teams back. They dive deep into the cultural, structural and behavioural shift...

David and Rob are joined by Dave Bunting , Managing Director of Architectural Glass Products in Cambridge. They dive deep into operational excellence and manufacturing leadership, exploring Dave’s key insights and perspectives on planning for and expecting excellence. Listen to the discussion centred on the power of a continuous improvement mindset, the importance of building a high-performing cul...

In this episode, we explore the hidden dangers of working at an unsustainable pace and why "being busy" is not the same as being productive. Our guest, executive coach Rachel King , shares powerful insights on the causes of burnout, why New Zealanders are particularly affected, and how leaders can shift towards sustainable, thriving work environments. Highlights:  How stress impacts health, engage...

We’re diving deep into intellectual property (IP) protection, exploring key insights and perspectives from Ben Cain , Partner at James & Wells and former marketing executive turned IP specialist. We discuss how small businesses can safeguard their innovations, build brand value, and create competitive barriers through strategic IP management. We cover:  Why early-stage IP strategy is mission-c...

In this episode, we explore the so-called “skills shortage” in New Zealand manufacturing. David and Rob unpack their NZ Manufacturer article, arguing that talent shortages are often a smokescreen for deeper issues in leadership, workplace culture, and internal systems. Rather than chasing unicorn hires, they challenge business leaders to rethink how they structure work, engage teams and build insp...

In this episode, we dive deep into the book "The E Myth Revisited" by Michael Gerber, exploring key insights about business roles and growth. Hosts Rob and David discuss the three critical personas in business: the technician, manager and entrepreneur. Highlights: "Most businesses are started by skilled technicians who get trapped doing technical work instead of growing the business." "Create a bu...

In this episode, hosts David Altena and Rob Bull dive into New Zealand’s longstanding productivity crisis and why waiting for government intervention won’t solve it. Instead, they argue that manufacturers must take the lead, turning challenges like labour shortages and rising costs into opportunities to innovate and improve efficiency. Drawing from their recent column in NZ Manufacturer magazine,...

In this episode, David hosts solo while Rob takes a well-earned break. He shares a recording of his recent talk at the Mahi Tahi Collective 2025 TechFest. This event brought together leading tech companies—including Optimation Group, Silicon Systems, Montage, Team Cloud, Xtracta, Zen Consulting, and SmartSpace—to explore how technology and collaboration can drive business performance and productiv...