Matt King’s journey from political mainstream to the fringe was precipitous. The former National MP for Northland literally fell off the political cliff.
In this episode we speak with Matt about the human side of that story.
What was going on behind the scenes as his political career was imploding, how did the drama impact his family, what was it like to watch the nomination for National’s Northland seat - a nomination that was surely his to win - pass to someone else? And why did his brand-new political party, built on the back of his random but significant Northland supporter base, fail to fire?
We traverse these and other questions to hear the story, first-hand and for the first time, from behind the headlines, the social media posts, the high emotions, and the fire and fury of those hectic pandemic days.
Links to items referred to in the show:
Email from Northland Regional Council about how Northland tourism spend in Auckland was calculated:
The figures derive from the Tourism Electronic Card Transactions (TECTs) dataset, published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE). You can access the relevant page here: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/immigration-and-tourism/tourism-research-and-data/tourism-data-releases/tourism-electronic-card-transactions
(We) specifically drew on the “Spend per region by origin” section.
TECT data is provided by Marketview, who use electronic card transaction (ECT) data from the Paymark network, which covers approximately 70% of total ECT spend, to estimate national totals. These estimates are then filtered to isolate tourism-related spend by visitors within New Zealand.
Because detailed address data is no longer available, Marketview now infers cardholder residence from spending patterns via Paymark, down to the territorial authority (TA) level. To align with the agreed definition of domestic tourism - NZ residents travelling more than 40km from home - a hybrid approach is used: spend is counted if it occurs either 40km from the largest urban centre within a cardholder’s home TA, or outside their home TA altogether.
To avoid misclassifying regular or commuter activity as tourism, Marketview excludes spend in any TA where a cardholder’s transactions are frequent and substantial, including their home TA. This helps ensure the data reflects genuine tourism behaviour rather than habitual shopping or commuting.
In addition, although the concept of the messaging (does) not change, (we are) providing below the data for period YE June 2025, as opposed to the period referred to in the newsletter (YE December 2024), if you were interested in reporting the latest insights:
- Aucklanders spent $251 million in Northland (47% of total domestic tourism spend).
- Northlanders spent $393 million outside the region, with $247 million going to Auckland.
Imposter Syndrome in the boardroom – how does a newbie director fight the self-doubt? And how can a wannabe director target a board position?
In this episode we speak with Dargaville business-owner and highly-deliberate governance professional Kathryn de Bruin about her planned, purposeful and impeccably-managed journey to become a director of some very well-respected entities serving the regional and national horticultural sector.
What did she learn along the way? And what lessons can she pass on to other Northlanders considering a career in governance?
Links to items referred to in the show:
The ‘Northland Waters Establishment Advisory Group’ recruitment ad
https://bit.ly/4nVlxbE
Is a Northland SEZ likely? Or just political fantasy? Why limit it to energy – why not extend incentives at Marsden Point to the region’s other strategic sectors?
In this episode we speak with former Northland Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Smith, about the proposed Special Economic Zone at Marsden Point. How far along that continuum between excitement over the idea, and dismissive cynicism, should we be landing? And what are the lessons to be learned from other places where this idea has taken root?
Links to items referred to in the show:
The impact of Meridian’s BESS at Ruakaka: Transpower’s Market Operations Report
Business leaders say local government is broken: NZME article
How are Māori supporting Northland’s drive for inward investment and GDP growth? What are the barriers to doing so? And why are we still having this discussion?
In this episode we speak with Ngāti Hine kaumatua, community stalwart, serial business leader and National Iwi Chairs Forum member Pita Tipene. We speak about the state of play in Northland - socially, politically and economically – and about regional economic development as seen through his te ao Māori lens. We discussed the role of Ngāpuhiinvestment fund Tupu Tonhu. And (of course!) Treaty Settlement matters.
Links to items referred to in the show:
NBR article about Webuildand the Northern expressway
Kaipara DistrictCouncil election videos
First cars. Now… boats. But is electric propulsion fit-for-purpose on the water? Are punters ready to make the switch? And what are its limitations?
The marine industry is riding a wave of transformation in the way boats are powered - from diesel to fully decarbonised. And helping to lead that charge is a Northland company that few of us really know anything about.
In this episode we speak with Fiona Bycroft, CEO of Whangārei-based marine electric propulsioninnovator Naut. We speak about what’s happening in this sector, general acceptance of the technology, its limitations, barriers to growth, and whether Northland is the right place to build the company into the next stages of its growth.
What is heart-led leadership? Can it survive first encounter with the Boardroom? And do those who practice it place their personal credibility on the line?
We’ve heard much in recent times about the virtues of leadership infused with kindness and compassion. Is it all fluffy millennial nonsense, or does at least some of it deliver better results within the organisation, around the Board table, or to the bottom line?
And how much of this stuff resonates with typically hard-bitten leadership teams in provincial New Zealand, far removed from the chai latte-sipping, painfully right-on fashionistas with sharp haircuts based in our urban centres? How relevant is it to those of us leading businesses or community organisations in the regions?
We discuss all this, and more, with two well-known Northland leaders Tania McInnes (formerly deputy-mayor of the Far North) and Sheryl Mai (formerly mayor of Whangarei).
Links to items referred to in the show:
New Zealand Chambers of Commerce news release (business and economic survey):
https://www.newzealandchambers.co.nz/media-release/chambers-of-commerce-survey-signals-divided-economic-sentiment-across-new-zealand
Inside Government news article (proposals to address ecological damage caused by kina barrens):
https://insidegovernment.co.nz/feedback-sought-on-northland-rock-lobster-fishery-support-plan/
Are Northland businesses served well by Directors? Why are the same people appointed to Board after Board? Conversely, are there enough locals on our Boards?
In this week’s episode of the True North podcast we speak with Mike Simm, one of Northland’s most senior businesspeople, about the governance challenges and opportunities facing organisations based in our region.
Northland needs to sharpen up when it comes to the governance of its businesses and its organisations, he says. We are way too loose in the definition of our purpose, and also the rigour of our reporting and accountability in delivering against that purpose.
We don’t have enough examples of best practice locally for Northland business leaders to measure themselves against.And it’s too easy for some organisations – especially those funded by local and central government – to get away with failing to deliver against expectation.
Be sure to listen to catch Mike’s views on a range of issues, from the importance of Board-level empathy with local communities through to identifying and nurturing local governance talent.
What’s Northland worth to Auckland and the rest of New Zealand? Are we delivering? And why must we still make the case for better infrastructure in our region?
In this week’s episode of the True North podcast we speak with Julian Smith, group secretary of the Northland Corporate Group, about a report it launched in Wellington today. It maintains that Northland has the potential to contribute much more significantly to economic growth in New Zealand generally, and to Auckland in particular. But only if there is continued investment in connectivity –transport, energy and telecoms - in the region.
It says Northland could conceivably boost its forecast GDP for 2050 by 50 percent, or an additional $20 billion, to a whopping $60 billion – but only if potential investors here are given the certainty and confidence they need in core infrastructure to unleash $38 billion dollars in latent capital investment.
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-deals
https://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-210-000
Kaipara District promotional website:
https://www.kaipara.govt.nz/news/post/859-New-website-launched-to-showcase-Kaipara
Northern 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/
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:
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:
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 article
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/360697868/we-are-here-stay-tiny-nz-airline-taking-air-new-zealand
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-fund
Merlin Labs news release
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250522589351/en/Merlin-Secures-Experimental-Certificate-of-Airworthiness-in-New-Zealand-Accelerating-Certification-Flight-Testing
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.
Is Northland tourism choking on its own planning? Is anyone driving execution and delivery? Whose responsibility is this? Why is it always the same people?
In this episode of the True North podcast we speak with Northland tourism champion Riki Kinnaird about what the sector needs to do to get its mojo back. We’re at risk of talking and planning ourselves to death, he says.
Northland tourism is drowning in destination management plans, resource libraries, industry blueprints, tourism white papers and the like – but who is distilling all of this and actually putting it into action?
For the full picture, and Riki’s views on the knotty challenges facing our regional tourism sector, take a listen to this episode.
How will Northland fix its water infrastructure? How will we be able to afford to? What alliances and partnerships are being formed? Will deadlines be met?
In our third episode of True North we speak with Far North mayor Moko Tepania about our region’s crumbling water infrastructure. With the demise of the Three Waters initiative that would have seen central government investing in the upgrade and modernisation of regional water infrastructure, where does that leave Northland’s Councils? And, more importantly, its ratepayers and businesses?
What are our Councils’ options in this post-Three Waters environment? What’s next for our water infrastructure, how will this be upgraded and how will these upgrades be paid for? How much government funding, if any, is available to subsidise the massive amount of expansion and modification that is required for the region’s water infrastructure?
Links to items referred to in the show:
BusinessDesk article: Central government churn worsens council credit ratings (paywalled)
https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/finance/central-government-policy-churn-drags-down-local-government-credit-ratings
BusinessDesk article: Growing infrastructure pipeline 'not translating into projects coming to market’
https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/infrastructure/growing-infrastructure-pipeline-not-translating-into-projects-coming-to-market
Electricity Authority news release: power retailers’ Consumer Care Obligations
https://www.ea.govt.nz/news/press-release/new-zealanders-have-new-rights-as-power-consumers/
Is the promised 40-minute sea glider service between Whangārei and Auckland still on track? Why select Northport as the terminal instead of the Town Basin?
In our second episode of True North we speak with Ocean Flyer CEO Shah Aslam about his company’s plans and how they’re progressing.
Two years ago he told us this would be happening next year. Is that still the plan? How does he expect Air New Zealand to react? How is Ocean Flyer dealing with consumer nervousness around the safety of this new mode of transportation? And is there a cost to our region to establish the charging infrastructure required for these innovative, electric-powered… what are they? Vessels? Aircraft?
For the inside track on these and other questions take a listen to this episode.
Links to items referred to in the show:
Northland Regional Deal application:
New Zealand Transport Agency – Northland Corridor project - Registration of Interest:
https://www.gets.govt.nz/NZTAHNO/ExternalTenderDetails.htm?id=31264550
New Zealand Transport Agency – Northland Corridor project - more information:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/northland-corridor
Ocean Flyer:
What industries will a Special Economic Zone at Marsden Point cover? Exactly how will it streamline investment and establishment? What incentives will be on offer?
For our maiden episode of True North we were lucky enough to speak with Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, to see if we could squeeze out of him some additional detail about his thinking around a Special Economic Zone at Marsden Point.
It was a revealing discussion. We also covered the requirement for minimum employment and investment thresholds, the degree of focus on both foreign and domestic investment, the option of stimulating investment by sector rather than by location, and the extent of local government involvement or oversight (spoiler alert: “Nothing. Nothing!”)
For the inside track on these and many other matters, including the role an SEZ at Marsden Point could play in the next election, take a listen to our very first episode.
Links to items referred to in the show:
Cameron Bagrie bylined article at BusinessDesk (paywalled):
https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/economy/big-corporates-lump-too-much-blame-on-the-economy
‘The Pick’:
https://www.northlandnz.com/business/get-business-support/start-your-business/thepick/
Government news release - Special EconomicZones:https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-consider-special-economic-zones
Thanks for checking us out! True North is a podcast for business and community leaders in New Zealand's Northland region.
Follow us for regional business news and views, and for entertaining stories from some of the amazing and lesser-known high flyers who have chosen to make Northland home.
New episodes will be posted here every second Wednesday, kicking off on Wednesday 2 April 2025.
We rely on your support to continue doing what we do. Please do take that small extra step and subscribe, like and comment as it helps others find the show. Please also share it with those who may not yet be aware that we exist. Please let us know what you think about the podcast, ask questions or make suggestions about topics and people we should feature by emailing us at truenorth@duenorthpr.co.nz.
Thank you!