Brendan Lindsay: Sistema founder on being appointed a knight companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit

The founder of plastics storage container business Sistema Plastics Brendan Lindsay has been appointed a knight companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.

Lindsay received the honour for his services to business and philanthropy, noting his work at Sistema and his efforts as part of the Lindsay Foundation.

He founded the plastic business in 1982. 

He was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012, and was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2020 in recognition of his contributions to business.

Brendan Lindsay joins the show to discuss his appointment. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
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Speaker 2 (00:16):
The King's Birthday honors Brendon John Lindsay, the founder of Sistema,
has found his name on the list. He is to
be a Nate Companion of the New Zealand Order of
Merit for his services to business and philanthropy. And Brendan
joins me. Now, good morning to you. Brendan.

Speaker 3 (00:32):
Good morning, and may I be.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
The first to say sir Brendan, though probably somebody's already
said that earlier this morning.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Well, my wife didn't call me sir Brendan when I
woke up this morning, so no, thank you for that.
It's going to take a little bit of getting used to.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
I think, how does it feel for you? What does
this mean for you?

Speaker 3 (00:51):
Oh? Look, it's quite it's such a huge honor and
I think you know, with your business career and what
we've done since we've sold the business, you know, with
their Philanthroy side. But you know it's also a big
accolade for a lot of folks that have supported me
over the years. You know, the obviously family, you know,
you miss birthdays and things like that were traveling away

(01:13):
with business and my family mean obviously behind me, and
I've got a group of trustees that have tried to
guide me on the right path and a few times
when I've sort of gone off the rails, and obviously
lots of business colleagues that have built me back into shape.
And I've had silly ideas. So no, I think everybody's
going to enjoy this, to be honest.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Very good. After you sold System, and that was back
in twenty sixteen, you started back in nineteen eighty two.
After that you and your wife established the Lindsay Foundation
to support New Zealand charities focusing on family education, disabilities
and animal welfare. This is possibly an impossible question, but
what has meant more to you your services to business
or your subsequent work in philanthropy.

Speaker 3 (01:57):
Gosh, that's a good, good question. I've never really thought
about it too much. I think that services to businesses
are probably a little bit self serving because you know,
you're trying to obviously put expand your business, and as
you do that, of course you put finance security behind you.
But after it's sold and you've got this opportunity to

(02:18):
give back to the community, particularly New Zelling community in
those areas that you've just outlined. You know, we're very
lucky and very fortunate to be in the position to
make some donations if you like, and you know, influence
and change people's lives, most of them of course we
never get to meet or hear about. But the reality

(02:41):
is that, you know, it's it gives a great deal
of There's lots of little things that happen along way
in that journey, and you sometimes sort of pinch yourself
thinking how lucky we are to have the opportunity because
you know, the thing about Philanthrophy and New Zealand, it
doesn't really matter what you how much money you put in.
It's the fact that when you look at a thing

(03:03):
like get a little page and see how many people
put fifty dollars or one hundred dollars in because I've read
it out a tragedy in somebody's life, that's just the
same as us. It's just the amounts of bit different.

Speaker 2 (03:15):
Well, the country as a whole needs to pinch itself
to say how lucky we are to have people like
you who have a second chapter to your career and
you give back so very very much. But if you
could just put your business hat on for the final question,
if you were still in charge of SYSTEMA right now,
how would the new tariff environment affect your business? And
what advice would you give to Kiwi businesses right now

(03:35):
to get through what we experience today.

Speaker 3 (03:38):
Oh, I see it as a huge opportunity and if
I was involved there, I would see it as a
massive opportunity because you know, a ten percent tariff into
America is not a barrier to entry. It's what's more
important is the tariffs are going to probably hit the
Asian country is a lot worse, which, of course, as
we competition comes, particularly in SYSTEMA, and you know, I

(04:00):
see it as an opportunity rather than rather than a
negative thing. And I'd be focusing all my efforts if
the American market even further than what we were doing
when we were there.

Speaker 2 (04:13):
It's a very similar view that was held by Sir
John Keith, who says it's about relativity and we actually
have a relative advantage.

Speaker 3 (04:20):
We've got a massive advantage. And you know, one thing
that we've got in New Zealand which they don't have
anywhere else in the world. And as we've got that language,
people recognize that language. They respect us, they respect our
business ecument, they respect our honesty and integrity and business
and for lots of our people that have gone before us,
and a lot of doors open for Keiwis which they

(04:41):
wouldn't normally open for anybody else. And that's sort of
setting what I've found. And I just i'd be I'd
just be really rolling the sleeves up and you know,
going you whippy.

Speaker 2 (04:53):
And good on you too. And as a country we
respect for you, which is why you are now, Sir Brendan.
Get used to it. And I thank you for your
time today.

Speaker 3 (05:00):
Oh thank you very much herew I appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
It's a pleasure, Sir Brendan Lindsay for services to business
and philanthropy.

Speaker 1 (05:07):
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