NZ Tech Podcast

Host Paul Spain is joined by Glenn Maiden, Chief Security Officer at Fortinet and Director of Threat Intelligence Operations at FortiGuard Labs, Australia and New Zealand. Glenn brings invaluable insights into today’s rapidly evolving digital threat landscape with practical advice for organisations of all sizes on how to bolster cyber defences against current and future threats.

Paul and Glenn also dive into the latest tech ne...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Jonathan Good, Co-Founder and CEO of Scentian Bio, to dive into the "digitisation of smell and taste “and what it means for industries in New Zealand and beyond. Jonathan shares about the realities of fundraising both locally and abroad, and the challenges and opportunities of bringing cutting-edge chemical sensing technology to market.

Plus, Paul and Jonathan explore the latest tech news, includ...

Host Paul Spain is joined by Sam Allen and Nick Walton, co-founders of NZ Boat Register, to explore how Kiwi innovation is improving marine visibility and asset tracking using AquaGPS, a Starlink-enabled GPS solution. The conversation also covers the latest in tech news, including:

• Game changing Nvidia chip coming to Windows laptops and PCs
• MSD Welfare decisions moving to AI Automated Decision-Making
• New Zealand’s First Deep...

The 2026 NZ Hi-Tech Awards highlight a sector reaching new heights in innovation, global growth, and impact, celebrating the organisations and individuals driving New Zealand’s tech success story. In this special episode, host Paul Spain speaks with several of this year’s standout winners. Hear from Dr Yoram Benit, CEO of Tait Communications, named NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year, and Matty Blomfield, co-founder and CEO ...

Join Host Paul Spain and Bill Bennett, tech and telecommunications journalist, for a wide-ranging discussion on the latest tech news from New Zealand and beyond, including:

• Car-sharing startup Mevo goes into liquidation
• Rural connectivity funding report
• Mobile Network Outages and Resiliency
• Hydrogen-fuelled vehicles in New Zealand
• Chrome’s Silent AI Download
• AI backlash at US university graduations
• Apple’s privacy moves to...

Paul Spain visits Mike Casey at Electric Cherries in Central Otago for an inspiring dive into tech-driven sustainable farming. Discover how Mike went from tech startup success in Sydney to building New Zealand’s first fully electric cherry orchard, where self-generated solar power slashes costs and future-proofs the business. Explore practical insights on electrification, energy economics, and why making smarter tech choices ...

Host Paul Spain is joined by Cam Richardson, founder of Paysquad, to dive into the latest in tech news and innovation. They discuss Amazon scrapping its West Auckland data centre plans, the expansion of AI-powered infrastructure in Invercargill, EV charging with ChargeNet, movie deal for a Kiwi-led Roblox game, Apple’s Vision Pro headset future and data security concerns around Chinese EVs. Plus, they break down new rules at ...

Listen in as Paul Spain sits down with Shan Moorthy, Chief Technology Officer for APAC at Workday, for an in-depth conversation on the rapid evolution of AI in the workplace. They explore the latest trends around generative and agentic AI, discuss real-world successes and setbacks from AI adoption, and dig into strategies for organisations looking to leverage AI safely, efficiently, and at scale. This episode offers valuable insigh...

Host Paul Spain and Adrian Smith, founder and CEO of BlinkPay, explore open banking, the impacts of the Consumer Product Data Act, and how BlinkPay is helping reshape payments and data sharing in Aotearoa. Adrian delves into the practical challenges of legacy banking tech and the latest innovations in consumer payments. Together they look at the latest tech news including:

• The dramatic pivot of Allbirds into AI infrastructure
• Roc...

Join host Paul Spain and Nilay Rathod (Spark) as they explore this week’s tech stories including Scentian Bio’s $7m Boost, Lanaco's wool-based space filtration on Artemis II, Air NZ to expand digital ID trials, Anthropic’s Project Glasswing, China’s supercomputer breach and Amazon Leo launch updates. Plus, Nilay discusses how Spark’s collaboration with Starlink is revolutionising connectivity, the impa...

Host Paul Spain is joined by Brett Roberts as they unpack the latest tech news from New Zealand and the wider world. From Peter Beck’s bold leadership, a look back at Apple’s 50‑year legacy of design and disruption, a trip around the moon with Artemis 2 crew and more.

Topics include:

• Peter Beck cuts his Rocket Lab salary to $1
• Spark launches Starlink satellite‑to‑mobile services
• NZ Government funding shifts toward emerg...

Join host Paul Spain and James Bergin (Xero) as they unpack this week’s tech news, including Halter’s multi-million-dollar funding, NZ Hi-Tech Awards 2026 finalists announced, the end of the 3G era in New Zealand, landmark legal cases against Meta, concerns about privacy with smart glasses, and rising cybersecurity risks. James also shares insights into Xero’s multi-year partnership with Anthropic, aiming to deliv...

Host Paul Spain is joined by Jamie Beaton, co-founder and CEO of Crimson Education. Jamie shares updates on Crimson’s impressive growth over the past five years, from expanding their core mission of getting students into the world’s top universities, to launching new ventures like the fully accredited Crimson Global Academy and New Zealand’s innovative Aotearoa Infinite Academy charter school. The conversation dig...

Listen in as host Paul Spain sits down with Joe Goddard (One NZ) as they explore One NZ's satellite-to-mobile networks, introduction of One Wallet and Phone Dollars and what’s next for One NZ.

They also review tech news from the week including:

1. InternetNZ’s latest findings on Kiwis’ online habits and AI caution
2. Datagrid’s South Island 'AI factory'

Join Paul Spain as he sits down with Dr Ojas Mahapatra, Group CEO of Mars Bioimaging Ltd, to explore cutting-edge advances in portable CT scanning and the future of medtech innovation from Christchurch.

Plus a look at tech news from the week including:

1. NZ’s new Online Scams Code
2. 2degrees and Ericsson’s private 5G rollout at Lyttelton Port
3. NZ cyber secu...

Host Paul Spain is joined by James Pinner, CEO of New Zealand Growth Capital Partners (NZGCP), to explore the impact of New Zealand’s venture capital and startup scene. Together, they dig into the origins of NZGCP, the changing landscape for Kiwi startups, and the crucial role government funding plays in building a thriving tech ecosystem. They discuss how government-backed funds, bold startups, and a thriving venture capital...

Host Paul Spain sits down with Shane Smith, the co-founder of Education Perfect, for a fascinating dive into the world of edtech innovation. Shane shares the story behind Education Perfect’s rise, building a gamified language learning platform that now helps millions of students and teachers across Australia and New Zealand. The conversation covers early development and key technical challenges, the role of AI in shaping pers...

Join Paul Spain as he welcomes Marian Johnson for a lively discussion about New Zealand’s tech innovation scene. Explore the NZ Hi-Tech Awards, tips for aspiring finalists, Partly’s exciting journey in North America, and why New Zealand is positioned to lead globally in technology and innovation.

Plus, the latest tech news including:

1. NZ’s annual space launch limit increased
2. Read more