NZ Tech Podcast

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown talks with Paul Spain about the future of technology in Auckland and New Zealand. The mayor shares his vision for making Auckland a leading tech hub and how he believes the city can better contribute to New Zealand’s economy.From his experience leading business delegations to China and India, to his hands-on approach supporting the Auckland Tech Alliance and pushing for digital innovation within local government, Wayne Brown offers his viewpoints on city-to-city connections, global tech opportunities, and the sometimes-bumpy road of digital transformation and adoption.We explore practical challenges around balancing technological innovation with privacy and inclusivity, discuss Auckland’s role in supporting the wider country, and hear why Mayor Wayne Brown believes collaboration, progressive development, and a willingness to take risks are key to unlocking Auckland’s and New Zealand’s potential on the global tech stage.This episode also touches on Council Digitisation, Rocket Lab, Halter, Bengaluru - India, Guangzhou - China, Sao Paulo - Brazil, Startup Week, Auckland Technology Alliance, Transport, Road Cones and more.A big thank you to our show partners One NZ, Spark, Workday, HP, 2degrees and Gorilla Technology.

Host Paul Spain is joined by Jonathan Brabant (Workday), for a deep dive into how Workday is helping Kiwi businesses modernise their HR and finance systems. From cloud-native architecture to AI-powered insights, discover how Workday is enabling smarter decisions and driving agility across Aotearoa.Plus, we unpack the latest tech news including Microsoft’s AI pricing apology and refunds in NZ and Australia, Meta’s revenue from fraudulent ads, Lensare's award winning glasses, $35k teleoperated home robot from 1X, and the UK’s Capture IT compensation scheme and more.Thanks to our Partners One NZ, Workday, 2degrees, HP, Spark and Gorilla Technology

Hear from host Paul Spain as he sits down with Philippa Cogswell (Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42), to unpack the fast-moving world of cybersecurity. Philippa shares insights into global incident response, including the rise of business disruption tactics, multi-surface attacks and the growing challenges posed by supply chain vulnerabilities. The conversation highlights research findings, including the speed of attacks and the increasing use of AI in cybercrime, plus practical advice for both large enterprises and startups in navigating today’s cyber risks. This episode offers a unique window into the realities facing organisations in New Zealand and beyond, with actionable takeaways for anyone invested in digital security.2025 Unit 42 Global Incident Response Report - Palo Alto NetworksSpecial thanks to our show partners 2degrees, One New Zealand, Spark New Zealand, HP, Workday and Gorilla Technology.

Hear from host Paul Spain and Alyona Medelyan (Thematic) as they discuss highlights from Auckland Startup Week, and review tech news from the week including, NZ’s undersea drone push to protect vital cables, Rural internet pressures amid Starlink’s rise, AWS DNS triggers widespread outages, major fraud stories span crypto empires and rigged poker. Plus, Alyona shares insights on leadership, startup culture lessons, and how Thematic helps businesses with customer feedback analytics.A big thank you to our show partners One NZ, Spark, Workday, HP, 2degrees and Gorilla Technology.

Join Paul Spain as he chats with Scott Spooner (SPS Automation). Discover the fascinating world of bespoke robotics, from AI-powered agricultural drones combating wilding pines to spectacular drone light shows. Scott shares SPS’s journey from garage startup to cutting-edge innovations, including hybrid-powered heavy-lift drones, swarm technology, and navigating New Zealand’s flexible regulatory landscape. If you’re passionate about tech, aviation, and the future of autonomous vehicles, then listen in!

Join host Paul Spain and Jovan Pavlicevic (Emerge & Square One) as they discuss the latest tech news including Google’s Honomoana cable and its economic promise, IT Professionals NZ closure, Discord’s leaked ID photos, NZ’s new “How Exposed Am I?” tool. Carparking surveillance, Brewers revert to pen-and-paper due to hackers and China-US rare earth export saga. Plus, Jovan shares how Emerge & SquareOne’s innovative fintech solutions are transforming youth banking, SME financial management, and financial inclusion for Kiwis.Thanks to our Partners One NZ, Workday, 2degrees, HP, Spark and Gorilla Technology

Host Paul Spain reconnects with Stefan Powell, co-founder and CEO of Dawn Aerospace, to discuss the rapid evolution of New Zealand’s space sector. Stefan shares the highs and lows of steering an aerospace startup through rapid growth, the realities of innovating in both aircraft and space tech, and what it’s taken to build customer trust in a high-stakes industry. Explore Dawn Aerospace’s advances in reusable space planes and green in-space propulsion, the company’s international growth, and how their technology is powering global space missions and research. A big thank you to our show partners One NZ, Spark, HP, 2degrees and Gorilla Technology.

Hear from host Paul Spain and Mike Jones, General Manager at Earthcare Environmental. Mike shares his first-hand experiences with Tesla’s new Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised technology, diving into what sets FSD apart from other automation systems, how it’s performing on local streets, and what the future looks like for autonomous driving. Plus, tech news from the week including, Facial recognition in retail, Age restrictions on social media, young inventors LCD glasses for epilepsy and light sensitivity. Advancements in on-device AI, plus comparing inflight satellite Wi-Fi and more. Discover what’s driving New Zealand’s technology landscape forward.Special thanks to our show partners 2degrees, One New Zealand, Spark New Zealand, HP, Workday and Gorilla Technology.

In this special episode, host Paul Spain sits down with Steve Sasson, the American electrical engineer who quite literally changed how the world captures moments—he invented the first self-contained (portable) digital camera at Kodak back in the mid-1970s. Recorded at Steve’s home in Rochester, New York, Steve shares not only the technical hurdles and creative thinking that made digital imaging possible, but also gives us a look into Kodak’s company culture—how innovation collided with tradition, and why big organisations sometimes struggle to reinvent themselves in times of massive technological change. Sasson’s stories offer timeless insights for innovators navigating disruptive technology and shifting business models in today’s fast-paced world.Thanks to our Partners One NZ, Workday, 2degrees, HP, Spark and Gorilla Technology

Host Paul Spain is joined by Igor Portugal (Tech Entrepreneur), as they explore the latest tech news in New Zealand and beyond. They discuss the Electric Avenue ticketing debacle, Starboard Maritime's expansion plans, NZ’s Realtime phone outage service, China's surveillance network, the future of Starlink, and Apple's latest product revelations, including the progressive phasing out of SIM cards. Plus, get insights into BlackLock Security's innovative use of AI for threat detection and their Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS).A big thank you to our show partners One NZ, Spark, HP, 2degrees and Gorilla Technology.