PowerUp

Terry Boon has left his fingerprints all over Taranaki - almost literally. As the founding director of acclaimed design and architecture firm BOON, he has steered the business from its beginnings to its current status as a local giant in all aspects of building design. In this episode of the PowerUp podcast, Terry talks through more than 50 years of highlights, from the development of New Plymouth’s iconic Bowl of Brooklands to all the McDonalds in New Zealand, and even the New Zealand Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Terry has an encyclopedic recollection of his incredible array of work, but this conversation is about much more than that. He is a passionate contributor to culture and the arts and a huge advocate for Taranaki as a region.  In this fascinating discussion, he reflects on his relationships, family and environments - many of which he has shaped, both literally and figuratively. 

If you met Ben and Tess Annabell 15 years ago, you’d probably never have known they’d end up running a business advisory firm. Ben was a qualified plumber, and Tess had gone away from her marine biology degree into chartered accountancy. Their life experience and shared passion eventually led them to start Recharge; an accountancy firm with a focus on supporting trades businesses to be both profitable and enjoyable.  In this episode of the PowerUp Podcast, they talk about their own struggles running a plumbing company, and how that led to starting Recharge. Ben and Tess discuss mental health and wellness, burnout, financial education and the toll of running a business.  It’s a fascinating look under the hood at the reality of small business owners, and how to prioritise yourself and your lifestyle alongside the health of your business.

Lisa Deken and Leeanne Snowdon are two school friends that run Down to Earth Organics; New Plymouth’s hub of holistic health. It’s packed wall to wall with nothing but good stuff for the mind and body. In this episode of the PowerUp podcast, Lisa and Lee talk about the beginnings of their work relationship, taking over a long-running Taranaki institution at the height of the Covid pandemic.  They discuss the skyrocketing wellness industry and their place in it, how they manage their relationship, getting the right expertise involved and what it’s like taking over an existing business rather than starting one from scratch. So many good lessons here for anyone in a similar position, be it in the wellness space, buying an existing business, or starting something with a friend.

Abby Packer is the founder of Neat NZ, an online health and beauty business that sends out thousands of orders a month all around the world. But she never really intended to get to this point. In fact, the start of the business was a complete accident.  In this episode of the Venture Taranaki PowerUp podcast, Abby talks through the serendipitous beginning of Neat and her journey growing the business to become an online powerhouse. She talks about the challenges of sustainability, team management, sacrifice, looking after your own mental health, advice for female founders and a lot more. There’s so much good stuff in here for aspiring entrepreneurs, whatever field you’re in!

James Donald is one of New Zealand’s shining stars in the tech and startup scene. He is the first repeat guest on the PowerUp Podcast, and he’s come full circle since his last appearance. Having exited his first venture, tourism-tech company Yonder, he then co-founded the fast-growing market research company Ideally. James is a highly respected SaaS leader and his lessons cover the complete spectrum of growing a tech startup - from founding and growing to exiting, and taking all those lessons to do it all again! He picks out the most powerful insights across his journey, together with learnings about technology, AI, the power of accurate market research and the personal aspects of business ownership. This is a comprehensive conversation with so much for budding entrepreneurs to learn from - it’s not one to miss!

It’s one thing to listen to podcasts, but what about producing them? Hannah Hunt and Laura Leadbetter started Roar Collective with a shared love for the platform, but not much experience in actually making podcasts. Four years on, they’re one of New Zealand’s only podcast production companies with an impressive list of corporate and celebrity clients.   In this episode of Venture Taranaki’s PowerUp podcast, Hannah talks us through the journey. It includes how they signed up their first big show before they even had any recording equipment, growing a family while also growing a business, and how they got access to the kind of advice that helped them to grow.   She also reflects a lot on how they’ve done it from Taranaki. Hannah has a big emphasis on work-life balance, which is a big part of why she moved back to the region after years away. It’s a great look into the Taranaki lifestyle, and how the regional culture gives people a productive work and home life.

CJ Mahony left school at 16 and started a transport company as a bit of a side hobby. Nearly 20 years later, he employs 35 people and is the man behind one of the largest commercial developments in South Taranaki in living memory.    CJ’s AGTRANS business has grown and shifted to be a popular crane transport option in the oil and gas industry. At the same time, his desire to put a permanent driveway to his work site has seen him purchase a 67 acre farm that he’s developing into a $12 million commercial and residential business park. He makes it sound like no big deal because he’s that kind of guy - he’s even bought himself a bulldozer and is pretty much doing all the earthworks himself.   This is a real can-do kind of yarn. CJ has a no-fuss confidence about him, and there’s an element of humour in the way he describes big things as being quite straightforward. But there’s no doubt there’s a strong intellect, a boatload of practicality and plenty of know-how about him, and it’s helping him do big things in a growing community. 

**Content warning: this podcasts discusses issues around mental health, addiction and abuse**   Elliot Taylor created ThroughLine to help people in distress get access to critical helplines. In just a few years, it’s grown to offer more than 1,400 helplines to people in more than 100 countries.   This is a fantastic example of using technology to solve problems. Research shows the huge impact helplines can make, but it’s not always easy for people to find the best one at the right time. That’s what ThroughLine does.   Elliot reflects on how he started and grew the company from his home in rural Taranaki, building technology, getting funding and connecting with people all over the world. His mantra of approaching things like an experiment is evident throughout - it’s a great example of what a tech startup looks like, and the difference it can make.

Nick Jackson and Brett Rogers reckon New Zealand’s goal of being carbon-free by 2050 isn’t ambitious enough. They think we can grow the country’s renewable energy by 600%, and use it to export energy around the world.   They’d know too. As energy sector veterans and directors of energy consulting firm Elemental Group, Nick and Brett are at the forefront of helping people to solve energy needs with cutting-edge technology and future-proofed solutions that are fit for the changing global requirements.    In this episode of Venture Taranaki’s PowerUp podcast, they talk about why they’re so optimistic for the future of energy generation, and what the transition might look like. Elemental has already had success helping countries in the Pacific Islands and Caribbean to transform their energy generation, and they discuss how it’s all possible from Taranaki, while also enjoying a lifestyle to go with it.

Joe Emans was once an engineer in the Middle East. Now, he’s a brewer in Taranaki. But he’s not just any brewer - his award-winning Three Sisters brewery is one of the region’s best, and it holds pride of place with a bar and restaurant in one of New Plymouth’s oldest buildings.   The Three Sisters story is a really good one. Joe talks about selling his first batch of beer when a local restaurant ran out, and how he turned a hobby into a business. He’s passionate about the ongoing challenge in making new types of beer and collaborating with both national and international brewers.   Local communities need local drops, and Three Sisters is right up there with the best of them. But while many people might like the idea of running a brewery, Joe is actually living it. From getting started to mastering the process to crowdfunding his very own bar, this is a great look behind the scenes to see how it’s all done.

Boring Oat Milk has been an unmitigated success since its launch in 2021, smashing sales forecasts and playing a big role in the growth of milk alternatives in Aotearoa. But it’s been much harder than it’s appeared, and Taranaki-born and bred founder Morgan Maw describes it as a “seven-year overnight success.”   In this episode of Venture Taranaki’s PowerUp Podcast, Morgan and host David Downs talk about how she’s always been a “hustler”, the three years of planning for Boring Oat Milk that nearly bankrupted her (twice), developing the branding, launching in a Covid lockdown and how that actually worked well.    Boring is a case study in how to succeed in the retail food space, carving out a niche with a strong disruptor brand, a delicious, healthy product and a commitment to doing things the right way.    Morgan is articulate and passionate about her business, but also about her lifestyle. Having recently returned home to Taranaki, she’s a huge advocate for the region’s accessibility to nature and the way it gives her a work-life balance she couldn’t have in the city.   **Much of the Boring operation is run out of its Hawke’s Bay facility. Flooding from Cyclone Gabrielle has made for a hugely challenging time for the Hawke’s Bay community. For anyone looking to help out, you can donate to relief efforts at https://www.redcross.org.nz/support-us/our-current-appeals/new-zealand-disaster-fund/** 

Hydrogen-fuelled trucks have started hitting the roads in NZ, and the impact on our emissions is massive. Taranaki company Hiringa is at the forefront of global efforts to slash emissions in transport, and the progress they’re making is incredible! This episode of the PowerUp Podcast is about how they’re doing it - pioneering green hydrogen fuel, developing fuelling stations and delivering hydrogen-powered vehicles is a huge three-pronged mission, but they’re making it happen. Taranaki has been an energy stronghold for years, and Hiringa is leading a transition that will cement the region as a global leader for the sector in the years to come.

IncaFe is all about good coffee done right. It takes effort though - sourcing beans directly from remote plantations in South America and Indonesia, paying above market rates for quality and developing their own compostable packaging. But to founders Carmen and Joop, it’s worth it. This is a great yarn about how a can-do attitude can help a local business to compete in a global market. IncaFe has become a leading supplier of quality coffee to cafes all around New Zealand, and Carmen and Joop’s dedication to doing it the right way makes their story all the more inspiring. 

When you’re fixing chainsaws at 7 years old and making motorbikes at 10, you’ve clearly got a knack for using your hands. This was John Burling growing up, and it’s no surprise that innovations from his back shed have gone all over the world. John is the man behind Carac Group, a family owned and run engineering company in Eltham. In this episode of the PowerUp podcast by Venture Taranaki, John and his daughter, CEO Sonia Kiser, talk about how this small firm grew from John’s shed to seven factories.  John’s appetite for risk and ability to spot an opportunity (like getting involved in the America’s Cup) is as impressive as it is funny. This is a great yarn about a risk-taking, old-school tinkerer going global with innovations that are literally life-saving.

Even for a baker, getting up at midnight is extreme. But when you’ve got two tamariki and a dairy farm, baking Artisan Donuts have to fit in around them. This is just one of the many aspects that make Erin Benton’s story so awesome. The founder of Knead, Erin’s doughnuts are unreal. There’s no other way to put it. She used to go to farmers markets and sell out in just over half an hour. She has lines out the door pretty much every day.  In this episode of the PowerUp podcast, Erin talks about the sacrifice it’s taken to become New Plymouth’s worst best kept secret. How she learned to bake, how she juggles her time, how she focuses on kaupapa important to her and keeping the balance so her cup can be full for her whānau and business.  

Imagine trying to design and build the famous Len Lye Centre’s stainless steel facade. It doesn’t bear thinking about…unless you’re Steve Scott. Steve and his team at Rivet are masters with sheet metal, illustrated most notably at New Plymouth’s iconic Len Lye Museum. Steve’s actually an electrician, but don’t let that fool you. He’s taken Rivet to a place where they’re regarded as the team for the hard jobs that other people can’t do. He’s also a passionate supporter of training young people, and a bit of a larrikin to boot. This is a great example of how to become an expert in your field. Steve brings to life stories of his iconic projects, including gin stills and art sculptures. He brings a grounded approach, throws in a good dash of humour and ends with a great yarn about how to make a local business really stand out.

Some people are just made different. Plenty of others would be happy with being director of a successful building company while raising two kids…but not Glen Stephens. He saw an opportunity to make an environmentally friendly sunscreen that protects against New Zealand’s harsh sun, and his side hustle is rapidly growing. Glen is the founder of Sol + Sea, which started after seeing the devastating effects of coral bleaching in the Pacific. After a few years of investment, putting in the hard yards and refining his business strategy, Glen has developed a range of products and got them into stores all over NZ (and soon internationally).  This is a great yarn about how he did it, what makes him tick, and how something like this is possible from his base in Taranaki. 

From being a professional rugby player to running a successful international honey company, James Annabell’s story is a highly unlikely one. Not to mention the fact the Egmont Honey CEO and founder is allergic to bee stings.   However, there can be no denying the success of this family-run company. It started with James giving his dad a beehive for Christmas one year, and it’s grown to having more than 4,000 hives and exporting more than 1,000 tonnes of honey each year to more than 20 countries around the world.   James talks candidly about the challenges of making honey in some of the most remote parts of New Zealand, and how Egmont Honey is influenced by the local Taranaki region. The world of honey is immensely fascinating, and James’ ability to bring it to life makes this a must-listen episode of The PowerUp Podcast.    We’re proud to bring you the voices of our entrepreneurs, innovators and creators, delivered with their own experiences, insights and humour in mind - the views, thoughts and opinions shared by our guests are uniquely theirs. They do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Venture Taranaki.

In this episode of the PowerUp Podcast, prominent businessman John Matthews lifts the lid on his successes, challenges, and belief in taking risks - like shipping the largest oil tank to ever go on water from Taranaki to Fiji...without insurance.    John is a hugely influential figure in Taranaki’s cultural and art scene, as well as its business and infrastructure. A successful engineer and businessman, John’s expertise in roading and bitumen have seen him made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.    A close friend of the late Len Lye, John is an adamant believer in the beauty of art. He was at the forefront of installing New Plymouth’s iconic wind wand - what was a highly divisive project at the time, as well as the city’s unique Len Lye gallery.   We’re proud to bring you the voices of our entrepreneurs, innovators and creators, delivered with their own experiences, insights and humour in mind - the views, thoughts and opinions shared by our guests are uniquely theirs. They do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Venture Taranaki.

If there’s a book on how to run an iwi business, Ngā Rauru would feature in it heavily. Ngā Rauru iwi is behind the smoothie company Kaitahi, they’ve used a socially and environmentally friendly model to deliver healthy food all over New Zealand. What’s more, their traditional Māori ingredients add significant cultural significance to their operations.   In this awesome episode of the PowerUp Podcast, Pania Winterburn talks through how Kaitahi has gone from a small community nursery in south Taranaki to making unique frozen smoothie drops with ingredients like puha and kawakawa. She talks about the evolution of the business, how they navigate its iwi ownership and how they’ve been guided by their culture and their people.   Kaitahi is an amazing initiative in its own right, but its principles and its purpose make it truly special. This is a must listen!   We’re proud to bring you the voices of our entrepreneurs, innovators and creators, delivered with their own experiences, insights and humour in mind - the views, thoughts and opinions shared by our guests are uniquely theirs. They do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Venture Taranaki.