Ben Moore
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Tech editor for BusinessDesk. My opinions are my own and you can't have them.
Articles by Ben Moore
Sydney ISV OneAffiniti acquired by US-based Incentive Solutions
Sydney based channel marketing automation provider OneAffini has been acquired by Incentive Solutions, a US-based channel incentives management provider, for an undisclosed amount.
Smarter City Solutions scores NSW Council deal for parking fine issuance solution
Sydney-based ISV and integrator Smarter City Solutions has won a deal to provide its vCompliance parking compliance solution to The Hills Shire Council in New South Wales, to work with the NSW State Government’s Print and Post program. vCompliance is a platform used to record and send evidence to Revenue NSW, who can then immediately send the fine to the end recipient, replacing a manual process that has been problematic in the past.
These people found fame and money - on LinkedIn
By Ann-Marie AlcántaraApril Little’s rise to internet stardom began three years ago with a post about layoffs and recruitment services.People who lose their jobs in high-profile cuts, she wrote, often get showered with offers for help at the expense of millions of others who have been out of work for longer. “Do they need a big event or company tied to them to get recognition?” she asked.
Lawyer found guilty of misconduct for drunken Xmas party antics
A senior lawyer who grabbed a junior colleague’s penis while drunk at a Christmas party and made multiple lewd comments has been described as “deplorable” by a tribunal.The man, who has interim name suppression, worked at one of the largest law firms in the country and was known for his somewhat outlandish behaviour.However, at two Christmas parties several years ago, he was drunk and took his jokes too far when he made comments about employees’ genitalia and sex lives and touched staff...
Christchurch cleantech Aspiring Materials launches pilot plant, moves ‘at pace’ towards commercialisation
A Christchurch cleantech startup that has developed a carbon-free way of processing critical minerals from a common rock type has launched its pilot plant.Aspiring Materials was founded in 2019 by Dr Chris Oze and Dr Allan Scott, a geologist and a civil engineer who previously worked together to develop building materials able to be produced from the scarce resources available on Mars.
Strategic bets and happy accidents - the future of NZ Inc
The Government is busy pushing its growth agenda, but what’s the best way to pursue sustainable growth that produces higher-value jobs and more export earnings? A new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) says it involves taking a more strategic approach to New Zealand’s economic future. The report identifies five key ecosystems that could drive the nation's growth and global standing by 2050. According to the report, NZ's economic performance has declined relative to our peers.
TAB’s apps reveal dark side of digital tech
Digital sports and racing betting applications are unearthing the darker side of the global trend towards digitalisation.The business benefits of cloud-based applications are being realised in the rapidly changing gambling industry, but many of those benefits also come with significant risks for users.This balance of benefits and harms will be front of mind for the Government as it looks to establish a regulated monopoly for online sports and racing betting.The keys to the kingdom will likely...
Breakers basketball sale: Who are the Grice brothers?
Out of the blue, two Wellington-based, Christchurch-born brothers are said to have bought the Breakers basketball franchise.Leon Grice and his younger brother, Stephen, are well known in political and business circles, have deep connections to serious American money and have a track record of adventurous entrepreneurial dabbling, assisted by an unusual mix of skills and a deep fraternal bond.Leon’s affably confident strut and square-jawed crooner looks have been a fixture in the nexus between...
Investors want slice of DeepSeek. Its founder says not now
By Rebecca Feng in Hong Kong and Raffaele Huang in SingaporeThe founder of Chinese artificial-intelligence star DeepSeek has rejected proposals to make quick money from his programs, telling prospective investors he wants to keep the science-project ethos that brought him global renown.Overwhelmed by millions of users, DeepSeek’s chatbot has frequent service hiccups, and authorities around the world are restricting its use because of data-security concerns.
Andy Hamilton's big dumb ideas to fix NZ's economy
New Zealand's economic woes are complicated and multifaceted, but business guru Andy Hamilton has 26 ideas for improving them. He admits that some of them, like becoming part of Australia, are a bit dumb – but others could have a lot of potential. Hamilton also discusses what it was like going through the We Are Indigo and Manaaki v Callaghan Innovation stoush and what he took away from the experience.
NZ sharemarket likely lower after rout on Wall Street
New Zealand’s shares will likely fall on the open as Wall Street tumbled on recession fears, but the decline may not be as steep. “Our market will be affected on open, but we are a more defensive market, so I wouldn’t expect to see the same share declines as what we’ve seen in the US,” Craigs Investment Partners investment adviser Peter McIntyre said.“But in saying that, the likelihood is we pull back today as risk gets taken off the table. It’s a risk-off day.” Across the Ditch, Austral...
Cyber regulations unwanted, ransoms paid, in Kordia Cyber report
Many businesses say they are vulnerable to cyber-attacks and want the Government to lead in educating people about cybersecurity.
NZ sharemarket starts week up 0.9% after late surge
New Zealand stocks ended firmly after a late surge of buying, the benchmark S&P/NZX50 index getting a boost from big gains in the dairy sector and a bounce in Fisher and Paykel Healthcare.The S&P/NZX 50 Index closed 116.19 points (0.94%) higher at 12,515.97, with 32.46 million shares (worth $137.5m) trading on the main board.There were 85 gains and 50 falls.Prices had only been modestly firmer during most of the session before late buying pushed the index close to a 1% gain.Among the other...
Being AI CEO David McDonald resigns directorship
Being AI co-founder and chief executive David McDonald resigned as director last Friday, while the company remains in a protracted period of non-trading.The gap will be filled by Paul Forno, CEO of Being AI’s logistics company Send_Global.McDonald will stay on at Being AI as CEO to continue his work leading the technology team in the development of Project Treehouse.He told BusinessDesk that he felt he could “no longer be effective” as a director but stayed on as CEO to see the best possible...
This sleek hatchback will be Volkswagen's cheapest EV
Volkswagen has revealed the ID. Every1, a concept car previewing its most affordable all-electric model set to launch in 2027. The production version is expected to start near €20,000 (currently below NZ$38,000), positioning it in the increasingly competitive entry-level electric vehicle (EV) market.Subcompact EV for urban mobilitySized at 3880mm long, the ID.
My Net Worth: Nick Stanhope, chief executive, AIA NZ
AIA New Zealand, which Nick Stanhope has led since July 2018, is the country's largest life and health insurer. I grew up in Auckland and had a happy childhood. Mum was very loving – you know, a traditional great mum and an amazing cook. Dad was a traditional father who was in the police for over 40 years and became the Auckland district commander before he retired.
Waikato University unveils $12.5m decarbonisation project to industry
A $12.5 million university-led software project to decarbonise industry showed how a business problem could drive research, according to Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Shane Reti.The Ahuora Digital Twin project is in its fifth year of a funded seven-year lifespan at the University of Waikato.
Grenon closes on 50% support for NZME board spill
The expatriate Canadian billionaire seeking a board spill at NZME is claiming support closing on 50% of the share register.
Being AI execs depart under spectre of delisting
Being AI has disestablished the roles of two of its executives as the company heads towards a possible delisting.The company announced to the New Zealand Exchange (NZX) on Thursday morning the departure of chief marketing officer Paul Shale and human resources vice president Jane Indries.Being AI has been in a trading halt since Feb 2 after its two independent directors stepped down with no replacements planned.If no new independent directors can be found, the company will ultimately be...
NYSE-listed insurance brokerage Arthur J Gallagher buys RMA General
New Zealand financial services firm RMA General has been acquired by New York Stock Exchange-listed insurance brokerage Arthur J Gallagher & Co for an undisclosed sum.Founded in 1927, Gallagher employs about 56,000 people across 130 countries.
NZ risks ‘riding cavalry into battle against tanks’ without Aukus
New Zealand is no stranger to tectonic shifts, perched as it is on a volcanic belt, but geopolitical quakes may prove an entirely different matter. The University of Waikato’s Dr Reuben Steff joins the podcast to argue that without joining the high-tech-focused pillar two of the Australia, UK and US (Aukus) agreement, NZ may find itself at a major disadvantage in the new world order. Steff argues that not joining Aukus could leave NZ technologically exposed if global tensions boil over.
UsedFULLY changes tack and looks to Europe for commercial growth
Cleantech startup UsedFULLY is moving into commercial operations after signing an exclusive global licence to use Scion Research’s fibre-processing technology for textile recycling.The deal marks a shift in strategy for the Wellington-based company, which had been planning to raise $3 million to build its own pilot manufacturing plant.
Once burnt twice shy, gentailers results show loss of confidence in gas
Earnings reports for the major electricity companies contained a number of common themes with two of the problems remaining beyond their control – concerns over the gas market and rain.Both of those boil down to the central concern of the sector, that is ensuring there is enough fuel to generate electricity whether it be water, wind, sun, coal, gas or even diesel.The results of all four gentailers were a mix of how short they were left when gas dwindled rapidly and how much they had to pay to...
Will Bitcoin set us free?
Bitcoin advocate Cody Ellingham joins the podcast to explain why he is advocating for everyone, everywhere, to get Ellingham explains his vision for how Bitcoin could restore people's financial power rather than enslave it to financial institutions and governments. Plus, we talk about the AI language Gibberlink and Apple's US$500 billion (NZ$874.3b) promise to Trump. Subscribe oniHeart Radio or wherever you get podcasts.
Loan app Amico formalises family and friend contracts
A former banker turned Hawke’s Bay farmer has created a peer-to-peer lending app designed to simplify and formalise loan agreements between family and friends.Amico, which translates to “friend” in Italian, was launched last week by Tom Aitken along with Melbourne-based business partner and co-founder Kris Hunter.The app, designed to reduce the complexities and risks of informal loans, offers a structured and legally binding solution and is believed to be the first of its kind in New...
Ministry of Awesome has startup lessons to teach corporate NZ
Christchurch startup incubator Ministry of Awesome is turning its expertise with early-stage companies to kick-start corporate innovation.Callaghan Innovation has provided vital funding for its programmes, but the Crown entity is now due to be wound up as part of the Government’s recently announced science reforms.
The most powerful Rolls-Royce is electric
Rolls-Royce has expanded its exclusive Black Badge range by introducing the Spectre Black Badge, its most powerful model to date. The high-performance electric coupe delivers up to 485kW and 1075Nm of torque, eclipsing the standard Spectre’s output. This also marks the first fully electric Black Badge model.The Spectre Black Badge features an upgraded dual-motor all-wheel-drive system.
My Net Worth: Peter Reidy, KiwiRail CEO
Peter Reidy is the chief executive of KiwiRail and a former CEO of Fletcher Construction. A keen rugby and music fan, he has led businesses spanning the energy, transport, construction and logistics sectors and been involved in some of the biggest and most complex projects in New Zealand.I’m a Hutt boy. My mother, Jean, was born in Wellington, my dad, Bill, was born in Auckland, but I was born in Upper Hutt.
Potential sale of SailGP's NZ team could break records
The ever-increasing number of eyes on SailGP’s races, a host of new global sponsors and the acquisition of the US SailGP team have raised hopes that New Zealand’s national team will one day be sold in a potentially record-breaking deal. “The [New Zealand] team is owned by us, as Sail GP, and our model is that we’re selling these franchises over time,” said SailGP managing director Andrew Thompson.
Medtech Global acquired by global investment firm Banyan Software
New Zealand medical software company Medtech Global has been acquired by Banyan Software, a private equity firm, for an undisclosed sum.Medtech is a medical practice software provider owned by Australian private equity firm Advent Partners and its NZ-based chief executive and managing director, Geoffrey Sayer.Advent and Sayer bought Medtech Global’s practice management system from Cereus Holdings in 2020.Medtech GlobalAlthough Medtech Global is headquartered in Auckland, its NZ entity is...
How the venture studio model is changing the game
Chris Moore and Lucas Coelho, two-thirds of venture studio Ryft's co-founding team, join the podcast to discuss how the model works. They discuss the benefits and challenges of being an all-in-one startup shop, why they are focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), and give their highly informed takes on the current state of the AI landscape. Plus, what to look for in Spark's upcoming results, and we address some listener feedback on the Being AI episode.
Startups, being wrong, and near-death experiences
Tech industry veteran Rowan Simpson has been involved in some of the country’s most successful startups – Trade Me, Xero, Timely and Vend among them. They all resulted in sizeable exits for their founders, employed thousands of New Zealanders in high-paying jobs and attracted millions of customers between them. But they almost went to the wall at one point.
Goodnature killing it globally with high-tech pest traps
For 20-year-old Wellington company Goodnature, manufacturing in New Zealand has proven to be a buffer against tariff-based uncertainty.The firm exports 80% of the humane pest traps it assembles in a factory in the capital.Founded by a pair of design students in 2005, Goodnature has built a global reputation with government agencies, businesses and consumers alike.Chief executive David Shoemack said the key to its success has been having the right product at the right time and also having...
London calls, but Air NZ doesn’t have enough planes
The new chief executive of Boeing, Dave Calhoun, made the first-ever trip by the aircraft manufacturer’s top leader to New Zealand two weeks ago as Air NZ struggles with a “two- to three-year fix” on global plane engine procurement.Speaking at Air NZ’s annual select committee review at Parliament, the airline's chief executive, Greg Foran, expressed frustration that 14 of its planes – Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus 320-neos – were grounded.Aircraft shortageHe revealed that while Air NZ...
Unpacking the Being AI story ... so far
It's been a tumultuous first year for New Zealand's first artificial intelligence-focused company to list on the NZ Exchange (NZX). Following on from a recent article on BusinessDesk, we unpack that journey so far and look ahead to what might be next for the contentious but ambitious company. This week, we have a double feature, with an interview with entrepreneur extraordinaire Rowan Simpson following on Sunday. Make sure you subscribe to get that in your podcast feed when it drops.
NZ sharemarket drops slightly by 0.02% as key index makes changes
Contact Energy will join a leading MSCI global index at the expense of Mercury as the New Zealand sharemarket drifted to a small loss.The S&P/NZX 50 traded in a range of 12,882.21 to 12,935.74 before closing at 12,913.95, down 3.5 points or 0.027%.A total of 38.62 million shares worth $156.83 changed hands and all eyes were on Mercury, gaining 21c or 3.29% to $6.60 on trade worth $16.39m and Contact, down 5c to $9.25 on trade worth $31.87m.
Gentailers working together to keep Huntly running
The major electricity generators are working together to keep the Huntly power station’s Rankine units operating for longer.In an unusual joint statement, Genesis Energy, Mercury, Meridian, and Contact said they had entered into a non-binding heads of agreement to investigate the potential for Huntly Power Station Rankine units to “continue to play a key role managing ‘dry-year risk’ and enhance system security over a longer-term timeframe”.The Rankine units can run on gas, coal and even...
NZ and world about to discover how much protectionism ‘sucks’, economist says
New Zealand businesses could face years of uncertainty as global trade tensions escalate, warns a leading trade economist.
Inside Being AI: What happened?
Since listing on the New Zealand Exchange less than a year ago, Being AI has faced a series of challenges.Most recently, the company’s two latest independent directors resigned without replacements, leading to Being AI being suspended from the NZ Exchange (NZX) until further notice.BusinessDesk spoke to several people familiar with the firm’s operations and they collectively described a rift in the company’s leadership.BusinessDesk agreed to retain their anonymity but learned that this rift...
Elon Musk-led group makes US$97.4b bid for OpenAI
By Jessica Toonkel and Berber JinA consortium of investors led by Elon Musk is offering US$97.4 billion (NZ$172.8b) to buy the nonprofit that controls OpenAI, upping the stakes in his battle with Sam Altman over the company behind ChatGPT.Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, said he submitted a bid for all the nonprofit’s assets to OpenAI’s board of directors Monday.'Open-source, safety-focused'The unsolicited offer adds a major complication to Altman’s carefully laid plans for OpenAI’s future,...
NZ startup to turn global sugar industry on its head
When SolarFerm plugs its ideas to investors, it doesn’t beat about the (sugar) bush.“What we pitched is this could be the largest food project on the planet,” founder Gabriel James said.The early-stage New Zealand startup has patented technology to produce sugars from natural light, bacteria and carbon dioxide through precision fermentation.
Bill Gates' life of DOS and don’ts
By David A ShaywitzWe cling to tidy success narratives – appealing stories that trace an outsize triumph to a single critical decision, a vital personality trait, a striking incident from childhood. Such stories make extraordinary success seem comprehensible, perhaps (we imagine) even attainable. Yet reality tends to be more complicated. At a certain level of achievement, success is unfathomably contingent, requiring a hefty amount of luck on top of remarkable ability and durable conviction.
Fletcher Building says no change to NZICC date as SkyCity blames contractor delays for 2026 opening
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Fletcher Building and SkyCity both say they are not responsible for the delay in opening the New Zealand International Convention Centre.In a statement to the NZ Exchange (NZX) on Friday morning, SkyCity group said the NZ International Convention Centre (NZICC) would open in 2026 rather than 2025 and blamed contractor delays for a decision to postpone the opening."Delays by the contractor means that SkyCity does not expect to commence its own commissioning and operational readiness activities...
By Dileepa Fonseka Verified, Pattrick Smellie Verified, Ben Moore Verified, Rebecca Stevenson Verified
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BusinessDesk
Verified
IkeGPS ends takeover talks as bid lacks shareholder support
IkeGPS has ended discussion with a potential acquirer after an offer failed to meet shareholder expectations.The unsolicited offer came from a “large, credible private equity group”, according to a statement the dual-listed company released to the New Zealand Exchange (NZX) and Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) today.IkeGPS sells utility pole assessment products to utilities companies globally.After a short period of due diligence, the potential acquirer offered $1.00 per share, a 62%...
Frustrated employers beware
Many employers find themselves in situations in the workplace, causing them significant frustration. However, employers need to be aware that while frustration levels might be high, relying on frustration as a reason to terminate an employment agreement will not end well. In a judgment released last week, the chief judge in the Employment Court in DQJ v The Commissioner of Inland Revenue (IRD) highlighted this.
From Christchurch to 100 million global users
This week, we speak to Max Ferguson, who started Lumin in 2010 to address a growing need for a robust, cloud-based way to edit and share portable document format files, better known as PDFs. Fifteen years later, Lumin has over 100 million users worldwide and is successfully rolling out more document collaboration products and features, managing to find success with the often-tricky freemium model.
DIA on track with public service GenAI guidance
The Department of Internal Affairs has laid out plans for how it expects the public service to use generative artificial intelligence responsibly.Last week, the department (DIA) released a one-page strategy framework that was light on detail but heavy on buzzwords.On Monday, this was followed up by more comprehensive guidance in the form of a subsite on the DIA’s main digital transformation information website.Minister for Digitising Government Judith Collins said generative artificial...
Trade war truce breathes life into NZ sharemarket
Fisher and Paykel Healthcare and the New Zealand sharemarket staged a strong recovery on relief that the US tariffs on Mexico and Canada have been put on hold.The S&P/NZX 50 Index traded steadily and closed at 12,905.04, up 94.72 points or 0.74%.
Govt inaction on cheap tech security risks 'gobsmacking', says expert
Chinese technology companies have taken up a lot of oxygen at the start of 2025.TikTok’s US operations are in a holding pattern and DeepSeek recently burst onto the artificial intelligence (AI) scene with a cheaper, more efficient and equally powerful large-language model.Meanwhile, a handful of Australians had their Dahua internet-connected video doorbells hacked, allowing the attackers access to home networks.In a New Zealand case, a baby monitor was able to disrupt communications services...
Spark to axe five from upper management
Spark is cutting its upper management headcount by five as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts.BusinessDesk has reviewed documents from an internal presentation given to staff on Jan 30, 2025.They outline plans to rescope the wider leadership group: the 56 managers who report to the senior executives.The documents state that 30 roles will be affected by the change, and 25 new "portfolio leadership" positions will be established, resulting in a net reduction of five roles.Of the new...
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