How Personal Insights Led to the Genesis of Vivara
News from the New Zealand startup ecosystem, straight to your inbox.
Good morning Caffeinators!
Another week down and while the weather is warming the economy is cooling. So something to celebrate and a reason to drink. Read to the bottom and we’ve got a cocktail recipe to match this moment.
Before then though, check out our brand new feature: ‘The Politics of Tech’.
I was a political reporter in a former life and thought I’d dust off those skills by speaking with the MPs shaping the future of our country and hear their pitch for how we build a vibrant, tech-enhanced economy.
We’re kicking off with former Minister for Statistics and current Labour Spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology, Deborah Russell. The rest to follow.
Alongside your usual Daily Shot of news we’ve also curated a ‘Weekend Fuel’ list of content because there’s too much out there, so let us help you find the things worth your time.
Finn & the Caffeine Team
Politics of Tech: Labour’s Deborah Russell on her vision for a future-facing economy.
“I often think that the Government can go awry if it tries to pick winners.”
Welcome to Politics of Tech, a regular feature from Caffeine in which we speak to the politicians shaping our country’s future and hear their pitch for building a vibrant, future-facing economy.
We’re kicking off with Deborah Russell, the former Minister for Statistics and the current Labour Spokesperson for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
Caffeine started by asking what she sees as the key barrier to growth for tech-focused startups in New Zealand.
“The particular pain point I would focus on is the one where they’re just trying to get outside investment so that a startup is going from the stereotype of building in your mother’s garage and trying to get over to the next stage,” said Russell.
Grim GDP reading: A major and mixed bag of economic news dropped yesterday. The economy shrunk 0.2 from the prior quarter, only narrowly keeping us out of technical recession but a shallower dip than the Reserve Bank’s 0.5 percent forecast. Though as RNZ reports, “Recent consensus forecasts from the Institute of Economic Research point to virtually little or no growth growth in the coming year. New Zealand's economic activity was the weakest of all its major trading partners.” Ouch.
Auckland Falls Behind: New Report Highlights City's Struggles with Innovation, Prosperity, and Connectivity: The second annual State of the City report reveals how Auckland compares to 10 global cities, highlighting key areas where the city is falling behind. According to John Lavery of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the report confirms growing concerns that Auckland is low on cash, energy, and a clear vision for the future. While last year's report acknowledged challenges like high living costs and housing shortages, this year's findings show further declines in key areas such as prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, innovation, knowledge, and connectivity. These issues are compounded by a lack of investment, as both the council and central government are facing financial constraints, making it difficult to address the city's growing needs. Read more.
Minister Simon Watts Unveils Sustainable Finance Strategy to Boost New Zealand's Global Competitiveness: Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced at the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) Conference yesterday that the government is developing a sustainable finance strategy in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Finance. The strategy aims to enhance New Zealand’s appeal to investors with a sustainability focus, aligning with global trends, creating jobs, and driving local economic growth. Watts emphasised the need for New Zealand to adapt to rapidly shifting global expectations to remain competitive. Read more.
Revolutionising Access: AI and New Zealand’s GovGPT Pilot: Join a live panel discussion on the GovGPT pilot, a groundbreaking AI project designed to simplify access to government information for New Zealand’s SMEs on Tuesday 1 October. Expert speakers, including leaders from Callaghan Innovation, Microsoft, Being AI Group, and the AI Forum NZ, will explore AI’s potential in the public sector and how New Zealand can lead globally in this space. A separate Q&A with the GovGPT build team will provide an in-depth look at AI-powered digital companions in the public sector. Register here.
Nigel Parker has been a leader in technological innovation for nearly 30 years, playing a key role in everything from the rise of mobile phones to the AI revolution. After co-founding tech companies in the late '90s, he spent 18 years at Microsoft, driving transformative technologies across industries globally. Now, as co-founder of Vivara, Nigel is focused on revolutionising wellbeing through data-driven insights that empower individuals to take control of their health. His deep expertise spans both technology and human behaviour, making complex innovations accessible and impactful for all. Today he gives us a sneak peek into his exciting new venture…
How Personal Insights Led to the Genesis of Vivara
For over a decade, I’ve been on a journey of self-discovery—using personal data to take control of my health—and it has transformed my wellbeing in ways I never imagined.
It all began in December 2012 when I received a Christmas card from the team at Provoke, thanking me for our work together that year. Attached to the card was a ‘smart pedometer,’ the Fitbit One. Tracking my steps and competing with friends and family quickly became my new obsession.
At first, it was just about counting steps, but over time, I realised the power of data to guide more profound changes. From wearables to genetic testing, each new piece of data helped me unlock insights that traditional healthcare alone hadn’t provided.
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Here’s what’s on our radar. Hit us with your own recommendations.
Podcast: The Anthropocene Reviewed: In this beautifully produced podcast series (and recent book), author John Green (‘The Fault in our Stars’ guy) takes two seemingly arbitrary things - like ‘The Taco Bell Breakfast Menu’ and ‘Cholera’ - explores their history and impact, then rates them on a 5-star scale. It’s always informative, frequently funny and occasionally, profoundly moving. The episode ‘Googling Strangers’ once made me ugly cry on a bus. 5 stars.
TV Show: From comes from the same team which created Lost and has a similarly compelling central mystery. A road tripping family take a wrong turn and end up in a tiny town filled with strange, nervous people. When they try to leave, every road leads them right back where they started. As the sun starts setting, they’re told to get inside, lock the doors and not to come out ‘no matter what they hear.’ Turns out there are other, terrible things living here. And they only come out at night. (Watch free on TVNZ)
Movie: Rebel Ridge is the current number one film on Netflix for good godamn reason. It’s a clever twist on a classic ‘you just messed with the wrong guy’ narrative that pairs satisfying John Wick-style action and thought provoking Michael Clayton-esque legal drama. Also lead actor Aaron Pierre might be the most handsome person I’ve ever seen. Not saying that’s the best reason to watch but…I mean, it’s not the worst.
Something to sip on:
I spent a long time slinging drinks for a living and truly believe that a classic daquiri is the perfect cocktail. Simple, delicious and perfect for when the weather warms.
Ingredients:
45ml white rum (Plantation 3 Star if you can get it).
30ml ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (It’s more hassle but the difference between fresh lime and bottled lime is everything).
15ml sugar syrup (Just mix 2 parts white sugar to one part boiling water and stir).
Method:
Shake with ice and strain into a martini/coup glass.
That’s it.
I love this cocktail because it’s a) Delicious and b) illustrates a useful ratio you can apply to so many other drinks: 3-2-1. 3 parts spirit, 2 parts sour, and one part sweet. Stick to that ratio and you can sub out most ingredients to fit your preference but still end up with a tasty beverage.
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Want to get in touch with a news tip, bit of feedback or just to chat? Email hello@caffeinedaily.co. Look after yourselves and each other this weekend and we’ll see you Monday.