Flying the Fern
Flying the Fern podcast tells the stories of well-known New Zealand businesses delivering products and services that are made, grown or designed in New Zealand. Businesses that are carrying the official New Zealand FernMark, sharing their authenticity at home and abroad, and building New Zealand’s global reputation as a trusted origin of innovative, high-quality products and services. We dig deep into how these New Zealand business pioneers turned their ideas into reality, with determination, creativity, and perseverance. No sugar coating - just the facts. Where they came from, the battles they’ve fought and the scars they’ve collected to get to where they are now. Together, these businesses have become part of the FernMark community, flying the fern and representing New Zealand both locally as well as overseas. A community that embodies and shares our core New Zealand values of potikitanga, manaaki, tiaki and pono as part of our collective New Zealand Story. This is the story of how they did it.
Episodes
Scully’s exports a wide range of natural boutique products for bath, body and home to Asia, Europe and Australia. Scully’s started as a small family-run operation in Bulls 20 years ago, but it’s gradually grown bigger and bigger, all the while keeping its commitment to the environment and its people.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to Operating Manager Sarah Parkinson and Shop Manager Juliette Arnott abo...
K9 Natural pet food is sourced and produced in such a way that humans could eat it. Using high-quality ingredients from the human supply chain has a range of health benefits for animals that help our pets, and this has helped the company to play a leading role in shifting the standard of animal foods towards premium, natural, food products for cats and dogs.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to the CEO of ...
Karen Murrell has played a leading hand in shifting the global beauty industry towards natural, environmentally friendly products that don’t compromise on quality. Her success story has leaned on no shortage of inspiration from New Zealand flowers, colours and tones.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to Karen about:
- Developing her own lipstick range from home
- Read more
Fonterra is New Zealand’s leading dairy exporter, and Anchor is a $1.2 billion kiwi brand that’s been around for more than 130 years. Anchor products go to more than 80 countries, playing a huge role in the reputation of New Zealand, and New Zealand food and beverages, around the world.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to General Manager Brent Whelan about:
- All the interesting countries where Anchor i...
Mamaku skincare products are steeped in traditional Māori practices and values that govern everything from the way these special products are made, to how the business is run by the sisters who founded Mamaku ten years ago.
They’re helping to take the beauty industry back to the future, where natural, plant-based products are seen as premium.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to co-founder and director Tess...
Matta has recycled more than 60 million kilograms of PVC and rubber in the last 30 years, since the company was started by then-Ōtaki mayor Murray Scott in his garage.
The company produces safety matting for playgrounds and industrial use all over the world, and brings a strong sustainability approach to a very niche sector.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to managing director Brent Harris about:
- ...
Prolife Foods might be the biggest New Zealand brand that you’ve never heard of. It is doing business in more than 18 countries and has more than $300 million in annual revenue through its range of bulk foods, self-selection products, honey, and well-known FMCG grocery food brands.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to CEO Andrew Smith about:
- The Jack and the Beanstalk-like ...
Max Donaldson started GreenKiwi at just 17 when he realised pruned olive leaves his neighbour was throwing away had huge health benefits. In just over two years, he’s had a steep learning curve in developing effective, sustainable, New Zealand-made olive leaf supplements.
Max has grown the company from nothing to being in retail stores around New Zealand and Dubai, all while finishing school and studying at university.
In this epi...
Comvita was a wellness brand before wellness brands were even a thing. The business has become a global powerhouse, with revenue into the hundreds of millions, using natural, New Zealand products like manuka honey for their health benefits.
This episode of Flying the Fern features three generations of Comvita leadership; co-founder Alan Bougen, former CEO and current board chair Brett Hewlett and current CEO David Banfield.
Togethe...
When Mike Beagley started as Rodd & Gunn's CEO, the business had around 12 stores. Now it has more than 200, all over the world. The New Zealand menswear brand has grown exponentially in the last 20 years, underpinned by humility and a commitment to doing things the right way.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to Mike Beagley about:
- The global goal that he’s never broadcast,...
The Apple Press champions New Zealand’s “ugly fruit” - roughly 10 percent of crops that taste great, but don’t satisfy the criteria for export. The Apple Press has built a global juicing business that heroes individual varieties and adds value to what was very much an under-utilised market.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to co-founder Sally Gallagher about:
- How the compan...
Like many classic New Zealand innovators, Frank Witowski founded his company, Hybrid Bikes, in his garage. He was initially told it wouldn’t be possible, but with an engineering background and some stubborn enthusiasm, he designed a range of carbon fibre e-bikes that are now selling all over the world.
Frank’s bikes are customisable for a range of uses, and have been incredibly popular for their quality, affordability and durabilit...
Digital healthcare is poised to revolutionise global health in the coming years, and Kiwi company The Clinician is at the heart of the movement.
It’s a forerunner in value-based healthcare, helping to streamline processes and improve access to care all over the world. The Clinician’s platform supports 22 languages, has automated clinical tracking and enables online health assessments that speed up appointment times and admin.
In t...
Silver Fern Farms plays a hugely influential role in New Zealand food production and distribution. It exports nearly a third of our red meat to 60+ countries, representing around 16,000 farmers in the process.
The company helps to position our meat among the best in the world, by setting the standard in production, sustainability and quality. This is a changing landscape with a range of influences that make it a high stakes, challe...
In the 24 hours before recording this podcast, Redshield blocked 5 million cyber attacks. Co-founder Sam Pickles says the global cybercrime industry is bigger than the illegal drug trade, and his kiwi company is an international leader in combating it.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to Sam about:
- How security challenges have evolved over the last 10 years
- Read more
Kids Ride Shotgun is the company behind an innovative bike seat that helps the youngest mountain biker to ride alongside their parents. It started as an idea between a couple of biking dads, and has turned into a multi-national movement that’s centred around Kiwi values and raising kids the right way.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to co-founder Dan Necklen about:
- How the...
Auckland Institute of Studies (AIS) leans on New Zealand’s reputation to sell a Kiwi educational experience all over the world. AIS is one of New Zealand’s largest private education providers, with a mostly international student base.
As well as the quality of its education, AIS trades off a true New Zealand experience, with students from more than 40 countries currently on campus.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Do...
New Zealand farm systems are special, and today’s farmers are using FarmIQ to get the absolute best out of their farms. FarmIQ has created farm management and predictive modelling tools to give our farmers more data that they can use to make better decisions with.
Farm IQ is playing a key role in the important storytelling aspect of farming that allows us to showcase New Zealand produce as some of the best in the world.
In this epi...
Native Sparkling is New Zealand’s first hard seltzer, which was dubbed ‘Drink of the Summer’ by the New York Times in 2019.
The product range is all low sugar, low carb and low calories. But it’s about way more than just the drinks. Native Sparkling have a genuine focus on conversation, including bird programmes and even environmental initiatives in their overseas markets.
In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks...
Book Me Bob is a revolutionary AI chatbot that’s changing the game in the hospitality world. The chatbot is available in a range of languages, can host thousands of conversations at the same time, and is so realistic that it’s often confused as being a real human.
The company was founded just before Covid, and has flourished despite the impact of the pandemic on tourism and hospitality. In fact, founder David Thompson is targeting...
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