Highlights from the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame Luncheon

North Harbour Club President Mike Atkinson opened the event, welcoming everyone there to support this year’s BHOF inductees: Jolie Hodson, CEO of Spark, and Martin Cooper of Harcourts Cooper & Co.  Both of whom have given back tremendously to the North Harbour community. The luncheon featured a remarkable performance by 2024 AIMES Scholarship winner Joel Bird Joel who expressed his deep gratitude for the AIMES Scholarship, sharing how it boosted his confidence as a performer and enabled him to invest in new equipment.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the entertaining and engaging Q&A session with our guest speaker, the Rt Hon Sir John Key. Emcee and TV Personality, Samantha Hayes led a light-hearted conversation, touching on moments from Sir John’s time as Prime Minister of New Zealand. When asked how he transitioned from being Prime Minister back to the business world, Sir John humorously responded, "very rapidly," sparking laughter across the room.

When asked about the cost of living in New Zealand, Sir John emphasised that tax cuts are essential for providing people with more disposable income. He also stressed the importance of cutting bureaucracy, as this would make it easier for people to access the resources and services they need. Sir John also shared insights from his current role with Palo Alto Networks, where a company he is involved with is advancing DNA supply chain traceability and transparency, holding entities accountable for their manufacturing claims.

Reflecting on his time in office, Sir John highlighted his pride in building infrastructure and implementing ultra-fast broadband across New Zealand.

The afternoon concluded with a live auction, where the top bid of $10,000 secured a round of 18 holes with Sir John Key and Eric Faesenkloet (Founder, Golf Warehouse) at Tara Iti Golf Club, including helicopter transfers, lunch and a caddie.

Thanks to the generous support of all attendees and members, the event raised over $20,000 in auction items and raffle ticket sales.

I would also like to acknowledge the event sponsor Milford Asset Management, and Golf Warehouse for their emcee sponsorship.

A gallery of images can be found here https://northharbourclub.co.nz/image-gallery/north-harbour-business-hall-of-fame-2024/