The Puzzle Factory: Real Talk for NZ Electricians and Trade Businesses

You’re doing the work, sending invoices and showing a profit. So why is there no cash in the bank?

Recorded live at Konnect 2026 in Auckland, Alex sits down with Luke Kemeys from Keep the Change and Next Advisory to talk about what separates trade businesses that are growing from those that are just staying busy.

Luke gets into gross profit and margins, the difference between profit and cash flow, chasing unpaid invoices, taking deposits and why waiting for the phone to ring is a risky sales strategy. They also look at the opportunities ahead for electrical businesses, from electrification to the next wave of business owners.

Straight-up business advice, a few laughs and questions from the floor.

The Puzzle Factory is powered by NZ Trade Group.

https://www.keepthechange.co.nz/

Lead Head began with one very tradie problem: every time Troy took off his earmuffs, his pencil fell on the ground.

A few beers, some rough prototypes and nine months of testing later, the original Lead Head hat was born.

Troy and Nic join Alex to unpack how they turned that simple idea into a global Kiwi lifestyle brand. They talk about selling the early hats at the pub, creating raw Instagram content, refusing to pay influencers and unexpectedly taking off in Japan.

The boys also get into artist collaborations, limited Makita hats, Skatehouse decks, their own beer, pies and why they’re more interested in building a lasting brand than squeezing every dollar out of it.

A funny and honest conversation about tradies, business, creativity and building something people genuinely want to be part of.

https://leadhead.nz/

How does a family go from running the Arkles Bay post office to creating Pauanui and some of New Zealand’s most iconic waterfront communities?Shana Hopper-McCully from Hopper Developments joins Alex at Marsden Cove to share the remarkable story of the Hopper family and the responsibility of carrying a 70-year Kiwi property legacy into its next generation.This episode came about after Alex mentioned Hoppertunity Knocks, the story of Shana’s great-grandmother Edith Hopper, during an earlier episode. A couple of days later, Shana messaged him on Instagram: “That’s my family.”In this episode:Ken and Edith Hopper’s move from Yorkshire to New ZealandThe six-hour journey to remote Arkles BayHow hard work, stubbornness and spotting opportunities shaped the familyThe beginnings of Hopper Developments in the 1950sWhy people thought developing Pauanui was madnessBuyers camping overnight and fighting over section markersUsing the Pauanui airstrip to fly prospective buyers inThe vision behind Pauanui, Whitianga and Marsden Cove WaterwaysGrowing up inside a multigenerational family businessThe pressure to protect the Hopper name and not stuff it upWhy relationships and reputation matter more than the saleRMA reform, bureaucracy and what’s holding NZ construction backWhether property is still New Zealand’s best path to wealthIt’s a story about vision, resilience, family legacy and backing an idea long before anyone else can see it.Hopper Developments:https://www.hoppers.co.nz/The Hopper family history:https://www.hoppers.co.nz/about-us/hoppers-history/Marsden Cove:https://www.marsdencove.co.nz/Connect with Shana:https://nz.linkedin.com/in/shana-hopper-mccully-2bab1855Subscribe to The Puzzle Factory for more honest conversations about New Zealand trades, business and culture.Powered by NZ Trade Group.

Vanessa Crafts has earned a reputation as the badass of New Zealand health and safety.She’s asking the uncomfortable questions, challenging pointless box-ticking and pushing for practical reform that actually makes sense to the people doing the work.Vanessa joins Alex to unpack why too many health and safety systems are built for audits rather than humans, how major contractors are creating mountains of meaningless paperwork, and what needs to change if New Zealand genuinely wants better safety outcomes.They also get into:Why compliance doesn’t always equal safetyMaking legislation understandable for people on the groundHow leaders set the safety culture of a businessWhy trust and honest conversations change behaviourChallenging tier-one contractors and outdated requirementsBuilding OSHE and HARM over 10 yearsBecoming one of NZ LinkedIn’s most recognisable voicesUsing AI without removing human judgementHer ambitious plan to take StreamStack to Netflix, Neon and Disney+One of the most unbelievable workplace incidents ever reportedNo corporate jargon. No safety theatre. Just an honest conversation about keeping people safe and fixing a system that has lost touch with the people it’s meant to protect.

Connect with Vanessa :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-crafts-74143198

OSHE & HARM:https://oshe.co.nz/Join StreamStack:https://streamstack.co.nz/Subscribe to The Puzzle Factory for more honest conversations about New Zealand trades, business and culture.Powered by NZ Trade Group.

Is buying a house in New Zealand still worth it in 2026?In this episode of The Puzzle Factory, Alex sits down with Wayne Henry, founder of Wayne Henry Mortgages and a mortgage adviser with more than 25 years of experience in the finance industry.Together, they tackle one of the biggest questions facing Kiwis right now:Should you buy a house, invest elsewhere, or rethink the Kiwi dream altogether?Wayne shares his honest views on where the New Zealand property market is heading, what banks are really looking for behind the scenes, and whether owning your own home is still one of the best investments you can make, financially and emotionally.This isn't doom and gloom. It's a practical conversation about money, quality of life, and making the right decisions for your own circumstances.In this episode:• NZ property market predictions for 2026• Is now a good time to buy a house?• What banks really look for when approving mortgages• The biggest mistakes first home buyers make• Would Wayne buy a house if he was 25 today?• Property vs shares and investing in yourself• Is the Kiwi dream still alive?• The emotional value of owning your own home• Why younger generations are approaching wealth differently• Networking, business, and building a life you're proud ofWhether you're trying to buy your first home, invest wisely, or simply understand what's happening in the property market, this episode is packed with practical advice and real world experience.Powered by NZ Trade Group.DisclaimerThis podcast is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not constitute financial advice. Please seek professional advice tailored to your personal circumstances before making financial decisions.https://www.waynehenry.co.nz/

Connor Ransley joins The Puzzle Factory to break down how attention became one of the most valuable currencies in modern business.Connor shares his journey from dropping out of engineering and working construction, to helping build one of New Zealand’s biggest organic social media agencies at The Attention Seeker before leaving to bet on himself and build his own personal brand business.We get into:• Why most businesses fail at social media• The truth about personal branding• Why raw content beats polished content• The psychology behind viral videos• TikTok, LinkedIn & modern attention• Leaving a stable career to go all in• Confidence, fitness & personal transformation• Why authenticity wins online• Building an audience from scratch• The future of marketing and organic content• Why young men struggle with confidence• Lessons from working with massive brandsThis episode is packed with practical marketing advice, mindset shifts, entrepreneurship lessons, and a real behind the scenes look at how modern content actually works.Powered by NZ Trade Group.⁠https://byransley.com/⁠

Darren from Ashby Pies and the man behind Darren joins The Puzzle Factory for one of the most Kiwi episodes we’ve done yet.From growing up in West Auckland and working in some of New Zealand and Australia’s top restaurants, to building Ashby Pies into one of Auckland’s most talked about food spots through social media, Darren breaks down the reality of hospitality, content creation, branding, and why pies mean so much to Kiwis.We get into:• The rise of Dazzas Cooked• Building Ashby Pies from scratch during COVID• Why hospitality is brutally hard right now• Social media and business growth• Warriors culture and working with One NZ• Fine dining vs bakery culture• Why NZ bakeries are elite• The economics of pies and food businesses• Growing a personal brand online• Content creation, virality, and modern marketing• Running businesses through lockdowns• Kiwi food nostalgia and pie culture• What actually makes a great pieThis episode is packed with laughs, food chat, business lessons, Warriors yarns, and some genuinely great insight into what it takes to build a modern Kiwi brand.Powered by NZ Trade Group.

Keith Of All Trades has built a massive following by saying what every tradie is thinking. From customer nightmares and cat door controversies to life on the tools, social media, business ownership and the realities of being a Kiwi tradie, Keith joins The Puzzle Factory for his first ever podcast interview.We dive into the stories behind the videos, the state of the trades in New Zealand, dealing with difficult customers, running a business, online fame and plenty of laughs along the way.Whether you're a tradie, business owner, apprentice or just enjoy a good yarn, this is one you won't want to miss.In this episode:• The story behind Keith of All Trades• The famous cat doors• Customer horror stories• Running a trade business in New Zealand• Social media and tradie content creation• The funniest jobs he's ever seen• Industry frustrations and challenges• What tradies really think but won't say• Life on the tools• The future of the tradesPowered by NZ Trade Group.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is intended for entertainment, education and general discussion purposes only.Keith of All Trades is a satirical character and many of the stories, opinions, comments and scenarios discussed throughout this episode are presented for comedic and entertainment purposes.The views, opinions and statements expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Puzzle Factory, NZ Trade Group, its employees, sponsors, partners or affiliates.Nothing discussed in this episode should be considered professional, legal, financial, business or trade advice. Viewers should seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own circumstances.All content is provided in good humour and should be interpreted in the context of entertainment and open conversation.https://www.instagram.com/keith_of_all_trades/

Country bars, tradie life, social media, and controversy... Jesse James jumps into The Puzzle Factory and doesn’t hold back. We talk the rise of Jolene, why authenticity matters, trades vs university, the Trade Tour, and the comments that sparked headlines after the "Temu Country Bar" controversy. Plus near death stories, tradie yarns, and Jesse’s advice for young apprentices.What's inside:• Why Jesse built Jolene and what makes it different• Trade Tour and helping young Kiwis into the trades• Tradie stories that went badly wrong• Country culture, social media and authenticity• "Temu Country Bar" controversy explained• Quickfire "This or That" questions• Advice for young tradiesPowered by NZ Trade GroupNot financial advice. Just real conversations.

Mikey Smith from Guardian Smith joins The Puzzle Factory for one of the realest conversations we’ve had yet.

From growing up around mechanics and rental cars to building a finance business with nearly 50 staff, Mikey breaks down the brutal realities of business, trades, property investing, recession fears, and what’s really happening in New Zealand right now.

We get into:
• Why trades have been undervalued for decades
• The harsh truth about starting your own business
• NZ’s property market and whether housing is still worth investing in
• Recession fears and the current economy
• War, oil prices, inflation and what it means for Kiwis
• Why most people fail in business
• Customer service lessons from dealing with chaos
• The mental pressure of growing a company
• Why “working on the business” changes everything
• Townhouses, regulation and the future of NZ housing
• Why there’s always opportunity somewhere

This one goes deep into entrepreneurship, mindset, financial pressure, trades, politics, and modern New Zealand culture.

Powered by NZ Trade Group.