Trade on Toast – 2026 Breakfast Event Series
On Saturday 7 November, New Zealanders will choose the government that will shape the next three years. For Auckland businesses, the big question comes once the counting is done: what happens now?
Whatever the result, and however long coalition talks take, Auckland will need answers. What will it mean for infrastructure, housing and transport? For investment and the regulatory environment? For the relationship between central government and our city? And who will actually be making the calls?
To help answer those questions, I’m delighted to invite you to The votes are in, what’s next for Auckland?
After an opening address from Julie Wagener, General Manager Communications, Government and Community Relations at Port of Auckland, our keynote speaker is Matthew Hooton, Editor-in-Chief of The Post and Sunday Star-Times. Matthew is one of the sharpest and most provocative political minds in the country, and he won’t hold back.
He’ll be followed by a panel of some of New Zealand’s best-known commentators:
Trish Sherson, Director, Sherson Willis
Tim Wilson, Executive Director, Maxim Institute
Josie Pagani, CEO, ChildFund New Zealand
Tim Wilson, Executive Director, Maxim Institute
Josie Pagani, CEO, ChildFund New Zealand
Expect frank views from across the spectrum and a conversation that goes past the headlines to what matters for Auckland.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday 25th November 2026
Time: 7:00am – 9:00am
Location: Pullman, Auckland
Your ticket includes a hot plated breakfast, served during the session.
Agenda
7:00am – 7:30am: Registration
7:30am: Seated for main event
Panel Discussion followed by a Q&A session
Brought to you by
Sponsor Address
Julie Wagener
GM Communications, Government and Community Relations
Port of Auckland
Julie Wagener is General Manager Communications, Government and Community Relations at Port of Auckland and a member of the Executive Leadership Team. With more than 20 years’ experience in communications, stakeholder engagement and reputation management, including senior roles at Fletcher Building and Spark, Julie is passionate about building strong relationships, fostering inclusion and connecting organisations with the communities they serve.
Keynote Speaker
Matthew Hooton
Editor-in-Chief of the Post and Sunday Star-Times
Matthew Hooton is the editor-in-chief to The Post, the Sunday Star-Times and thepost.co.nz with more than 30 years experience in New Zealand politics, business, media and political commentary. His PhD is in philosophy from the University of Auckland.
Panel Discussion
Tim Wilson
Executive Director, Maxim Institute
Before becoming the Chief Executive of Maxim, Tim was an award-winning journalist working in print, radio and television. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian and Newsweek.com. He was TVNZ’s first US Correspondent and has been a business development manager and an English teacher. Tim has written three novels, one of which—Their Faces Were Shining—was a finalist in the New Zealand Post Book Awards. He is married to Rachel; they have four sons: Roman, Felix, Wilfred, and Otto.
Josie Pagani
CEO, ChildFund New Zealand
Josie Pagani is a regular media commentator on current and international affairs on TV, radio and print, and has a fortnightly column in The Post, plus a weekly slot on Newstalk ZB. Her day job is CEO of ChildFund, a charity that supports children in the Pacific, and in war-torn places like Gaza and Ukraine. She’s worked for governments in New Zealand, and in the Pacific, and for international organisations like the OECD, and recently the Tony Blair Institute.
Trish Sherson
Co-Founder & Strategy Director of Corporate Affairs Firm, Sherson Willis
Trish is a communications strategist with a background in media and politics. She established Sherson Willis in 2005 along with Rewa Willis. Sherson Willis has grown to be one of the leading Corporate Affairs firms in New Zealand and the local Affiliate for global consulting firm, FTI. Her specialties include financial and corporate communications, crisis management, litigation support and government relations. Her recognised expertise has seen her acting for many leading New Zealand and international companies and regularly called on for expert media commentary on politics and business. Trish started her career in Parliament as a senior caucus press secretary, and as a journalist and radio host for Radio New Zealand. She was a producer for the Radio Pacific daily national breakfast show and TVNZ daily current affairs programmes Late Edition and Holmes. Trish oversees the strategic direction and client service at Sherson Willis.
