Dairy Flat resident and former National Party cabinet minister Steven Joyce has recently written a book, called On The Record, about his career in the radio business and politics. It’s a good read. Steven gave an interesting address to a capacity crowd at the North Harbour Club’s BEN Breakfast at Regatta Bar & Eatery in Takapuna during August. Channel Mag’s Aidan Bennett put these questions to Steven Joyce in late August following that address…

Aidan Bennett: What made you decide to write a book?
Steven Joyce: I really wanted to record what actually happened during my political career and also in radio; primarily for Amelia, and hopefully one day Tommy, to understand what their dad did for all those years.

You have had a pretty interesting career. If you had to pick two highlights, what would they be?
That’s hard, there have been so many highlights, like the ultrafast broadband and the roading projects. I think probably building RadioWorks, and preparing and delivering the New Zealand Budget in 2017.

And two things you wish you had achieved or done, but haven’t?
It would have been great to have a few more years in radio – to see what we could achieve with the company we had only just finished building, particularly with Radio Pacific (as it was then) against Newstalk ZB. And of course, getting a few more votes or enough coalition partners in 2017 so we weren’t subject to the Winston Peters dutch auction.

You built a business and begrudgingly sold it back in the '80s/'90s. What would be the biggest differences doing that in 2023, versus 1987?
I think there are many more options for capital-raising in 2023; we really had to boot-strap RadioWorks with the help of a few local investors. They were great, but it was tough.
I think the radio opportunity was a creature of its time. If I was starting again today, it would be likely something in the tech space, and externally focused. In the 1980s, life was all about bringing things to New Zealand that people had elsewhere. Now it’s all about taking great Kiwi ideas to the world.

What made you decide to join the National Party and not another party on the left?
I’m a believer in backing individuals to work hard and succeed for themselves and their families. The power of individual initiative is awesome, and countries are built on that initiative. The parties of the left are all about collective behaviour and identity politics, and too often that means countries and economies don’t perform to their potential, which harms the very people they are trying to help.

Any advice for people voting in this year’s October election?
I think how you vote will depend what you think of the government’s performance over the last six years. If you want a change, then it comes down to National or Act. In my view, giving a vote to New Zealand First would effectively be contracting your vote out to you know who, and whatever he decides on the day.

What keeps Steven Joyce busy these days?
I run my own consultancy Joyce Advisory Limited – which provides strategic commercial advice and normally has about a dozen clients on the go at any one time. They cover industries like construction, education, finance, insurance, and the tech sector. I also write a fortnightly column for The Herald, and most importantly, give a lot more time to my family than I was able to previously in politics.

I hear you’re into running these days – what are your running goals?
Mostly to keep running and be a good training partner for my daughter Amelia. I’ve done one year and I’d like to keep going. I’d love to be able to run the Auckland 10k road race next year in 50 mins or below (I managed 57.27 this year). And I’d like to run an 8k cross country in the low 40s.

Tell us some of your favourites….
Holiday spot in New Zealand? Matarangi in The Coromandel, closely followed by Coopers Beach in the Far North, and Central Otago. Holiday spot overseas? Port Douglas in North Queensland, for a break. And anywhere in the US and Europe – just love both and it’s been too long. Tipple? A quality Central Otago Pinot Noir. Favourite dish? Probably a lovely beef fillet cooked on the barbecue and some lovely roast veges from the garden. Best book you’ve read recently (that’s not yours!)? That’s tricky. I used to read all the time, but politics spoilt me for recreational reading; and I’m only just now getting back into it. Mostly I read The Economist, The Spectator UK, and the Financial Times. Best movie or tv movie/series you’ve watched in 2023?  I don’t watch a lot of tv. The only series I’ve watched almost religiously this year (as per other years) is Master Chef Australia, with Amelia and Suzanne. It has drama, great characters, and food!  What happened to Jock was very sad. Complete the following… In my next life I’m going to be a…?  Tech entrepreneur.  Selling some clever bit of kit around the world.

‘On the Record’ by Steven Joyce (RRP$37.99) is published by Allen & Unwin NZ and is available where all good books are sold. Make sure you buy your copy right here on the Shore!