Society Insider: Whangārei National candidate Lloyd Budd has the backing of Sir John Key and Paula Bennett

“Lloyd brings a real-world experience and a load of energy,” Key says.

After 20 years in real estate, Budd walked away from his high-powered job at the end of last year, returning to his home city of Whangārei to seek the National Party selection for the seat, which he received on May 2.

Budd says the biggest catalyst for his political journey was meeting Key at an event at the Forum North in Whangārei in 2007. Key was Leader of the Opposition at the time, and Budd says he had an energy and aura that inspired him to think about getting into politics.

Key and Budd have caught up regularly in recent years for business and to talk about politics.

“I called Sir John on the last day of selection and read him part of my speech,” says Budd.

“He said, ‘Lloyd, please just be yourself, look where that’s got you so far’.”

At 43, Budd is the same age as Key was when he entered politics. But it’s not just Key who has helped inspire Budd’s political moves – he’s also been mentored by former deputy prime minister, Paula Bennett.

The pair have been working together at Bayleys since Bennett left Parliament in 2020 and joined the real estate firm’s commercial division. Bennett says the pair made a deal that he would teach her real estate and she would teach him politics.

Budd says Bennett has the highest EQ (Emotional Quotient) of anyone he has met.

“Her ability to connect with anybody and read a situation is incredible,” he says. “She has taught me exactly how to do that, to be present with everyone and listen.”

It’s been a big decision for Budd to leave his CEO role; he’s been with the company since he was 17 when he won a Keystone property scholarship, which was founded by Bayleys.

While giving his acceptance speech to more than 400 real estate industry executives, he impressed Bayleys Real Estate founder, John Bayley, so much that he offered Budd a job.

“It’s a funny story, because when I met John Bayley, I said, ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘Chairman of Bayleys Real Estate.’ Then I added, ‘What do they do?’

“It’s amazing I made it to the start line.”

Budd spent the next seven years working in various roles for Bayleys in Northland, and in 2005 he bought nearly half of the franchise for Bayleys Northland.

He went on to work in high-profile real estate roles for six years in Dubai and then Sydney, before returning to Auckland in 2016, working in commercial and residential roles, before becoming CEO in 2024.

He has been a fixture on the corporate, sporting and social circuit through the many businesses and sporting and community initiatives sponsored by Bayleys.

“It was difficult to turn away from such an incredible family business, but I am in a fortunate position where it was time to look at giving back to the communities that have helped me,” Budd tells Society Insider.

He says the team at Bayleys were quite shocked when told he was making the move, but he reminded them that when he received his scholarship from Keystone, he mentioned in his speech that he wanted to get into politics one day.

Current Bayleys Chairman Mike Bayley tells Society Insider that Budd was a loyal part of the Bayleys team and has their full support on his political journey.

Returning to Northland is a homecoming for Budd, who has many family ties and connections to the region.

He was among generationas of Budds who attended Whangārei Primary, Intermediate, and High School. His brother Dean and his father Mike both played rugby for Northland, and his stepfather Maverick managed the team. Dean went on to captain Italy at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Budd’s late grandfather Dr Milton Walters delivered about 5000 babies from the 1950s to the 1980s at Northland Hospital. Walters was also a leading light in the city’s rowing club and St John’s.

Budd is also actively involved in many charitable organisations, including the Keystone Trust, Steve Adams Pathways and marine charity LegaSea.

“Through my roles, I have had the incredible opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life, and the chance to learn from them,” he says.

He’s hoping these connections will help him with his political aspirations – Budd says he’s knocking on doors across Whangārei in the lead up to this year’s general election, meeting as many people from the district as he can.

“Over the last six months, it’s been amazing to be home and be with family and reconnect with faces from all over Whangārei.”

Whangārei was also the place he met his wife of 14 years, Monica, who is the co-founder and director of wellness label Slo Naturals.

Budd’s mother, Jan Walters-Gleeson, introduced him to Monica at a Northland rugby club dinner in 2006.

The couple have two intermediate‑age children, and Budd says a return to Whangārei had been the plan ever since they came back from the Middle East.

They recently took a break from what has been an intense six months, travelling to Queenstown to stay at the Bayley family’s multimillion-dollar compound.

Budd plans to use his large Auckland network in sports and business circles, which includes friends such as Warriors’ CEO Cameron George; general manager of sports and events at TVNZ, Melodie Robinson; ZEIL founder, Anna Mowbray; and Centuria NZ CEO, Mark Francis, to benefit growth in his hometown.

Caterpillar World Premiere

Caterpillar, the debut feature film from writer/director Chelsie Preston Crayford, had its world premiere at the Embassy Theatre last Wednesday evening, followed by a screening at Auckland’s Hollywood Theatre the next day.

Australian actor Marta Dusseldorp, who stars in the film, travelled to New Zealand for the celebrations. Other cast and crew at the premieres included actors Lisa Harrow and Anais Shand and co-producers Georgina Conder and Andrew Marshall.

Preston Crayford was joined by her partner Guy Montgomery; her parents, celebrated leading filmmaker Dame Gaylene Preston and award-winning musician Jonathan Crayford, who composed the score for the film.

Other guests included fellow cast members Kirimaia Noel and Matty Rockel, comedians Jackie Van Beek, Johanna Cosgrove and Chris Parker, who attended with his sister, Celebrity Treasure Island contestant Liv; writer Elspeth Sandys; and actor and playwright Victor Rodger.

NZFW Launch

New Zealand Fashion Week had its official 2026 launch last Tuesday evening at partner Giltrap Group’s Audi showroom.

NZ Fashion Week executive director, Liam Taylor, revealed this year’s schedule for the event, which takes place from August 17-22, with confirmed designers including Juliette Hogan, Kathryn Wilson and Caitlin Crisp.

Guests included designers Hogan, Wilson, Vicki Taylor, Kiri Nathan, Rory William Docherty, Claudia Li, Nichola Te Kiri, Bobby Campbell Luke, and Naa Kohi; as well as fashion creatives and stylists Sophie de Renzy, Troi Atkins, Levi Tan, and Makaira Calder.

Ricardo Simich has been with the Herald since 2008 where he contributed to The Business Insider. In 2012 he took over Spy at the Herald on Sunday, which has since evolved into Society Insider. The weekly column gives a glimpse into the worlds of the rich and famous.