That discovery became a turning point for David – in every sense of the word. Within months, he and his family had left their Auckland lives behind and relocated to Hamilton.
At the time, he was working for Datacom, commuting to Hamilton for a project, so continued in that role for some time, before becoming the local Datacom Regional Director for around 10 years.
However, David’s true passion wasn’t operating larger, established companies – it was building new ones from the ground up. “Hamilton seemed like the perfect place to start something of my own,” says David.
So, he began exploring ideas and developing a vision for his own tech business.
For locals, by locals
In 2018, David founded One Two Seven, a digital consultancy with a unique philosophy: local talent delivering tailored technology solutions to local clients. This approach is important because as David puts it: “Proximity leads to better outcomes.”
David believes that given the choice, provided quality and capability are on par, people prefer to use local organisations.
It’s also where the company name comes from, referring to the loopback address 127.0.0.1 used in software development to refer to a home network or system.
“When you’re solving problems or building solutions, there’s no substitute for sitting face-to-face with your clients.
“And it’s not just about relationships, it’s about understanding. To develop good software, you need to understand the requirements well, and those requirements are best understood when you’re next to the people who have the problem.
“Being local and onsite minimises miscommunications and clarifies requirements which means the outcome is always closer to what the client actually needs.”
This approach has fueled the company’s success in areas like Data and AI, Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365 and Software Integration.
“We are thankful and to be honest, a bit humbled, that so many local customers now place their trust in us.”
Waikato: ‘An ideal base for innovation’
For David, Hamilton offers subtle unique benefits. For example, he’s noticed an “ease of doing business here”.
“In general, people are open to conversations and local businesses want to see other local businesses do well.
“When I first came to New Zealand, I was introduced to tall poppy syndrome – where success is celebrated only until it grows too big. I just don’t see that here. In the Waikato, no matter how successful you become, people genuinely want you to do well.”
Maybe that’s why it’s so easy to connect and collaborate here, explains David.
“You can pick up the phone and generally get a coffee with anyone you want, particularly if you have a decent value proposition that aligns with their interest. The hierarchy feels refreshingly shallow.”
Aside from the willingness to connect, David believes the city’s layout and infrastructure makes doing business easier, logistically.
“When the roading infrastructure was put in, I found myself thinking ‘why are they building all these arterial roads?’ But you can see the benefit now. That was forward thinking.
“It takes me 15 minutes to get to our office at HIKO Hub on the University of Waikato campus from my home in Cambridge. Then once in Hamilton, it takes max 15 mins to get pretty much anywhere within the city – that makes meeting face-to-face easy.”
David believes this ties directly into productivity and innovation.
“Here, there’s more time to be deliberate rather than reactive. You’re not necessarily working more or less, but you have more headspace.
“You’re more productive with the hours you have. That clarity allows you to focus on what’s next instead of simply reacting to what’s in front of you. And that’s what drives real growth.”
Tech scene on the rise
When it comes to Waikato’s tech scene, David believes it holds its own against other markets.
“People sometimes assume that only a handful of global cities are capable of big things in tech. But that’s really not the case.
“In countries like New Zealand and communities like Hamilton, the capability and innovation are just as good, if not better. And the idea that teams outside of large metro areas lack scale or expertise is simply not the case.”
What makes Waikato stand out, he says, is its knack for innovation, particularly in sectors like agriculture and robotics.
“Hamilton is over-represented by startups who aren’t just solving local problems but creating solutions with global potential.”
David believes it’s relatively easy to turn an idea into a business in New Zealand, full stop. But even easier in Hamilton. He puts that down to its connected and accessible tech ecosystem.
“You can walk into a business event and have meaningful conversations with leaders from companies worth hundreds of millions of dollars. People here are willing to share their time, advice and networks.”
He says the region’s tech scene is about more than individual success. It’s about building an ecosystem.
“When one company grows, it lifts the whole region. It’s a bit like the story of Microsoft’s Bill Gates bailing out his main rival, Apple. He understood that strong competition makes everyone better.
“That’s the vibe here. Everyone wants to grow their slice of the pie, but we also want the pie itself to get bigger. And as a business owner, you feel that sense of camaraderie and connection within the sector.
“Our location plays a major role in this. It’s easy to connect with clients and peers, which in turn fuels innovation and growth. Add to that the ease of getting around, world-class infrastructure and you have the ideal conditions to grow a successful business.”
