John McCay

Advising the New Zealand Government on the negotiations with Amazon Studios and Amazon to secure New Zealand as the production base for Amazon Studios’ “The Rings of Power”. The New Zealand Screen Production Grant 5% Uplift was made available to the production in exchange for Amazon delivering significant economic benefits to New Zealand. At the time of negotiation, this was the largest screen incentive deal ever negotiated between a studio and a government.

Advising Project NEXT, the Waka Kotahi led project, on an ongoing basis for the procurement of a national public transport ticketing solution by Waka Kotahi and New Zealand regional public transport authorities. This is a significant procurement transaction involving the provision of both ticketing services and financial services for an open-loop, account-based, national ticketing solution to deliver a better user experience for users of public transport and a more efficient public transport system.

Acting for Taharoa Mining Investments Limited on its acquisition of the iron sands mine at Taharoa from BlueScope and advising on the ongoing expansion and development of the operation, shipping, and export sales of one of New Zealand’s largest export businesses.

Advising TAB New Zealand on its international rights and broadcasting arrangements with key commercial partners, such as Tabcorp, to secure international rights and to commercialise New Zealand broadcast rights. Advising on the wagering arrangements that are supported by this coverage, delivering New Zealand’s race betting and sports betting systems which provide significant benefits to New Zealand racing and sports sectors.

Advising InternetNZ on the development of its services including the implementation of additional security systems to continually improve the security of the internet in New Zealand. InternetNZ is the home and guardian for the .nz domain, providing the infrastructure, security, and support to allow the safe use of the internet in New Zealand.

Acting as trusted adviser to public sector and private sector organisations and boards on discrete corporate governance issues including conflict management and the proper exercise of directors’ duties.