Milestone expands South Pacific channel with new partner focus
Milestone Systems has outlined plans to expand its partner network and strengthen distribution operations across the South Pacific region.
The firm has promoted Matt Veenstra to the position of Distribution Channel Manager, South Pacific, entrusting him with responsibility for leading new partner engagement and expansion efforts in the region.
Leadership change
The appointment of Veenstra is designed to deepen Milestone's existing partner relationships while broadening opportunities for new collaborators, particularly systems integrators. The company has indicated a willingness to work with a diverse range of partners, regardless of their areas of technical expertise. "Milestone has always thrived on strong partnerships, and the South Pacific represents a key growth area where we see incredible opportunity to scale," said Veenstra. "Our goal is to make it easier for partners to grow with us, by providing the tools, support and recognition they need to succeed."
Veenstra brings a sales and business development background to his new role, having experience in client base expansion and revenue growth, underpinned by a focus on customer relationships. His professional experience covers business development, account management and marketing functions.
Partner programme updates
Milestone has updated its regional Partner Program alongside the leadership changes. The revised programme includes a wider suite of accessible benefits and a more concentrated emphasis on professional certifications. Enhanced rewards are now available to partners based on the number and level of certifications attained within Milestone's ecosystem. "Our revised program is about rewarding commitment," Veenstra added. "The more our partners invest in building their expertise around Milestone's open platform, the more they'll get in return, whether that's exclusive support, marketing resources or co-selling opportunities. More education and certification basically unlocks more potential."
The company's renewed focus on its partner programme takes place amid rising demand for intelligent video solutions across multiple sectors, not limited to security and safety but extending into operational domains.
Milestone regards its expanded channel as crucial in delivering these solutions with local knowledge and established relationships. "We're excited to work with both long-standing and new partners who share our vision of going beyond security to deliver real business value," said Veenstra.
Operational realignment
The expansion efforts follow a recent organisational change where Milestone transferred greater operational control to its South Pacific regional unit. This shift aims to improve service speed for customers and optimise the use of local resources.
Jordan Cullis, Regional Director for South Pacific at Milestone Systems, said: "Matt's new role reflects two things – the outstanding work he is doing with our partners across the region, and our ambition to energise our channel operations by providing a more focused and efficient service to our partners. We want them to grow along with us, as we diversify our portfolio and encourage people to innovate with our open platform model."
Follow us on:
Share on:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
30 minutes ago
- Scoop
The Awkward Places NZers Admit To Using Their Devices – And Why Scammers Love It
From the bathroom to the boardroom, New Zealanders are responding to notifications and messages in some pretty awkward places - and it reveals just how distracted and hurried we've become, a new survey from BNZ shows. The nationwide study found that most New Zealanders have responded to an email, text or notification while doing something else, with 35% admitting they've done so in the bathroom, 41% in the middle of a face-to-face conversation, and 28% while in a meeting or webinar. 'And when we're rushed or distracted like this, we make mistakes,' says BNZ Head of Fraud Operations, Margaret Miller. Nearly a quarter (24%) confess to clicking through to a 'great deal' without checking if the link was legitimate, while 19% have hit a link in a text before reading it properly. 'Scammers prey on the fact that when we're rushed, distracted, or juggling multiple things we're more likely to click first and think later,' Miller says. The study found that New Zealanders are generally aware of when they're most vulnerable, with 78% recognising that being distracted, rushed, multitasking, stressed or on autopilot makes them more likely to be scammed or make a mistake with online banking. Yet scammers are still succeeding. According to the survey, while 61% of Kiwis spotted a scam in the past year and avoided it, 12% weren't so lucky. Strategic design to slow scams down While individual vigilance remains the best defence and the banking sector continues to invest tens of millions in security each year, BNZ is also exploring a different approach through strategic design features that work with how people actually behave. 'While we all expect seamless digital experiences, we've learned that introducing small elements of friction at critical moments helps with focus and ultimately, keeps customers and their money safer,' says BNZ Head of Design, Donal Devlin. 'In practice, this means things like swapping button locations, adding brief pause notifications, or showing 'pause and think' alerts to help customers stay focused when making higher risk transactions or actions in their accounts. 'It's about finding the right balance between convenience and security – adding just enough of a moment to think when the stakes are highest." BNZ is also strengthening security in other ways, including being one of only two major banks to offer app-based authentication rather than text messages, which can be intercepted by scammers. The bank has also introduced online banking lock, which gives customers the ability to quickly disable all online banking activity and lock access to their online banking if they suspect a scammer has gained access to their accounts. It's all about working with human nature, not against it, Miller says. 'We know people are busy, we know they multi-task, and we know they sometimes rush. 'So, while customers should remain vigilant, we're also designing smart security features that give you a moment to double-check when it matters most.' Tips for improving your digital safety and security Pause before clicking - especially if you're doing something else at the same time Never click on links or attachments sent by someone you don't know or that seem out of character for someone you do know Keep your computer and phone security software up to date Contact your bank immediately if you think you've been scammed Red flags to watch for - BNZ will never: Email or text you links to online banking and ask you to log in Send you a text message with a link to a website, or link to call us Ask you for your PIN number or password Ask you to share the authentication codes sent to you by text or email, even with a BNZ staff member Ask you to transfer money to help catch a scammer or a bank employee who is scamming customers Send you a text message about account issues with a link to log in Ask you to download software to access your Internet Banking remotely Use international phone numbers to call or send you notifications The BNZ Safe and Secure Survey was conducted by Insights HQ in May 2025, with sample sizes ranging from n=235 to n=478 depending on the question. Overall survey results were weighted to be nationally representative by age (15+ years), gender, and region based on Census 2020.
NZ Herald
35 minutes ago
- NZ Herald
The Māori Millionaire Te Kahukura Boynton on her financial, mindset and health journey
Twenty-one-year-old Te Kahukura Boynton is best known as the 'Maori Millionaire' – and although she isn't there just yet, you wouldn't bet against her getting there by her self-imposed deadline of 25. She's built a movement aimed at changing the game financially not just for herself, but for her
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Kinleith pulp and paper mill falls silent
Kinleith pulp and paper mill was opened 71 years ago by Prime Minister Sidney Holland. Photo: Libby Kirkby-McLeod The Kinleith pulp and paper mill in South Waikato was opened by Prime Minister Sidney Holland in 1954. On Monday, 71 years later, the last functional paper-making machine falls silent , with the loss of about 150 jobs. A RNZ documentary about the mill shortly after it opened captured the mood of a booming town, a valuable export industry and cutting-edge technology. Seven decades later, and after many cuts and retrenchments, South Waikato Mayor Gary Petley described the mood in town. "A fair amount of uncertainty, a little bit of angst, because of what has happened, and I think more of a realisation there's not a lot they can do about it," he said. Petley once worked at the mill and he still had two sons employed there. He described the mill in its heyday as a local industry that enabled intergenerational wealth and opportunity. "If your grandfather worked there or your father worked there, there was every probability that the sons or daughters would follow." It led to a vibrant community in Tokoroa. "One of the biggest things for me is the richness of the culture side of things, with all the different races of people, who came here to build Tokoroa and make Tokoroa what it is." You heard this even in the RNZ documentary from the 1950s - there were interviews with mill staff from Canada and Poland. Not that Tokoroa ever wanted to be known just as a mill town. Erica Rowe worked at the South Waikato News in the 1950s and told Rex Sayers that, although locals knew the mill was responsible for most of its growth, they did not want to feel that, without the mill, the town would be non-existent. Tokoroa Mayor Gary Petley once worked in at the mill and still has two sons working there. Photo: Libby Kirkby-McLeod / RNZ That sentiment was echoed today by the owner of local station Cruise Radio, Johnny Dryden. "You need to be mindful now that the mill's not the only large employer in Tokoroa or in the nearby vicinity of Tokoroa," he said. For his part, Dryden felt positive about the town's future. "It's a great area to bring a family up, where you can go and pick your kids up from school, and go and do things in the community." There was no doubt that the end of paper manufacturing would hit some hard. E Tu mill union delegate Ian Farall said everyone was disappointed paper production was finishing. "The fact is this is the last bastion for making paper in New Zealand," he said. "There is no other producer of what we do in New Zealand, so it's not like I can go down the road and get a job." He said working at the mill had enabled him to live a good life and he worried for younger workers who had lost their jobs, knowing several who had given up on New Zealand and moved to Australia. "[It's] not good for those people who have young families and have got no job, and have a mortgage locally and everything like that - that will be a tough time for people." South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) chief executive Clive Somerville said the end of paper production at Kinleith marked the close of an era, one that shaped the South Waikato's identity for generations. Ian Farall: "It's not like I can go down the road and get a job." Photo: Libby Kirkby-McLeod "There's definitely a sense of loss and uncertainty around town, but also deep pride in who we are." However, he said the community was built on primary industry and hard work, and that heart was still strong. "Despite global and national headwinds, there's real momentum here - residential and commercial development is underway. "Project Phoenix is backing displaced workers, and agencies like MSD are stepping up alongside community groups and employers." OJI Fibre Solutions chief executive Jon Ryder said the mill continued with pulp-only production. "Our priority has always been to minimise job losses through redeployments, and to run a thorough and fair process," he said. "Through these efforts and a voluntary redundancy programme, we managed to redeploy more than 30 people within the business and keep the number of compulsory redundancies to less than half of the total." The mill was still in a transition phase for some operations staff and currently reviewing support role requirements, so the final number of job losses was not yet known. "However, we can confirm around 150 employees will depart OjiFS on 30 June." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
