Former Bachelorette NZ star Daryl Habraken on why he’s running for NZ First, and the highs and lows of his big year

Daryl Habraken, who appeared in the 2020 season of The Bachelorette New Zealand, is now turning his sights to politics. And despite working with National in the past, he says NZ First leader Winston Peters has always been his political mentor.

“Whatever your politics, you can’t deny his absolute mastery of political debate and commanding the floor,” Habraken tells Society Insider.

Election candidate Daryl Habraken says NZ First leader Winston Peters has always been his political mentor.

Best known for voice acting – a career he took up after Sir Paul Holmes told him he had a voice for radio – Habraken, 47, estimates he’s done more than 10,000 voiceovers.

For more than 25 years, he has worked as a camera operator, cinematographer, visual effects supervisor and director across major international productions, including The Last Samurai and Spartacus, documentaries, including stunt doco Rev Therapy, and commercials for a raft of businesses including BNZ and Coca-Cola.

Since appearing as the “mole” on The Bachelorette NZ – a fake contestant planted to give inside information to hopeful Bachelorette Lesina Nakhid-Schuster – Habraken has become known for more than just his voice. He has enjoyed time in front of the camera as well as behind it, with appearances on Shortland Street and Westside, and several podcasts, including his own electronic music podcast, Redlining.

He’s also been seen in social media campaigns such as the comedic marketing campaign for Kiwi supplement brand Simply Nootropics with comedian Leigh Hart.

Daryl Habraken was the bachelor mole in the 2020 series The Bachelorette NZ.

He was the voice of the National Party’s 2011 campaign and its cinematographer in the 2014 and 2017 election campaigns, but he is now firmly putting his support behind NZ First.

It’s not the first time he’s worked with the party. Habraken was creative director for NZ First’s last election campaign, in which Peters appeared sitting on a horse in a cowboy hat in a video that went viral. Habraken directed Peters looking down the camera and saying: “To govern a country, you need experience, and this is not our first rodeo”.

Habraken says he enjoyed the experience and found the NZ First team “incredibly down-to-earth, easy-going and open to creativity”.

Habraken’s father John, who is a fan of Peters, and John’s wife, Maxine, have long been staunch supporters of the politician.

“After the 2023 campaign, I kept an eye on what the party was doing and found myself increasingly aligned with its values and principles,” Habraken says.

Daryl Habraken and his dad John, who is a long-term supporter of New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters.

With NZ First releasing its party list in a month, Habraken says he is focused on growing the party vote while also making a splash in Northcote.

It’s been a big year already for Habraken and his wife, producer Yvette “Yvie” Harvey-Salter, who is expecting the couple’s first baby in February.

The couple married in a “perfect” intimate family ceremony at a historic stone chapel in Papakura in March; two months later, they were overjoyed to discover they were about to become first-time parents.

Yvie and Daryl Habraken on their wedding day. Yvie and Daryl Habraken got married at a historic stone chapel in Papakura in March.

However, they were then faced with family tragedy in June, a month before his candidacy was announced. Habraken’s mother, Elva Ritchie, 72, died after suffering a medical event while driving and crashing into a building at the Red Beach shopping centre.

Elva Ritchie was proud of her son Daryl Habraken on his wedding day.

Habraken received the news from a relative, who called to say Ritchie had missed an appointment. He knew immediately something was wrong and drove straight to Ritchie’s place on the Hibiscus Coast, but she wasn’t there.

“Then came the dreaded knock on the door,” he says, recalling the moment police arrived to deliver the news of the accident.

Habraken says the stories he later heard from locals who tried desperately to help her were incredibly moving.

“Strangers did everything they could for a woman they had never met.”

He says meeting and thanking some of those people restored some of his faith in humanity during a difficult time.

Although Habraken had told his mum his political plans, his candidacy wasn’t confirmed until July.

“When I think about it now, it would have been wonderful to have her see her son pushing himself towards something bigger than himself,” he says.

“Because of my profile online and on television, she was definitely one of those mums who loved to boast about me to everyone at her art class and church.”

Habraken had been able to let her know she was going to become a grandmother, seeing her three days before her accident to give her the news.

“I’ll never forget the look of joy on her face. She threw her hands in the air and let out a little yell. It was beautiful,” he says.

Yvie, who is Habraken’s campaign manager as well as his partner, says their biggest advantage is that, through their work in media, they can create, shoot and produce high-quality campaign content in-house.

The couple launched North Shore-based production company Odd Socks two years ago, specialising in documentary storytelling and commercial content.

Yvie and Daryl Habraken work together at their production company Odd Socks.

“Between now and the election, we’ll be putting a major focus on social media and digital content, while also doing the traditional groundwork – hoardings, flyers, door-knocking, public meetings and getting out into the community as much as possible,” Yvie says.

Yvie and Daryl Habraken campaigning in Northcote.

Habraken is already appearing in newsreader-style videos in which he channels Peters.

He knew he’d be standing against incumbent National MP Dan Bidois, but he’s also up against another seasoned campaigner – Labour list MP Shanan Halbert, who won Northcote in 2020, before losing it to Bidois in 2023.

“I love an underdog story,” Harbraken says. “I genuinely believe I’ve got what it takes to give them both a run for their money.”

Yvie and Daryl Habraken on election night 2023 with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters (centre).

He says living in and around Northcote for most of his adult life has given him a connection to the people and communities here.

“It’s an incredibly diverse electorate, with affluent precincts and working-class suburbs existing side by side. It’s a fascinating cross-section of New Zealand.”

The near-fatal crash that inspired Georgia Fulford’s debut song

Budding country/pop singer Georgia Fulford, 18, has recently released her debut single, Coming Home – a tribute to her dad, Lighting Direct managing director Dean Fulford, 56, who survived a near-fatal motorsport accident before she was born.

Georgia Fulford did a photoshoot for her debut single Coming Home, which featured her father’s crash helmet. Photo / Birgit Utech

“The song is deeply personal and tells my family’s story,” Georgia tells Society Insider.

“Eighteen months before I was born, my dad survived a life-threatening racing accident after another driver touched his car at more than 220km/h, sending it over the fence and into the grandstands at Pukekohe.”

The accident made headlines, with Dean’s Porsche GT3 barrel-rolling for about 80m before clearing a 3.5m-high safety fence.

The Lighting Direct Porsche GT3. The wreck of the Porsche GT3. Photo / NZPA, Wayne Drought

After the 2006 accident, Dean walked away from a 12-year career in motorsport, most notably competing in the Porsche GT3 series in New Zealand.

Dean Fulford was a professional motor racer for 12 years.

Dean’s father, Bill Fulford, founded Lighting Direct in 1974 and also participated in motorsport for 16 years. Lighting Direct is now a multimillion-dollar family-owned company with 25 stores throughout New Zealand.

Bill founded the Lighting Direct Porsche team in 1991 with his friend Owen Evans, with Dean joining them in 1994.

“A career highlight for Dad was the Lighting Direct team winning the prestigious 1993 Wellington Nissan Mobil 500 Street Race, and the following year the team won the New Zealand Motorsport Team of the Year,” Dean says.

“The near-death experience catalysed a shift in our family’s relationship with motorsport,” he says. “The focus moved from Dad’s and my participation to a shared passion of watching the sport together.”

Victoria and Dean Fulford in an accident and emergency ward after his racing accident in 2006. Photo / Bradley Ambrose

“After surviving the crash, he made the decision to hang up his helmet and come home to start a family,” Georgia says. “The helmet that helped save his life is one of the most important details on the cover art of my song.”

The cover for Georgia Fulford’s debut single Coming Home. Photo / Birgit Utech

Georgia explains that to make the song even more meaningful, it features her grandfather – her mum Victoria’s father Terry Gibson – playing guitar on the recording.

“I’ve grown up listening to my grandpa play guitar and have sung with him since I was a baby.”

After playing her grandpa some early demos, Gibson picked up his guitar and started playing along, which eventually led to them recording together at Crescendo Recording Studio in Henderson.

Georgia Fulford’s grandpa, Terry Gibson, played guitar on her debut single Coming Home. Photo / Jazzelle Rowell

“For me, the song is less about the crash and more about everything possible because Dad came home,” Georgia says. “It’s a project that’s incredibly close to my heart, and one I hope resonates with others through its message about family, sacrifice and finding what truly matters.”

The eldest of three sisters, Georgia grew up in Auckland’s eastern suburbs. Like her father, she attended Saint Kentigern’s, and this year she’s in her first year of a Bachelor of Commerce and Property conjoint degree at the University of Auckland.

Georgia Fulford and her father Dean.

Alongside university and writing new music, Georgia, who was a professional dancer at high school, teaches dance and interns at a property firm.

A week before her first recording session for Coming Home in February, Georgia’s parents gave her tickets to the Melbourne Grand Prix for her 18th birthday.

Georgia and Dean Fulford at the Melbourne Grand Prix earlier this year.

Dean says rediscovering his love of motorsport through his daughter’s eyes has been something very special.

“We were there to support New Zealand driver Liam Lawson,” Dean says. “Georgia and I enjoy following fellow Kiwi Mitch Evans and his career in Formula E.”

Georgia says she’s been lucky to have an amazing “girl dad” in her corner.

Dean Fulford with his baby daughter Georgia.

“I remember playing Dad the song for the first time, and he couldn’t stop smiling,” she says. “He’s listened to every demo since, and there have definitely been a few teary eyes.”

Party people of the week

Cirque Alice spectacular

The New Zealand premiere of Cirque Alice took place at the Civic last Friday evening.

Created by Simon Painter and Tim Lawson, the team behind The Illusionists magic show, Cirque Alice reimagines Lewis Carroll’s beloved story as a fusion of circus, music, aerial performance, comedy and visual spectacle.

Guests enjoyed a selection of specialty cocktails, including The Caterpillar, The Cheshire and The Mad Hatter, plus gourmet macarons, popcorn and Queen of Hearts cupcakes.

Among those spotted stepping through the looking glass were Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and his wife Toni, Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson, Auckland Live director Daniel Clarke, sexologist Morgan Penn, actor Ria Vandervis, Radio Hauraki’s Mike Minogue and The Hits’ Ben Boyce (with his daughter Sienna), 1News reporter Aziz Al Sa’afin, A-list chef Hercules Noble, The Whitening Co. founder Kennedy Anderson and motoring influencer Taylor Serage.

Cirque Alice runs at the Civic until Sunday.

Kirsty Painter and Tim Lawson, Mayor Wayne Brown with wife Toni, and Daniel Clarke. Photo / LK Creative Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson. Photo / LK Creative Morgan Penn. Photo / LK Creative Ria Vandervis, Chris Ashton and their son Ted. Photo / LK Creative Sienna and Ben Boyce. Photo / LK Creative Aziz Al Sa’afin and Jordan Eskra. Photo / LK Creative Matt Reyland and Chris Henry. Photo / LK Creative Claudia and Courtney Sammut. Photo / LK Creative Arii Jade and Maria Guerrero. Photo / LK Creative Erin Simpson. Photo / LK Creative

A Titanic preview

More than 180 guests gathered at Auckland’s Smith & Caughey Building last week for an exclusive first look at Titanic: The Human Story, as the internationally acclaimed exhibition made its New Zealand debut.

Bastion Aotearoa helped bring the event to life alongside exhibition partners Musealia, Fever and Auckland Live.

The evening began with champagne, canapes and a decadent grazing table before guests stepped inside the exhibition to explore more than 200 original Titanic artefacts, personal belongings and rarely seen objects.

Guests included Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson, Auckland Live director Daniel Clarke and Musealia chief executive Luis Ferreiro, Sean Morris, general manager at Fever ANZ, as well as influencers Brit Cunningham and Jony and Alistair Lee.

Mitch Murphy-Reid acted as the Captain welcoming guests. Photo / Dylan Martin, Nick White Desley Simpson and Daniel Clarke. Photo / Dylan Martin, Nick White Sean Morris, Joseph Harrop, Sarah Spence, Fiona Haughton, Peau Halapua and Mythreyi Ragavan. Photo / Dylan Martin, Nick White Brit Cunningham and her father Peter Hannaford. Photo / Dylan Martin, Nick White Jony and Alistair Lee. Photo / Dylan Martin, Nick White Shelby Corbett, Paige Corrin, Ophelia Buckleton, Holly Jones, Janvi Shah and Grace Williams. Photo / Dylan Martin, Nick White Shaaz Croft and Zoe Kerr. Photo / Dylan Martin, Nick White

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.