\u201cLloyd brings a real-world experience and a load of energy,\u201d Key says. <\/p>\n
Sir John Key and Lloyd Budd. <\/p>\n
After 20 years in real estate, Budd walked away from his high-powered job at the end of last year<\/a>, returning to his home city of Whang\u0101rei to seek the National Party selection for the seat, which he received on May 2. <\/p>\n Budd says the biggest catalyst for his political journey was meeting Key at an event at the Forum North in Whang\u0101rei 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. <\/p>\n Key and Budd have caught up regularly in recent years for business and to talk about politics. <\/p>\n \u201cI called Sir John on the last day of selection and read him part of my speech,\u201d says Budd. <\/p>\n \u201cHe said, \u2018Lloyd, please just be yourself, look where that\u2019s got you so far\u2019.\u201d <\/p>\n At 43, Budd is the same age as Key was when he entered politics. But it\u2019s not just Key who has helped inspire Budd\u2019s political moves \u2013 he\u2019s also been mentored by former deputy prime minister, Paula Bennett<\/a>. <\/p>\n The pair have been working together at Bayleys since Bennett left Parliament in 2020 and joined the real estate firm\u2019s commercial division. Bennett says the pair made a deal that he would teach her real estate and she would teach him politics. <\/p>\n Budd says Bennett has the highest EQ (Emotional Quotient) of anyone he has met. <\/p>\n \u201cHer ability to connect with anybody and read a situation is incredible,\u201d he says. \u201cShe has taught me exactly how to do that, to be present with everyone and listen.\u201d <\/p>\n It\u2019s been a big decision for Budd to leave his CEO role; he\u2019s been with the company since he was 17 when he won a Keystone property scholarship, which was founded by Bayleys. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a funny story, because when I met John Bayley, I said, \u2018Who are you?\u2019 He replied, \u2018Chairman of Bayleys Real Estate.\u2019 Then I added, \u2018What do they do?\u2019 <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing I made it to the start line.\u201d <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n He has been a fixture on the corporate, sporting and social circuit through the many businesses and sporting and community initiatives sponsored by Bayleys. <\/p>\n \u201cIt 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,\u201d Budd tells Society Insider. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Returning to Northland is a homecoming for Budd, who has many family ties and connections to the region. <\/p>\n He was among generationas of Budds who attended Whang\u0101rei 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. <\/p>\n Budd\u2019s 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\u2019s rowing club and St John\u2019s. <\/p>\n Budd is also actively involved in many charitable organisations, including the Keystone Trust<\/a>, Steve Adams Pathways<\/a> and marine charity LegaSea. <\/p>\n \u201cThrough my roles, I have had the incredible opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life, and the chance to learn from them,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n He\u2019s hoping these connections will help him with his political aspirations \u2013 Budd says he\u2019s knocking on doors across Whang\u0101rei in the lead up to this year\u2019s general election, meeting as many people from the district as he can. <\/p>\n \u201cOver the last six months, it\u2019s been amazing to be home and be with family and reconnect with faces from all over Whang\u0101rei.\u201d <\/p>\n Whang\u0101rei was also the place he met his wife of 14 years, Monica, who is the co-founder and director of wellness label Slo Naturals. <\/p>\n Budd\u2019s mother, Jan Walters-Gleeson, introduced him to Monica at a Northland rugby club dinner in 2006. <\/p>\n The couple have two intermediate\u2011age children, and Budd says a return to Whang\u0101rei had been the plan ever since they came back from the Middle East. <\/p>\n They recently took a break from what has been an intense six months, travelling to Queenstown to stay at the Bayley family\u2019s multimillion-dollar compound. <\/p>\n Budd plans to use his large Auckland network in sports and business circles, which includes friends such as Warriors\u2019 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. <\/p>\n Party People of the Week <\/p>\n Caterpillar World Premiere <\/p>\n Caterpillar<\/a>, the debut feature film from writer\/director Chelsie Preston Crayford<\/a>, had its world premiere at the Embassy Theatre last Wednesday evening, followed by a screening at Auckland\u2019s Hollywood Theatre the next day. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n NZFW Launch <\/p>\n New Zealand Fashion Week<\/a> had its official 2026 launch last Tuesday evening at partner Giltrap Group\u2019s Audi showroom. <\/p>\n NZ Fashion Week executive director, Liam Taylor, revealed this year\u2019s schedule for the event, which takes place from August 17-22, with confirmed designers including Juliette Hogan<\/a>, Kathryn Wilson<\/a> and Caitlin Crisp<\/a>. <\/p>\n Guests included designers Hogan, Wilson, Vicki Taylor<\/a>, Kiri Nathan<\/a>, Rory William Docherty<\/a>, Claudia Li<\/a>, Nichola Te Kiri<\/a>, Bobby Campbell Luke<\/a>, and Naa Kohi; as well as fashion creatives and stylists Sophie de Renzy<\/a>, Troi Atkins<\/a>, Levi Tan, and Makaira Calder. <\/p>\nNational MP Rima Nakhle, candidate Lloyd Budd, outgoing MP Dr Shane Reti and Northland MP Grant McCallum at Budd\u2019s selection earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Paula Bennett and Lloyd Budd. <\/p>\n
Lloyd Budd in his early days working for Bayleys. <\/p>\n
Dean, Mike and Lloyd Budd.<\/p>\n
Mike Bayley and Lloyd Budd.<\/p>\n
Dean and Lloyd Budd at the Rugby World Cup in 2019.<\/p>\n
Steve Adams with Lloyd and Monica Budd. <\/p>\n
Monica and Lloyd Budd. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery<\/p>\n
Monica and Lloyd Budd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chelsie Preston Crayford and Gaylene Preston. Photo \/ Rebecca McMillan<\/p>\n
Marta Dusseldorp, Anais Shand, Lisa Harrow at the Caterpillar World Premiere. Photo \/ Rebecca McMillan
Erroll and Anais Shand and Rachel Bock. Photo \/ Rebecca McMillan
Georgina Condor and Andrew Marshall. Photo \/ Rebecca McMillan
Chelsie Preston Crayford and Jonathan Crayford. Photo \/ Rebecca McMillan
Johanna Cosgrove. Photo \/ Rebecca McMillan
Lisa Harrow and Victor Rodger. Photo \/ Rebecca McMillan <\/p>\n
Lucy Slater and Juliette Hogan. Photo \/ Ruby Jayne Hamilton
Vicki Taylor and Kiri Nathan. Photo \/ Ruby Jayne Hamilton
Rory William Docherty and Claudia Li at the New Zealand Fashion Week launch. Photo \/ Ruby Jayne Hamilton
Nichola Te Kiri, Bobby Campbell Luke and Naa Kohi. Photo \/ Ruby Jayne Hamilton
Sophie de Renzy and Troi Atkins. Photo \/ Ruby Jayne Hamilton
Levi Tan and Makaira Calder. Photo \/ Ruby Jayne Hamilton
Sarah Street. Photo \/ Ruby Jayne Hamilton
Amelia Robb. Photo \/ Ruby Jayne Hamilton
Copper MaeSteal. Photo \/ Ruby Jayne Hamilton <\/p>\n