David Downs

Kia ora – I’m David Downs: writer, former comedian, CEO, and lifelong storyteller.

My career has zigzagged in the best possible way. I started out in comedy, writing and performing stand-up and television, learning how to find the human truth in any situation – and how to keep an audience leaning in. That instinct to connect through humour and story has shaped everything I’ve done since.

I’ve written several books, including memoir and business titles, often drawing on my own life – from building start-ups and working in technology, to facing cancer and travelling to Boston for life-saving CAR T-cell therapy. Story, for me, isn’t just entertainment. It’s how we make sense of challenge, change, and possibility.

Today, as CEO of New Zealand Story, I lead the team responsible for sharing Aotearoa’s story with the world. That means shaping how we present our country’s identity, values, creativity and innovation on the global stage. It’s nation-branding, yes – but at heart it’s still storytelling: who we are, where we’ve come from, and what we stand for.

Through my tours, talks and writing, I bring that same lens to the places around us. I’m fascinated by the layers beneath the surface – Māori history, early European settlement, hidden military stories, forgotten industries, and the quirky characters who shaped our communities.

If you walk with me – literally or through audio – you won’t just hear dates and facts. You’ll hear stories that connect past to present, and help you see Aotearoa with fresh eyes.