Nicole Vaughan
December 3, 2023

Dan heads to Aotearoa, NZ

Spatial Media’s Dan Cain will be turning his G’days into Kia oras as he heads home to New Zealand, after almost 20- years of travel supporting projects in the UK, Australia and more.

Spatial Media’s Dan Cain will be turning his G’days into Kia oras as he heads home to New Zealand, after almost 20- years of travel supporting projects in the UK, Australia and more. But don’t worry, Aussie friends, Dan will still be racking up the air miles crossing the ditch as he leads our Australian team and spearheads our growth in NZ.

We recently sat down with Dan to chat about his roots in New Zealand after nearly two decades abroad. Dan shared his enthusiasm for the move, the projects he's looking forward to, and how he plans to contribute to New Zealand's development through his role at Spatial Media.

What excites you most about moving back to New Zealand after so many years?

Dan Cain: It's a mix of personal and professional excitement. Personally, after almost 20 years, I'm returning home with a wealth of experiences. I left New Zealand with just a backpack and a board bag, and now I'm coming back with a family and a treasure trove of memories. Professionally, I'm thrilled to contribute to the New Zealand community, leveraging the flexibility and support Spatial Media provides. The outdoor lifestyle, particularly mountain biking and snowboarding, is something I'm eagerly anticipating.

How do you plan to support New Zealand's projects and clients?

Dan Cain: New Zealand is not just a place I'm returning to; it's my home. I'm deeply invested in supporting projects that will enhance our communities, benefiting future generations, including my own kids. My physical presence in New Zealand will allow for better accessibility to clients and projects. I'm also excited to introduce some of the innovative digital solutions we've developed in Australia to the New Zealand market.

Are there any specific projects in New Zealand that you're particularly excited about?

Dan Cain: Absolutely! I have a passion for airports, so seeing the Auckland and Christchurch Airport masterplans come to life is thrilling. My background in environmental engineering has always drawn me to renewable energy projects. I'm looking forward to seeing the development of offshore wind projects and the new mega hydro scheme in New Zealand. Additionally, having experienced Melbourne's efficient public transport system, I'm eager to see similar advancements, like light rail and airport rail connections, materialise in Auckland.

Dan's journey is a testament to the dynamic nature of global careers and our approach at Spatial Media to support our team, wherever they want to live and work. Stay tuned as we follow Dan's journey and the exciting developments he brings to Spatial Media and New Zealand.

If Dan’s story has made you think about your career and the opportunities to be part of our team, visit, https://spatialmedia.io/careers to learn more.

from our clients

Spatial are my go-to for solutions

Spatial are my go-to for solutions nobody has dreamt up yet! They have an incredible knack for combining tomorrows tech solutions with creativity, intuitive UX and analytics. The results are engaging interfaces that are impactful and ultimately bridge the gap between project and stakeholders.
66
99
Kate kernaghan, company director, factotum communications

They’re responsive, innovative, and easy to work with

The team at Spatial Media were great to work with. They workshopped ideas quickly, resolved issues efficiently, and maintained clear, consistent communication throughout the project. Their collaborative approach made the entire process easier. They’re responsive, innovative, and easy to work with.
66
99
Suzanne Hall, Communications & Marketing Manager, Visy Recycling

From day one, Spatial Media grasped exactly what we needed

From day one, Spatial Media grasped exactly what we needed: a simple, interactive way for our community to stay up to date on local works. Their team was easy to work with, highly responsive, and open to every adjustment we requested. The end result exceeded our expectations.
66
99
Chris Ashton, Lismore City Council

They are our go to tech-savvy experts with huge amounts of creative flair!

COVID19 social distancing restrictions made having our large scale community event nearly impossible, so we decided to take our face-to-face event online. Spatial worked really closely with us to develop the concept, design and platform that would host our virtual community event. The Spatial team are exceptionally creative, with a fantastic ability to bring your idea to fruition in a way you never thought possible. They made our pen on paper scribble into something that over 45k stakeholders visited online, more than what we could have reached in person. Thank you
66
99
Emily Divitaris, Senior Communications Advisor, WestConnex

They delivered a masterpiece that exceeded our expectations

Undertaking a complete city build is not an easy task but Spatial Media were keen to push the boundaries and see what could be achieved. They delivered a masterpiece that exceeded our expectations and added nice touches that brought the digital twin to life. The team were enthusiastic and professional through the entire process and we look forward to collaborating (working) together again!
66
99
James (Director of gettREAL) – Oran Park Digital Twin

They were committed to accuracy and no ask was too hard

Spatial Media understood our brief to a tee and delivered a high quality animation and renders to bring our project to life for the community. Despite a short timeframe, we were given multiple opportunities to provide feedback and suggest changes, all of which were easily understood and promptly actioned. Isaac and the team were flexible, responsive and hit every deadline. They were committed to accuracy and no ask was too hard. The end product will be a centrepiece for communicating our project to the public.
66
99
Emily Hou and Juliana Yu, Landcom

Innovative tools developed by the team set a new benchmark

Spatial Media Team played a pivotal role in delivering a range of multi-million-dollar public realm projects, including cycle paths, road and intersection upgrades, and active reserve improvements. Their ability to produce highly detailed and realistic renders, actively participate in workshops, and rapidly refine designs (even with minimal background information) was exceptional. The level of professionalism and attention to detail they provided to the council as the client was truly outstanding. I have already recommended their services to colleagues across the State and look forward to future collaborations. The innovative 3D products and interactive spatial consultation tools developed by the team set a new benchmark for community engagement and project delivery. I would strongly encourage integrating this approach into future projects to enhance clarity, mitigate risks, and build greater confidence among all stakeholders.
66
99
WA Local Government Project Director