Matt Kingi

About Me

I'm Matt Kingi — a Taranaki-based sports fanatic and recreational punter who started Hello Taranaki because I was sick of trusting half-baked reviews written by people who had never actually placed a bet in New Zealand. I wanted to build the resource I wished existed: honest, first-hand reviews of offshore betting sites, written from a Kiwi perspective.

It started with a conversation at a pub in New Plymouth. A few mates and I were trying to figure out which offshore book had the best odds for the Chiefs game. Everyone had a different opinion, nobody had tested them properly, and we were all just guessing. So I decided to do the homework myself — and publish the results for every other Kiwi punter asking the same question.

How I Review Betting Sites

I don't just read marketing pages and rewrite press releases. I sign up, deposit real NZD, place bets, and request withdrawals. Every site on Hello Taranaki has been tested with my own money. Here's exactly what I evaluate:

• Odds Competitiveness — I benchmark every site's odds against the TAB across rugby, cricket, football, and racing markets
• Payout Speed — I time every withdrawal from request to funds hitting my account, across crypto, e-wallets, and bank transfers
• Bonus Fairness — I read every line of the T&Cs so you don't have to — wagering requirements, minimum odds, expiry periods, the lot
• User Experience — I test both desktop and mobile, during peak hours and off-peak, including live betting and cash-out features
• Customer Support — I contact support during NZ evening hours to see if they actually respond when Kiwi punters need help
• KYC & Security — I verify the KYC process, licensing, and SSL encryption for every platform I recommend

My Areas of Expertise

Editorial Independence

Hello Taranaki contains affiliate links — that's how I fund the testing and keep this site running. But my rankings are never influenced by commercial relationships. I've ranked sites lower that offered me better commissions, and I've excluded sites entirely that didn't meet my standards. If a sportsbook doesn't deliver for Kiwi punters, I say so, regardless of what they're paying.

I'm not a faceless corporation or a content farm. I'm a punter, just like you. And I reckon that makes all the difference.