Fail File: Peter Cooper, founder and executive chair of Cooper and Company

Peter Cooper. (Image: Supplied)

Sat, 27 Sep 2025

Each fortnight, Victoria Carter speaks to someone about failure, disappointment and what they learned. This week, she talks to Peter Cooper CNZM, founder and executive chairman of Cooper and Company.I was really disappointed when: Well, I can’t think of a single occasion of that sort of significance because for me, life is a journey. If you’re going to walk a path you haven’t walked before, you’re going to stub your toe all the time, and that’s what disappointment is like.Everything always seems to go in...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

The Quiz Free

QuiznessDesk, Monday, Sept 29

Can you get them all correct without cheating?

The Quizmaster 9:15am

Primary Sector

Synlait to sell North Island assets to Abbott in $307m deal

Shareholders will vote at AGM in November.

Rebecca Howard 9:00am

Synlait to sell North Island assets to Abbott in $307m deal

Primary Sector

Methane-reducing products to help hit emissions targets

Fonterra will continue partnering with AgriZeroNZ.

Graham Skellern 8:00am

Methane-reducing products to help hit emissions targets

Sponsored

AI agents: opportunity or graveyard? Spark’s five-point playbook for success

Artificial intelligence agents – autonomous digital entities that analyse data, automate decisions, and act independently – are set to drive a new wave of business transformation.

Spark Enterprise

Sponsored