Nick Karnel Williams

This is my first official blog. I sit here wondering—what value can I bring to you, the reader? I have no subscribers yet, and I might not for a while. Let’s be real—why read when you can just watch a video, right?

The thing is, I’ve struggled to adapt to video content. As the owner of Matai, it’s part of what we do, and being a public figure—especially as a Pacific Islander—comes with a responsibility to our people and culture. But for me, I just want to talk about some real shit. I want to express myself in a way that feels natural.

I know I have value to share, and if you’re reading this, you obviously have some interest in me. So, welcome.

Why a Blog and Not Video?

Bit by bit, I’m going to bring you the most honest and transparent view of my life, through my eyes. I’ll be writing about a lot—business, personal experiences, struggles, wins, and the journey of figuring things out.

I know video is where it’s at, but writing has always made me feel a certain way. It gives me time to think, to lay things out. And yeah, my wife is a spelling and grammar nazi, but this is my platform—I’ll do it my way.

What’s the Point of This Blog?

Right now, this is about personal branding. It’s not about making money (or maybe it is down the line), but really, it’s about sharing knowledge and experiences—whether that’s business, culture, life, or just whatever’s on my mind.

I see this blog as a track record. Eventually, I’ll build up the confidence to move into audiobooks, podcasts, and video, but for now, this is where I’ll start. Not as Nick the Matai Watches owner, not as Karnel the artist, not as Nick the tutor from Higher Learning—just me.

This is where you’ll get to know me if you care to.

A Quick Intro – Who Am I?

I’m Nick Williams. Born and bred in West Auckland, half Cook Islander, half Niuean. Father of three boys, married to a beautiful wife, and living the everyday domesticated family life. It’s not perfect, but it’s real.

I’ve been up and down the road—chasing a rap career, trying my hand at podcasting, working in the security industry, running a collectibles business—and now, I’m the co-owner of Matai Watches, alongside my uso and the founder, Andrew.

I’ve done a lot, failed a lot, and learned even more.

What’s Next?

Every week, I’m going to try my best to blog. I’ll refine topics, reflow subjects, and maybe even plan things out (but let’s be honest, we’ll see how that goes).

For now, I’ll leave it here and come back fresh next week. If you’re here reading this—thank you.

Let’s see where this goes.