What a busy month July was! We have an AI Strategy for New Zealand, something the Forum has been asking for since its formation in 2017, Responsible AI Guidance for Business, and the announcement of a NZ Institute for Advanced Technology from the Ministry for Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) — quite a lot to talk about!
…and just like that, it’s August, and we are into our fourth annual AI Hackathon Festival. With nine venues across Aotearoa, we are expecting to smash through our participation record set in 2024.
AI Hackathon Festival – Prize Pool is better than ever!
It’s not all about the prizes — this event is successful if you come along, learn some new skills, meet some new people and go away with a warm smile having created something wonderful.
But in case a bit of competition also helps get your motor running:
Eagle Technology are back supporting us for the third year in a row with cash prizes for each of the venues and the national TAIAO prize of $1,000.
This year, Aware Group have jumped in with a $5,000 Agentic AI prize for the best agentic solution nationally.
We are incredibly grateful to all of our sponsors, including the University of Waikato and AUT, mentors and venues, without whom none of this would be possible!
AI in Action
We are busy analysing the results of our third survey. This is the first time we have been able to see trend lines, and it’s very interesting!
Launch events are in Auckland and Wellington thanks to MinterEllisonRuddWatts. Register here for Auckland and here for Wellington.
Thanks to support from Victoria University of Wellington, AWS and our new PR partners HEFT.
Celebrating our Volunteers
We have over 200 volunteers currently creating content across the Forum, a lot of which is starting to surface – watch out for 3 new microsites coming soon!
The AI Governance Working Group, one of our busiest, are launching their monthly digest to keep everyone informed about its activities.
Aotearoa AI Summit and Awards 2025
The lineup for this year’s summit is taking shape, and it’s going to be amazing! The inaugural Aotearoa AI Awards finalists are to be announced soon, so keep an eye out for that
Register for the Aotearoa AI Summit
Shaping the Future of AI in Aotearoa’s Built Environment
Maria Mingallon, Chair of the AEC Working Group, highlights impressive progress since launching in September 2024. The group has delivered national webinars, innovation events, and case studies while establishing an AI Centre of Excellence and contributing to international standards. Their action plan includes awareness workshops, a white paper, and tools for governance, all supporting their 2030 vision of a sector globally recognised for AI-enabled sustainable building.
AI In Tertiary Education Survey
Support the University of Auckland’s Master’s research on AI’s impact in tertiary education and modern workplaces. JD’s anonymous survey examines how AI is changing educational approaches and workplace expectations. Your insights will strengthen this important study exploring the intersection of AI, education, and industry needs.
Ngā mihi ,
Madeling Newman, Executive Director | AI Forum NZ
