Techweek23 in May is showcasing New Zealand’s technology innovation and our growing international reputation as a living tech laboratory that is good for the world. By Graeme Muller.
Techweek23, which kicks off in more than 35 cities and towns around New Zealand on May 13, has grown 12 times in just eight years.
As the global thirst for digital knowledge rapidly accelerates, tech is growing exponentially all over New Zealand and Techweek23 is the focal point for learning more about trends in the booming sector.
Techweek23 is running in every single region in New Zealand with more than 600 events in hundreds of locations, plus Techweek23 TV is live streaming from many of these places.
The week gives New Zealanders a chance to discover the latest tech, for kids to try new things, for businesses to connect and learn and to showcase our best tech success stories to the world.
The series of events will showcase the latest advancements in tech and bring together entrepreneurs, investors, businesses, educators, students and other stakeholders.
Techweek23 will provide the nation with a week-long, nationwide, opportunity to meet and share ideas through a mix of live, virtual and hybrid events.
It plays an important role in promoting the growth and development of New Zealand’s technology sector, and in creating a more innovative, connected, and resilient society.
Aotearoa needs to be more digital to help promote resilience, assist with emissions reductions and help to manage the impact of other forces of change.
The adoption and smart integration of technology across business, community, and society will help create a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous country.
It’s not just our cities that are hubs of technological innovation. Our regions are amazing proving grounds for ground-breaking ideas. Techweek23 celebrates all Aotearoa and champions activity and stories from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
The deployment of sustainable tech solutions across the energy, agriculture, transport, waste and other key sectors is enhancing our standing among nations by demonstrating our leadership in combating the climate crisis.
The most exciting thing to see this year is the growth of schools and community events for kids to learn about coding or to try new things like 3D printing, building robots and using tech to clean up our water ways.
Techweek23 is driven by NZTech.
Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern set a world first opening Techweek a few years ago appearing as a hologram. She was the world’s first national leader to undertake an official engagement as a hologram.
In May New Zealanders will hear and learn all about the country’s most amazing world-leading innovation, projects and breakthroughs.
New Zealand is great at technology innovation and there is a growing international reputation developing that we are a living tech laboratory that is good for the world.
Some examples of our cutting-edge technology include:
• Biotech such as the kiwiberry, one of the innovative fruit products created through collaboration between Zespri and Crown Research Institute Plant and Food Research, driven by customer insights from around the world.
• We’re seeing Trimax’s lawnmowers develop world-leading components to become the most advanced lawn mowers in the world. Based in Tauranga, these were initially developed in the 1960s for New Zealand kiwifruit orchards, now they’re mowing the lawns at Buckingham Palace and Manchester United’s training ground.
• Then there is the robotic apple packer in action, a product of one of Techweek23’s keynote companies, Robotics Plus, which is using autonomous robotic solutions to address the labour shortage in global horticulture.
• We have the incredible nanofibre made by Revolution Fibres which is a world leader in a very sci-fi process called sonic electrospinning. The fibres they make out of their factory in Henderson are being used all over the world across many sectors, from motorsports to health, from clothing to cosmetics.
• Finally, there is Auckland-based company, Stretchsense, its wearable sensors have the potential to change the way we interact with technology and the world around us.
Graeme Muller is the chief executive of NZTech, a NFP which brings together 20 tech associations and more than 1,600 member organisations.
