Kia ora,
Last week, our ecosystem came together at Agritech Unleashed in Tauranga and CryptoWinter26 in Queenstown (read on for highlights). These events create space for people to share what is working, build new connections and tackle the fast-moving technology landscape.
Next week, Tech Marketers New Zealand brings the country’s tech marketing community together for a day of practical insight, proven strategies and honest lessons from the people doing the work. Strong marketing helps our tech businesses stand out, reach global customers and turn great ideas into commercial impact. It’s the final week to secure your ticket, and you can save $50 with code FRIEND26.
We’re also looking ahead to the Aotearoa AI Summit in Wellington. The Summit will bring together leaders, innovators and decision-makers to explore how AI can deliver real value for New Zealand. We will also showcase this year’s AI Hackathon finalists and the ideas helping shape a responsible, inclusive and ambitious AI future.
We’re shaping the future of digital assets
Last week, CryptoWinter26 brought together New Zealand’s digital asset community for two days of practical discussion, global perspectives and valuable connections.
Highlights included a keynote from Global Blockchain Business Council CEO Sandra Ro on tokenisation, digital payments and agentic AI; cross-Tasman insights into Australia’s evolving digital asset market; and robust conversations on stablecoins, digital identity, crypto-asset reporting and the future of banking.
Speakers and panellists explored where blockchain is delivering value beyond crypto markets. This included property and commodity finance, cross-border payments and verifiable impact. They also discussed the policy settings, consumer protections and infrastructure needed to support responsible growth.
A consistent message emerged: New Zealand has the capability to play a meaningful role in the global digital asset economy, but progress will depend on clear regulation, trusted infrastructure, practical use cases and collaboration across industry and government.
Thank you to all our speakers, attendees, moderators and partners who contributed to the conversation.
Aotearoa AI Hackathon finalists
We’re excited to announce the finalists for this year’s Aotearoa AI Hackathon Festival!
Waste Opportunity (AWS, Wellington)
Waste Opportunity has created an AI-powered marketplace that connects New Zealand’s 1.2 million tonnes of unused agricultural waste with buyers, composters and researchers. The platform helps farmers find value in untapped by-products while building the country’s first real map of agricultural waste.
Te Ara Taea (University of Waikato, Hamilton)
Te Ara Taea uses AI to help more New Zealanders with mental health challenges move into meaningful, lasting work. Built around the proven Individual Placement and Support model, it reduces administrative workload, strengthens employer connections and gives employment teams clearer insight into their caseloads.
KaiLine (AUT City Campus, Auckland)
KaiLine reimagines online grocery shopping as a natural phone conversation. Its digital human supports New Zealanders who are visually impaired, people who find supermarket apps difficult to use, and the carers who support them, in more than 100 languages.
KaiRescue (Mission Ready, Onehunga, Auckland)
KaiRescue has built an AI intelligence layer for New Zealand’s food rescue network. By matching surplus food from donors with rescue organisations and improving routes and logistics, it can help get more kai onto people’s plates. It has the potential to unlock 2.5 million extra meals each year and save $80 million.
These four teams will pitch their solutions live at the Aotearoa AI Summit on 8 September, where the audience will vote to determine the overall winner.
Why digital foundations must come first!
New Zealand is a strong user of generative AI, but many small businesses are only testing individual tools rather than changing how they work. Our latest report, Digital Foundations First: A Practical AI Pathway for New Zealand SMEs, shows how businesses can turn AI interest into lasting productivity gains.
View report
Nominations for IoT Forum New Zealand close on 31 August. Nominations for EdTech New Zealand close on 14 September. BioTech New Zealand’s Annual Meeting is 16 September.
Ngā mihi nui,
Graeme Muller
CEO, Tech New Zealand
Read the full newsletter here: Agritech, digital assets and AI in action