Auckland’s diverse world-leading innovation showcased during Techweek’18

RELEASE SUMMARY

• Auckland, home to almost half of New Zealand’s tech firms, will stage more than 80 events during Techweek’18 which runs from 19-27 May.

• With the theme ‘Innovation that’s Good for the World’, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will officially open the week in Auckland today when she appears as a hologram.

• For the first time within the festival, Vector Lights on Auckland Harbour Bridge will glow blue and white, the Techweek’18 colours, until Tuesday, 22 May to help share Auckland’s innovation story to the world.

• Auckland’s diverse tech capabilities will be showcased during the week including workshops and programmes catering to children, women, Māori and Pacific peoples who are unrepresented in the technology space.

Auckland’s legacy of finding solutions to global issues will be on show during Techweek’18 as will the region’s natural breeding ground for innovation.

More than 80 events will take place in Auckland between 19-27 May, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern officially opening Techweek’18 today when she appears as a hologram using the latest technology at the ‘Good for the World Open Days’ at the ASB Waterfront Theatre.

Techweek first launched in 2016 as an Auckland-only event as part of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development's (ATEED) Innovation Programme. Due to its success, Techweek became a national event last year run by NZTech, and continues to grow in scale.

To celebrate Auckland and New Zealand’s technology prowess, Vector Lights on Auckland Harbour Bridge will glow the Techweek’18 official colours of blue and white until Tuesday 22 May, showcasing Auckland’s innovative capabilities to the world.

ATEED’s General Manager Economic Development, Pam Ford, says with almost half of New Zealand’s tech firms and labour force located in Auckland, the region has a vital role to play in the ongoing development of the national tech story.

“Auckland has a competitive advantage in Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Robotics, Health IT,

Big Data and Financial Payments.

“Events have also been developed especially for children, women, Māori and Pacific peoples who are unrepresented in the technology space as we work to stimulate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship,” Pam Ford says.

With the theme ‘Innovation that’s Good for the World’, Techweek’18 will showcase Auckland’s diverse tech offering from major corporations to startups and business prototypes looking to get off the ground.

One such business idea is APPINESS from the social enterprise company, We Make Happy. APPINESS is a simple web and mobile app platform that connects people in need with people who can help, seamlessly, directly and with dignity.

We Make Happy is pitching for business funding at ‘Tech & Innovation – Building a better world’, a Techweek’18 live crowdfunding event organised by The Funding Network at GridAKL in the Auckland Innovation Precinct in Wynyard Quarter.

APPINESS inventor, Jonathan Lyon, says he’s quietly confident of getting funding at the Dragon’s Den-style event and is hoping to launch the app fully in July.

“We want to have a measurable impact on those needing help and to drive awareness of the issues. Our aim is to have people actively using the app and making a real difference in people’s lives,” he says.

Auckland’s tech sector contributes almost $8 billion a year in gross domestic product and supports more than 47,000 jobs. With technology a key driver to long-term economic growth, Auckland is committed to building its tech sector as the region strives to become a major innovation hub of the Asia-Pacific.

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