Business and industry events
Upcoming events | Recent events
Business and industry events contribute to the economic
vitality of the city. They are a key platform that position Auckland both
nationally and internationally as a desirable place to do business. Such events
encourage business opportunities and growth, develop industry sectors, share
innovation and showcase Auckland's industries.
We look to support business and industry events that:
- profile Auckland city's business and industry sectors
- align with our economic development goals
- support business growth and networking
- support and encourage innovation and creativity.
Upcoming events
ATAMIRA Māori in the City
3 - 5 July
10am - 4pm
ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane
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| ATAMIRA Māori in the City. |
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ATAMIRA - Māori in the City, the celebration of Māori creativity and enterprise, returns to the ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane from 3-5 July.
Building on its inaugural 2007 success, organisers hope to attract more than the 100,000-strong crowds who flocked to the undercover venue to enjoy this family fun festival in the central city, set against a backdrop of fostering Maori enterprise and creative businesses.
Among its many attractions, ATAMIRA - Māori in the City incorporates an invite-only Innovation Summit organized by AUT and Auckland University business departments, in their first-ever collaboration.
The summit will include key speakers from a range of businesses and will be attended by iwi and political leaders from around the country.
There will also be a Tu Tangata Breakfast organized by the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) to be opened by the Minister of Maori Affairs, Dr Pita Sharples.
In keeping with its theme of encouraging entrepreneurs and extending that to young people, ATAMIRA - Māori in the City will also display some of the entries in the Young Enterprise Scheme, part of the New Zealand Enterprise Trust, in which competing school teams set up businesses.
Auckland City Council will be hosting a stand amidst the upbeat and thriving atmosphere of the trade expo with market stalls and craft displays demonstrating Māori creative energy and enterprise, as well as with the popular music stage on the Saturday and Sunday with headline act Herbs, and Smashproof, House of Shem, Nesian Mystic, King Kapisi & Tere Moana Rapley and many more.
ATAMIRA - Māori in the City is hosted by Ngati Whatua o Orakei Corporate Ltd and supported by Te Puni Kokiri
- the Ministry of Māori Development and Auckland City Council.
For more information
call 0800ATAMIRA or visit www.atamira.org.
Semi Permanent 09
Friday 14 and Saturday 15 August 2009
Aotea Centre THE EDGE®
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| Semi Permanent 09. |
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The inspirational design forum returns to Auckland and will be bringing together some of the best creative talent from New Zealand and internationally. This year's event is jam packed with hot talent with a massive 12 speakers over the two days.
The UK features strongly in this year's line up with wunderkind graphic artist, illustrator and record label founder Kate Moross, masters of graphic design Bibliothèque and Pentagram, animators Studio AKA, and digital artists AllofUs.
From the US, are renowned Los Angeles-based graphic designer David Carson and illustrator James Jean, and New York animators 1stAveMachine.
And from downunder - Australian photographer and digital artist Alexia Sinclair and Kiwi digital effects powerhouse Weta Digital. Two additional speakers will be announced in the weeks to come.
An annual multi-disciplinary design forum, Semi-Permanent is the only event of its type in Australasia. With sister events held in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and now Melbourne, New Zealand organisers The Church describe it as
"a gathering of fresh talent, raw ideas, conversation and visual splendour". It is also an opportunity to participate creatively. For 2009 the event is running a WE CAN CREATE campaign which invites creatives to submit work and win prizes.
Now in its sixth year, Semi-Permanent Auckland is New Zealand's largest design event, attended by sell out crowds of 1,600 people the past three years. It is relevant for anyone studying, working or interested in creativity or design, with speakers coming from a broad range of disciplines including graphics, illustration, branding, advertising, motion graphics, photography, fashion, film, animation and more.
Book now to secure your place:
- limited numbers of early bird tickets are now on sale at $210 for waged and $120 for students
- the deluxe VIP experience, limited tickets are on sale for $500.
Tickets are available through The Edge Ticketing Service -
www.buytickets.co.nz, 09 357 3355 or 0800 BUY TICKETS (0800 289 842).
Recent events
CentrAprising in 2009
Auckland City Council is supporting our city's youth and future entrepreneurs through sponsorship of the Central Auckland region of the Young Enterprise Trust's business competition for secondary school students.
The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) has been running for over 20 years and allows teenagers the opportunity to learn the practical, hands-on experience of running their own business over a year, competing with schools from all over NZ. There is also an international competition
- The Global Enterprise Challenge - in which 12 Central Auckland YES schools will participate in June. They will be working hard to defend the title that they won last year.
Young Enterprise Trust's Auckland Regional Manager, Ewan McLeod is branding the Central Auckland region's
schools as 'CentrAprising' and is keen to find business mentors, with a strong socially responsible attitude, who are prepared to provide guidance for participants.
"We are promoting this competition as an ideal way to work towards creating a business savvy future generation that will contribute positively to our local Auckland economy."
Ewan is particularly interested in hearing from business people who have experience in leadership, marketing, sales, IT/design and production. If you would like to contribute your knowledge and expertise to the YES programme, please contact Ewan McLeod at
ewan.mcleod@yetrust.co.nz.
DINZ Design Talk - Reviving Old Havana
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| Havana. |
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Thursday 25 June 2009
6.30pm - 8.30pm
AUT, Lecture Theatre WE240, St Pauls Street, Auckland (signage will indicate the way)
Parking on St Pauls Street or in the Wilson car park also on St Pauls Street
Cost: $20 and students $5
Isabel Maria Leon Candelario will be in Auckland on Thursday to address this month's DINZ Design Talk. The talk will focus on:
- the restoration and revitalisation of the Old Havana
- the structure of the project
- the funding and resourcing of the skilled artisans and tradespeople
- and the integral social and housing programmes.
RSVP: designer@dinz.org.nz
Payments:
- by cheque: To Design Promotions Ltd - posted to PO Box 109423, Newmarket
- by credit card: phone 09 529 1713 to organise a payment
- by direct payment - to account: 030195 0242340 01
More information is available by visiting the DINZ
website.
ICEHOUSE KICKstart business course
Thursday 21 May 2009
The ICEHOUSE
St Georges Bay Road
Parnell
Seminar
Fee: $250.00 +GST
The KICKstart one-day seminar is full of tips from experts and entrepreneurs who know how to commercialise your concept. The interactive day-long workshop covers financials, market validation and sales
- all you need to kick start your start up!
Sponsored by Auckland City Council, the KICKstart one day business course is run quarterly.
To register, or for more information, please contact:
Mariko King on 09 308 6200 or visit www.theicehouse.co.nz.
Cross platform, cross-disciplinary, and cross cultural
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| X | Media | Lab logo. |
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X|Media|Lab Auckland "Commercialising Ideas" brings international digital media professionals, venture capitalists, and innovators to Auckland on 22-24 May at the Hilton Hotel. The formula, of a one-day conference and two day invitation only lab, is used around the world with great success.
Get set for the conference on 22 May, which targets digital media professionals, media executives, producers, creators, analysts and strategists. Update yourself in a day with densely packed, information-rich presentations from international digital media luminaries.
The lab on 23-24 May will have 16 great projects working with world experts to get their brilliant idea to commercial reality. The Lab focuses on the critical development stages prior to pitching and seeking investment. The mentors include Dale Herigstad, four time Emmy award winner and CCO of Schematic, and Vishal Gondal, one of India's top 40 Entrepreneurs.
Auckland City Council is a sponsor of this event as part of our commitment to ensuring the city attracts and grows globally competitive business.
To find out more about the conference or apply for the X|Media|Lab, visit
www.xmedialab.com.
Bizzone Business Expo
Register for your free ticket to Bizzone Business Expo
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| Bizzone Business Expo stands. |
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27-29 May 2009
In the midst of these challenging economic times, many businesses are citing cash-flow, sales and marketing as crucial areas they need to address.
Bizzone Business Expo 2009 is the essential place for small and medium enterprises to work
'on' rather than 'in' their business. Attendees can attend free seminars, find products and services, and hone a positive attitude to survive and thrive.
The expo will be held at ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane from Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 May, and will be open late on the Thursday night.
Small and medium enterprises make up 96 per cent of New Zealand businesses, and Auckland City Council recognises the vital role they play in the city's economy.
We are proud to sponsor Bizzone Business Expo 2009, and delighted to offer free tickets to attend
- simply
click here to register
for your free ticket.
Bizzone Business Expo will feature:
- Over 200 business support exhibitors offering products and services catering to every business need
- A free seminar series with expert speakers on a full range of business issues, including a morning dedicated to this year's theme
'smart marketing'
- The Smart Marketing Zone, showing how to develop a compelling point of difference, spend wisely, and win more customers.
Come see us at the Auckland City Council stand in Hall Two of the showgrounds, near the Bizzone stand.
Visit www.bizzone.com for more information.
Survive and Thrive through Innovation half day
workshop
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
North Harbour Stadium, Oteha Valley Road
Albany
1pm-5pm
Afternoon tea provided.
Networking from 5pm tp 6pm with drinks and nibbles.
No cost
RSVP: team@ens.org.nz or call (09) 414 1341
Book early - limited seating available.
Enterprise North Shore and TechNZ invite you to a half day workshop where you
can learn practical skills to help your company develop new products during the
downturn.
You should attend to:
- learn, upskill and refresh your innovation skills
- receive a take home practical Research & Development planning kit
- get better outcomes from your Research & Development plans and projects
- learn how to grow your business through innovation
- find out where to go for innovation help, advice, funding and support
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This workshop is for business people who want to use Research & Development
to improve cost-efficiencies through product development. CEOs, MDs, Research & Development managers and their teams, Engineers, Product Developers, Marketers, and Entrepreneurs
- this workshop will familiarise and refresh your skills with best practices in innovation and new product development.
ICE Angels investment evening
Three early stage companies pitched to more than 50 members of Australasia's largest experienced investor group at the ICE Angel investment evening hosted by Auckland City Council on 27 April.
Preselected and coached, the companies pitched their business idea to angel investors with the aim of securing investment. Interested investors follow up in the days following the event. If both parties agree on terms, the experienced entrepreneur invests and will take an active interest in the management of the fledging company.
Find out more about the ICE Angels network at
www.theicehouse.co.nz.
Auckland ICT Cluster Networking Event
Topic: KEA Global Mentors service
Thursday 30 April 2009
5.30pm - 7pm
Auckland Town Hall, Reception Lounge
Level 2
Clock Tower entrance, Queen Street
Cost $15 for members & $25 for non-members, payable by Direct Credit or cheque in advance.
Registration: RSVP by email to events@aucklandict.org.nz by 6pm on 23
April.
Join the cluster members for an informal evening of presentations and networking with others in the ICT sector.
Auckland City Council is pleased to support the ICT Cluster and networking and business growth initiatives in key economic sectors.
Urbis Designday 2009
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Zambesi at The Westin
Urbis Designday 2009
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Wowing the crowds at Urbis Designday
Forget smoke and mirrors, this year's Urbis Designday was about the real experience of celebrating original design. Nine showroom and fashion designer collaborations staged a range of surreal, beautiful and innovative installations across Auckland city.
A sunny day greeted around 2000 design enthusiasts on 28 March, donning yellow Urbis Designday bags to visit design showrooms in Auckland's CBD and city fringe.
A fun 'free the fish' campaign was installed by Huffer at Parnell's Poggenpohl showroom, while at nearby Innovo, mannequins were dressed exquisitely and chained dramatically by rising fashion star Jaeha. Interior designer Emma Kate Bamford brought the bach (including sand) to the Coast showroom in Freemans Bay.
Lucie Boshier won 'best installation' for the complete transformation of Newmarket's Natuzzi showroom into a 1920s prohibition club. The Westin hotel at the Viaduct won
'best ambiance' through its serene and yet eerie collaboration with Zambesi, featuring blind-folded and elegantly attired mannequins in the foyer's water feature.
This is the second year Auckland City Council has supported Urbis Designday - run by Urbis magazine as a
'uniquely Auckland' celebration of the best of the vibrant local design industry.
Design is the largest sub-sector in the city's creative industries and a key area of focus in our action plan,
Blueprint: Growing Auckland's creative industries.
Lights off for Earth Hour
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| Earth Hour. |
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On Saturday, 28 March 2009, between 8.30pm and 9.30pm over one billion people across the world are expected to turn off their lights in support of action on climate change and we want you to be a part of it.
Earth Hour 2008 saw global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome's Colosseum and the Coca-Cola billboard in Times Square switch off as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.
This year in New Zealand, all eyes will be on Auckland. With more high-rise buildings and businesses than anywhere else in the country, we need your help to create an outstanding picture of a city taking action.
So what do we want you to do? Just switch off your lights!
By ensuring that your business's lights are off on the night and encouraging family, friends and employees to do the same at home, you will be part of one of the world's biggest climate change initiatives. This is a positive step towards greater sustainability in your business and everyday life.
Auckland City Council has already committed to getting as many lights as possible turned off around the city and in council owned buildings. Sky City and the Hilton hotel have also committed to join us.
Visit www.earthhour.org/nz for more
information.
Auckland - a great place to study
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| International Education Local Agent Forum. |
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The Auckland City International Education Local Agent Forum is an annual event aimed at developing and promoting Auckland city as a great place to study and live for international students. The forum is a unique opportunity for agents and schools to connect in growing the international education sector across Auckland.
This year's event, held on 25 March, was again hosted by Auckland City Council and organised by Study Auckland. It was attended by 43 locally-based international education agents, representing countries as diverse as Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and Thailand. Agents met with 35 Auckland city education institutions at the event.
Valuable new contacts and business opportunities were made during the three hour event, which was opened by mayor John Banks. The programme included presentations from representatives of Study Auckland, the Auckland City Council Economic Development group, the Ministry of Education and the Citizens Advice Bureau. These were followed by a
'speed dating' session, at which institutions had five minutes each to market themselves to the agents.
Speakers at the forum recognised the economic and cultural benefits that accumulate from a strong international student sector, noting that:
- education is New Zealand's fifth-biggest export industry and brings $2.3 billion in foreign exchange to the country's economy
- the Auckland region dominates the international student market, contributing 54 per cent of the total value-added GDP in the sector
- Auckland City Council's eight international partnerships bring annual
financial benefits of around $53 million through education alone. These students greatly add to the region's
cultural mix, making it an exciting and colourful place to live.
Recent trends within the sector were also explored and attendees learned that:
- while the number of students from China has been steadily falling, the total number of international students from all other countries has increased at an annual average rate of 5 per cent between 2005 and 2007
- the sector has seen significant growth from three key emerging markets, with Brazil growing at an annual average rate of 39 per cent between 2005 and 2007, Saudi Arabia growing at 34 per cent and India at 36 per cent
- the 2008/09 financial crisis has seen the depreciation of the New Zealand dollar against most of our major partners, making studying in New Zealand much cheaper than it was just 12 months ago. This has stimulated a 15 per cent increase in foreign student numbers in the last nine months.
Auckland City Council is the principle funder of Study Auckland and looks forward to further collaboration opportunities to help promote the export education sector within the city and the region.
NZBIO conference 2009
Opportunities for Brisbane delegates at NZ Bio 2009
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| Mario Pennisi and Tara Pradhan. |
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Two Auckland City Council-supported initiatives formed a productive backdrop for Mario Pennisi's visit to Auckland this month. Mr Pennisi, chief executive of Queensland Clinical Trials Network, as well as a dozen other Brisbane business people, crossed the Tasman to attend the 2009 NZ Bio Conference (which was supported by Auckland City Council). Mario is also on the Lord Mayor of Brisbane's sister city committee set up to develop business with Auckland city
- its sister since Expo 1988.
Over 350 people (including international delegates) attended this year's NZ Bio Conference held in Auckland 9-11 March. The conference was tailored to address the recession and bioscience's special contribution to a stronger future economy. The theme was
"Bio Solutions for a Changing World".
"There's a big potential benefit to the sister city relationship Brisbane has with Auckland in the biotech industry," says Mr Pennisi.
"There are a number of companies in biotech and associated fields in Brisbane and Auckland. By collaborating, and bidding for funds and business together, we can win business our way. If you're a company in either city, 20 per cent of a contract is better than 100 per cent of nothing."
He likens the relationship between the two cities to a couple dancing. "We fit. One is not an elephant. It won't step on the other's toes."
Mr Pennisi is also optimistic about the role biotech has in contributing to catalysing growth out of the recession.
"We will increasingly look at knowledge-based industries to find a way out, even more so than before," he says.
"We need to revive traditional industries like pharmaceuticals with innovation at this time. There's also climate change, new food based technologies, and dealing with our energy issues. These point to a way out and a way to grow.
"As far as Australia and New Zealand go, we're already innovators, and we're used to doing things without enough capital. We don't have mature capital markets or venture capital markets. So for our innovators, nothing has changed. This is not the time to hibernate with biotech. It's a time to be confident, take leadership and believe in ourselves. It's a time to engage and push forward."
Mr Pennisi also spoke at a networking event for Auckland-based bioscience businesses, organised by Auckland City Council during NZ Bio conference week.
"Just coming to Auckland to network at this event was worthwhile. There were kiwis in the room who identified opportunities just by talking with us. One of our people walked away with a large potential opportunity," he says.
The NZBIO conference featured an exhibition, partnering forums, discussion panels and technical sessions.
Auckland International Boat Show
After the excitement of the Millennium Cup Pacific Series and the Louis Vuitton Pacific series on the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf, all eyes turn back to shore in early March to the Auckland International Boat Show.
The Viaduct Harbour will be the setting once again from 5 - 8 March for the Auckland International Boat Show.
A specially constructed marina will host hundreds of super yachts, launches and powerboats in a
showcase of the best of the marine industry. The sector exported goods and services in excess of $717 million in 2008 and is forecasting exports worth close to $1.8 billion by 2020.
On show once again will be the Earthrace powerboat now the holder of the world record for a powerboat circling of the world and fuelled by 100 per cent renewable bio diesel.
Last year's show drew 20,000 visitors to the water's edge in the heart of Auckland city. Auckland is the premier refit destination in New Zealand with the Westhaven
Marine Cluster home to over 100 marine companies working together to offer a
one-stop shop for super yachts. For more details on the Auckland International
Boat Show, visit
www.aucklandinternationalboatshow.com.
Celebrating success at SPADA
Auckland City Council was proud to be a sponsor of the 16th annual SPADA conference.
The Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand (SPADA) represents the interests of producers and production companies on all issues affecting the commercial and creative aspects of independent screen production in New Zealand.
The theme 'Celebrating Success', attracted over 300 industry attendees and featured international speakers, including executive producer Jon Plowman from the UK on the serious business of making comedies. He was responsible for many successful comedies such as The Office and Little Britain. The conference offered practical advice on how to maximise funding and commercial opportunities.
Auckland city is the hub of the creative sector in New Zealand with over 2730 jobs in television, film and video production. Together with radio, this subsector contributed $719.4 million to Auckland city's
GDP for 2006. For more information on the creative sector, see
Creative industries.
Related content - Archive of past events.
Updated July 2009
