Tag: 2018-05

May 2018

Rotary Book Sale 2018 – Invercargill – 25 to 28 May 2018

What

The Rotary Club of Invercargill annual book sale raises funds that are distributed to selected charitable organisations throughout Southland

With over 30,000 books to choose from – this is a great opportunity to purchase good quality pre-owned books at affordable prices.

There is a vast range of subjects from fiction to technical and sciences, arts and crafts, travel and children and teens books and much more.

There are also DVDs, games, CDs and jigsaws.

When and Where

Civic Theatre – Invercargill,
88 Tay Street, Invercargill,
New Zealand 9810

Dates and hours
8am to 6pm on Friday, 25 May 2018.
9am to 5pm on Saturday, 26 May.
9am to 2pm on Sunday, 27 May.

How Much

Free. Pay for the books you wish to buy.

More

Facebook event or Invercargill City Council
Plenty to choose from at rotary club’s annual book sale. The Southland Times on May 21 2018.

Gibbons Lectures: Can we be friends with robots? – Auckland – 24 May 2018

What

Social robots are now being made to assist us in our daily lives in our homes and workplaces. These robots typically look humanoid, and are designed to display signs of attention, cognition and emotion. This lecture will discuss research on how people feel about living with such robots, and the benefits and harm robots may bring.

The talk will draw on a series of New Zealand studies examining how people respond to robots in their own homes and in healthcare settings for long periods. People’s attribution of mind to robots and their feelings of companionship with robots will be a particular focus.

Elizabeth Broadbent is an Associate Professor of Health Psychology in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She initially gained an honours degree in electrical and electronic engineering in order to pursue her desire to make personal robots.

After becoming interested in the psychological aspects of illness and in psychoneuroimmunology, she obtained her MSc and PhD in health psychology. She now combines her health psychology and robotics interests to study healthcare robotics.

Elizabeth is a vice-chair of the multi-disciplinary CARES robotics group at the University of Auckland. In 2010, Elizabeth was a visiting academic at the School of Psychology at Harvard University and in the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, USA.

In 2017, she obtained a Fulbright award to return to Boston to conduct further research on companion robots. She is an associate editor of the journal IEEE Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction, and Director of the Masters of Health Psychology programme at the University of Auckland.

When and Where

6:30pm  on 24 May 2018

University of Auckland,
Owen G Glenn Building,
Room OGGB 3/260-092,
Level 0,
12 Grafton Road,
Auckland

Drinks and nibbles will be served from 6pm at 260.088 Level 0 Foyer, Owen G Glenn Building. Lecture commences at 6.30pm.

How Much

Free – all welcome

More

Gibbons Lectures: Can we be friends with robots?

Watch lecture live

Gibbons Memorial Lecture Series

 

Tech Talk Taupo – Taupo – 23 May 2018

What

Join us at this official NZ Tech Week event here in Taupo.

We have invited eight guest speakers who will be presenting in ‘Pecha Kucha’ style on topics all related to technology.

From robots to electric vehicles, digitization to future thinking – this will be an evening of inspiration and aspiration.

This free event is suitable for all ages… we encourage parents to bring their teens… or come after work with your colleagues.

Topics include:
– Is it time to join the electric vehicle revolution?
– How to start and succeed in a global market from Taupo
– Artifical intelligence – the robots are coming
– How technology is changing the film industry
– Will technology solve the future problems of the world?

Where and When

5pm – 7:30 pm Wednesday 23 May 2018
Presentations will start at 5:30pm.

Great Lake Centre,
5 Story Place,
Taupo

How much

Free

A complimentary beverage is provided on arrival, then a cash bar will operate.

More

Event Page

Weta Workshop’s Artist Speaker Series – Wellington – 31 May 2018 (+ more)

What

Bewitched by the artistry of special effects? Immerse yourself in the Weta Workshop Artist Speaker Series!

Each month, enjoy an exclusive presentation from the artists and technicians of Weta Workshop’s many creative divisions.

From swordsmiths to costume creators, concept designers to master make-up technicians and many more, gain never-before-seen insight into their unique artistry and creative process!

Highlights:
– Meet Weta Workshop artists and technicians: Learn about their challenges and triumphs and hear their first-hand behind-the-scenes stories
– Exclusive presentation includes behind-the-scenes photos, displays, personal work, and more
– Q&A session with the artist
– Artist signings

Thursday 31st May:
Jason & Kim Docherty, Senior Prosthetics Artists
Learn how ordinary human beings are transformed into creatures, cyborgs and superhumans with Weta Workshop’s senior prosthetics technicians.

Coming up:
– 28th June: David Tremont, Senior Model Maker
– 26th July: Flo Foxworthy, Costume Technician

When and Where

Thursday 31 May 2018 (other dates above)
6pm – 7:30pm
Weta Workshop, 127 Park Road, Miramar, Wellington

How Much

$75 per evening

More

Website

 

Christchurch Armageddon Expo 2018 – Christchurch – 2-4 June 2018

What

Queens Birthday Weekend, Horncastle Arena will become the destination for everything pop culture related from comics, animation TV and movie, cosplay and more! Celebrity guest lineup includes guests from Supergirl, Arrow, Merlin, Game of Thrones and more!

Full Celebrity Guest Lineup includes Star of Once Upon a Time and House, Jennifer Morrison, Supergirl’s Katie McGrath and Mehcad Brooks, Keiynan Lonsdale of The Flash and Love Simon, the leading ladies of Lucifer, Lesley-Ann Brandt and Lauren German and Game of Thrones fan favorite Daniel Portman.

Lois and Clark’s John Shea, David Nykl of Arrow and Stargate Atlantis will be joined by his Arrow co-star’s Echo Kellum and Paul Blackthorne as well as Garrett Wang of Star Trek: Voyager. Animation powerhouses Will Friedle (Batman Beyond, Kim Possible, Boy Meets World) and Brad Swaile (Death Note, Gundam Wing, X-Men Evolution) will also be in attendance with WWE Icon Hacksaw Jim Duggan! Fans will have the chance to get autographs and photos with guests and listen to panels with the stars all weekend long.

Armageddon Expo intends on being your destination for entertainment. With a massive range of exhibitors including local artists and creators, creative Institutions and your favourite gaming and pop culture suppliers such as Mighty Ape and Madman Entertainment who will have all the latest merchandise and collectibles.

Where and When

10am – 5pm
2-4 June (Queens Birthday Weekend)
Horncastle Arena, Jack Hinton Dve, Addington, Christchurch

How Much

  • General Admission – Adult: $15.00
  • General Admission – Child 5–12: $6.00
  • Early Access Pass: $25.00
  • Little Shaky VIP Pass: $199.00
  • Big Shaky Pass: $499.00
  • Ultra Pass: $999.00

More

Official Website
Facebook Page

 

Refactor North – Whangarei – 22 May 2018

What

Women in the technology industry are intelligent, passionate and knowledgeable. However, as a minority in both the sector and at tech-related events, the uneven ratio can make it difficult or unwelcoming for women.

We want to keep improving the New Zealand tech industry by inspiring women to not only stay in it but get to the top — running teams, in board positions, on the speaker line-ups at conferences, and as visible leaders to inspire an incoming generation of smart women.

Hear from inspiring women speakers four times a year.

We have an extraordinary line up as we welcome Dr Michelle Dickinson from Auckland, Marie Slako from Melbourne and Adeline Salked-Blears from Kaitaia.

When and Where

–
Mahi Tahi Room
The Orchard, Level One, 35 Walton St, Whangarei

 

How Much

Tickets $25 – open to all

More

Refactor’s Events Page

Tauranga Armageddon 2018 – Mt Maunganui – 26-27 May 2018

What

Following its successful debut in 2017, Armageddon Expo returns to Tauranga this May 26th and 27th bringing with it a weekend full of geeky greatness…

Packed with all the latest merch and gaming, cosplay and comic items and featuring an epic lineup of celebrity guests from Arrow, Supergirl, Smallville, Game of Thrones and more Tauranga Armageddon 2018 is going to be epic!

Armageddon Expo has announced a huge lineup of celebrity guests from the worlds of television, film and animation including; Supergirl’s, Katie McGrath, Lesley-Ann Brandt and Lauren German the leading ladies of Lucifer, Lois and Clark’s John Shea and Game of Thrones fan favorite Daniel Portman.

David Nykl of Arrow and Stargate Atlantis will be joined by his Arrow co-stars, Paul Blackthorne and Echo Kellum as well as Garrett Wang of Star Trek: Voyager. Animation powerhouses Will Friedle (Batman Beyond, Kim Possible, Boy Meets World) and Brad Swaile (Death Note, Gundam Wing, X-Men Evolution) will also be in attendance with WWE Icon Hacksaw Jim Duggan! Fans will have the chance to get autographs and photos with guests and listen to panels with the stars all weekend long.

Armageddon Expo has something for everyone. With a massive range of exhibitors including local artists and creators, creative Institutions and your favourite gaming and pop culture suppliers such as Mighty Ape, PB Tech and Madman Entertainment who will have all the latest merchandise, tech and collectibles.

When and Where

10am – 5pm
Saturday 26 May
Sunday 27 May

How Much

Adult – $15.00
Early Access Pass – $25
Child (5–12) – $10.00
Family pass (2 adults, up to 3 children) – $40.00
Special passes for $199, $499 and $999

More

Official Website
Facebook Page

Emerging Tech for Good: In Action – Wellington – 22 May 2018

What

Harnessing artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, and smart speakers – these emerging technologies are said to be redefining industries and have the potential to change the world on a scale that has never been seen before. So how do we even begin to venture on these technologies and use them for good? We invite you to find out how, at Datacom’s Emerging Tech for Good Breakfast Event.

We are delighted to invite you to attend Datacom’s ‘Emerging Tech for Good’. An event that will see internationally and nationally renowned speakers discuss topics ranging from artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and smart speakers to sustainability.

Who are the speakers?

Speakers from both the international and national stage will cover a variety of topics, ranging from artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and smart speakers to sustainability with each speaker informing us on how emerging technologies are redefining industries and changing the world on a scale that has never seen before. Line-up as follows:

Savannah Peterson, a 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 in Consumer Technology and the Founder of Savvy Millennial, will talk all things blockchain, humanoid robots and the digital asset revolution

Te Aroha Morehu, Innovation Officer and Tribal Digital Transformer, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will take us on a visual journey of how AR/VR has been embedded in to Maori education

Roxanne Salton, Head of digital strategy & delivery for Mercury, will discuss the sustainability of emerging technologies

James Wells, CIO, Vulcan steel, is here to talk playing it safe with the use of vision intelligence to ensure workplace safety. This is a project that was started at Datacomp in 2017.

When and Where

James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor,
147 The Terrace, Wellington

Tuesday 22nd May 2018
7:30 AM – 10:00 Am.
Registration opens at 7:00 AM.

How Much

Free but spaces are limited.

More

More info at Eventbrite or TechWeek pages

 

Better Rules Hack – Wellington – 19 + 20 May 2018

What

A hackathon with the aim of exploring the ideas and practice of making legislation into machine consumable ‘digital rules’ that can be reused and integrated across domains for the benefit of businesses, individuals and communities. The aim is to understand the feasibility of providing government hosted machine consumable legislation as part of Government as a Platform. We want to understand how well aligned existing standards, languages, and toolsets are for across domain integration, and what the options are for how machine consumable legislation can be presented as authoritative open data. We also want to understand the value of machine consumable legislation to community and industry.

Hackathon participants will be required to build a working demonstrator that benefits their sector or community using digital rules from more than one source, for example, legislation from multiple agencies, or trade agreements, or any other form of rules from more than one source. Teams will need to show the value of digital rules, how they made the digital rules consumable by everyone, and share their lessons learnt.

As background, see the recent work from the Service Innovation Lab on Better Rules for Government.

Please make sure to read the hackthon’s Code of Conduct.

When and Where

Assurity Consulting,
Level 3, 95 Customhouse Quay,
Wellington

Saturday 19th May and Sunday 20th May, 2018
9am – 4pm each day.

How Much

Free. Please register via Eventbrite.

More

More information on the Better Rules Hack page including competitions.
If you have any questions please contact us via email betterrules@legalhackers.nz.

Auckland Writers Festival – Auckland 15-20 May 2018

What

Every year we stage over 200 public events, gathering together 230 of the world’s best writers and thinkers with over 73,000 festival goers, to celebrate the world of books and ideas.

For the past 18 years the Festival has enriched the culture of our city and established itself as a major Australasian festival, characterised not only by the calibre of our guest authors but also by the enthusiasm and engagement of our audience and the warmth and welcome provided by Auckland as our setting.

The Festival brings the very best local and international writers of contemporary fiction and non-fiction, scientists, economists, poets, journalists and public intellectuals together with audiences to explore ideas, share stories and experience brilliant conversations. We celebrate curiosity and a sense of intellectual adventure and our programme is driven by the desire to spark ideas, to get us talking and to give us a time and place to engage with the world.

When and Where

Mainly at the Aotea Centre
50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland CBD

but some events elsewhere

At all times of the day and evening

Schools Programme 15-17 May during the day

How Much

Prices vary

We offer over 30% of our programme to the public as free, un-ticketed events. Admission to Free Events is on a first come, first served basis. Bookings are not taken for these events.

More

Website
Main Programme Schedule
Schools Programme Schedule