Tag: 2018-10

Star Gazing and Aurora Chasing – Oamaru – 26 October 2018

What

Star Gazing and Aurora Chasing
Adventures in Astronomy Around and Above New Zealand.

We are fortunate to engage Dr Ian Griffin, Director of Otago Museum, for a free talk on Astronomy at the bookshop. He’s an inspiring, knowledgeable speaker and we look forward to hearing more about the Museum and Planetarium in Dunedin, stargazing and Aurora hunting in our area.

There will be announcements on an upcoming evening, Friday 26 October, about Oamaru’s Observatory by our local astronomer Damien McNamara. We’re lucky to have Dark Sky Reserves here in Otago and South Island, Mount John Observatory near Tekapo, another Planetarium at Mount Cook Hermitage and plenty to see in the Southern night skies. Aurora postcards with photos of those magical displays taken from Oamaru will be available, and space exploration news will be talking points at the evening event.

It is always fun to learn from others, and all of our Slide Night talks end up expanding our conversations along with our sense of wonder.

When and Where

26 October 2018
7pm drinks and nibbles
8pm lecture

Adventure Books,
7 Harbour Street, Oamaru.

How Much

Free.
50 seats only. Reservations essential.

More

Facebook post.

Adventure books on Facebook

IoT Waikato Tech meetup – Hamilton – 23 October 2018

What

The IoT Waikato Tech meetup is a group for innovators, thought leaders and organisations interested in developing the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital technology in the Waikato.

An opportunity to get together, share, collaborate, contribute and co-create, or just come along and find out what is happening with the IoT and other digital technology and what it means or could mean for the Waikato.

The October Meetup will include the AgritechNZ Roadshow with the evening commencing with nibbles and networking from 5pm whilst attendees browse exhibitor stands before formalities kick off at 5.45pm.

If you are interested in exhibiting please get in touch.

Speakers for the evening include –

BlockBit Technology Solutions

BlockBit focuses on solving the problems that undermine trust in today’s business transactions through connected, secure, trusted, traceable emerging technology solutions.

They service a number of industries including Agritech.

For more information visit https://blockbitsolutions.com/

Pepper Creative

By combining business analysis, technology and creativity Pepper delivers innovative solutions that move you from the now and into the future.

In the Agritech space, and other sectors, Pepper is using Virtual and Augmented Reality solutions for advanced scenario-based industry training and real-time maintenance solutions

For more information visit https://www.peppercreative.co.nz/

Agritech NZ

Launched in 2018, Agritech New Zealand connects innovators, investors, regulators, researchers and interested public and promotes opportunities and challenges raised by agritech.

We will hear about –

  • New Zealand becoming the first ‘Country Partner’ of Farm2050, the global collective of major venture capital firms and international agribusinesses seeking investment into, and partnerships with, disruptive New Zealand agritech businesses.
  • New Zealand signing a major strategic partnership with Western Growers, the largest network of fresh produce farmers & growers in North America. Can you leverage this unique market opportunity for your tech?
  • Participating in evokeAG, the Trans-Tasman agritech conference, taking place in Melbourne, 19-20 February 2019. Are you ready to export to the Australian market?
  • Connecting with major NZ Tech Alliance members including the IoT Alliance, the AI Forum, BioTechNZ, and FintechNZ
  • The opportunity to join working groups and workshops designed to focus on some of the major issues affecting the country’s primary sector and technology’s role in addressing them.
  • Meeting and engaging with other key stakeholders in New Zealand’s emerging agritech space

For more information visit https://agritechnz.org.nz/

Callaghan Innovation

As New Zealand’s innovation agency, Callaghan Innovation activates innovation and helps businesses grow faster for a better New Zealand.

Hear how you can engage with Callaghan Innovation to support your research & development capability.

For more information visit https://www.callaghaninnovation.govt.nz/

To stay in the loop regarding future Meetups and for more information on Meetups we have held to date join IoT Waikato at www.meetup.com/iotwaikato

IoT Waikato is a Wintec initiative and is supported by Design Factory NZ, Waikato Innovation Park, Pepper Creative and CultivateIT.

When and Where

23 October 2018
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

The Atrium – Wintec (Wintec House),
Tristram Street, Hamilton,

How Much

Free. Register here.

More

Event on Eventbrite or Meetup.

 

Tech Month Workshops at Selwyn District Libraries – Canterbury – October 2018

What

TECH MONTH

Introduction to 3D Modelling for Games 2 hour / Free

This workshop will cover the basics of 3D modelling for absolute beginners, and is directed toward people who are interested in 3D art and don’t know where to start, or beginners that have a little experience, but want to learn more.

Recommended for adults and young people aged 16 years and over. All sessions are from 1-3pm.

Lincoln: Saturday 20 October https://li-3d-modelling.eventbrite.co.nz

Darfield: Saturday 27 October https://da-3d-modeling.eventbrite.co.nz

Presented by Taylor Mudgway, 3D Modeller and Game Artist

Introduction to Concept Art for Video Games 1 hour / Free

In this session, Daniel will outline his journey into Concept Art and will show you how to get started on your own path.

You will be able to have a go at creating a 2D character in this workshop. Equipment supplied.

Recommended for adults and young people aged 16 years and over. All sessions are from 11am-12pm.

Rolleston: Saturday 20 October https://ro-intro-concept-art.eventbrite.co.nz

Leeston: Saturday 27 October https://le-intro-concept-art.eventbrite.co.nz

Presented by Daniel Denova, Digital Concept and Character Artist

The Concept Art – Business & Career sessions will delve deeper into the industry of Digital art, and will be $15 per person.

The Online Safety Roadshow  1 hour / Free

This combination talk and workshop will cover the basics of everyday online safety, and is suitable for all ages and stages.

You are invited to bring your questions and your laptop for the hands on part of the workshop.

Recommended for adults and young people aged 16 years and over. All sessions are from 2-3pm.

Saturday 27 October – Lincoln Library – 2-3pm https://li-geecom.eventbrite.co.nz

Presented by Peter Gee from Geecom – Prebbleton I.T.

How Much

Free. Please book on the eventbrite event to ensure your seat.

More

Tech Month Workshops at Selwyn District Libraries.

Geek Girls Film Screening With Director Gina Hara – Auckland – 25 October 2018

What

Premiere screening of Geek Girls a documentary film by Gina Hara.

The hidden half of nerd culture.

Geek Girls is the first feature-length documentary exploring the hidden half of fan culture: nerdy women. Although geeky communities have recently risen to prominence as major cultural contributors, very little attention has been directed towards the women who live and work with nerd culture on a daily basis.


Filmmaker Gina Hara addresses this oversight by delving into a world of professional gamers, cute dresses, fake names, and death threats; she follows her subjects through the exhilaration of newfound community and the ennui of ostracization while also exploring her own struggles with her geek identity.

Gina Hara was born in Budapest, Hungary. She is an acclaimed filmmaker and artist with a background in art & technology, interested in the experimental aspects and transmedial forms of visual culture.

For the first time in Auckland, Gina Hara will attend a screening of her documentary Geek Girls for a Q&A after the session.

When and Where

Thursday 25 October 2018
6pm – 8:30pm

Hoyts Cinema: Sylvia Park,
286 Mt Wellington Highway
Mt Wellington
Auckland

How Much

$25 + $1.75 booking fee

More

Geek Girls Film Website
Eventfinda page for screening
Buy Tickets

Flipping the fleet: accelerating electric vehicle uptake using citizen science – Tauranga – 15 October 2018

What

Cafe Scientifique Tauranga is pleased to present Flip the Fleet which is a “citizen science” coalition of EV owners that submit data to a communal database each month to measure the constraints and benefits of electric vehicles in New Zealand conditions (www.flipthefleet.org). This talk first highlights opportunities for EVs to revolutionise our transport and economy. It then examines the strengths and weaknesses of citizen science as a research, education and advocacy tool to encourage sustainability transitions and innovation.

Prof. Henrik Moller is an ecologist who has transitioned to transdisciplinary research, often involving community-led sustainability themes. With Dima Ivanov, a business benchmarking and IT specialist, Henrik co-founded Flip the Fleet in July 2016. It now has over 800 participants (electric vehicle owners) from throughout New Zealand. Dr Monica Peters, a citizen science motivator joined the Flip the Fleet team this year to guide the public outreach and social networking component of the project.

There will be EVs available for test drives at the Yacht Club venue from 6 pm – 7pm and the presentation starts at 7pm.

A chance to drive a variety of EVs and talk to their owners then stay on for the talk.

When and Where

15 October 2018
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM NZDT

Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club Inc
90 Keith Allen Drive, Tauranga

How Much

$5 door fee to cover venue and AV costs.
Register on Eventbrite so that we know the number attending.
DO NOT PRINT YOUR TICKET – we only need to know numbers.

More

Café Scientifique Tauranga – Facebook.

Café Scientifique.

Industry 4.0 – The 4th Industrial Revolution. What is it all about? – Auckland – 11 October 2018

What

Industry 4.0 – The 4th Industrial Revolution. What is it all about?

The first industrial revolution stemmed from mechanisation through the use of water and steam power. The second revolution occurred when electricity was harnessed to power mass production and assembly lines. In recent decades, the third revolution occurred with computerisation and automation in production facilities. Now the fourth revolution is occurring with the advent of smart factories and the use of cyber-physical systems.

Come and hear about the combination of all the Industry 4.0 technologies: cyber-physical systems – physical assets connected to digital twins – the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), data analytics, additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence are employed to convert manufacturing to “the factory of the future”.

When and Where

11 October 2018
5.30PM – 8.30PM

Beca
21 Pitt St, Auckland

How Much

Free. Register here.

More

Industry 4.0 is an event organised by Engineering NZ.

Edit for Equity – Wellington – 9, 11, 13 and 14 October 2018

What

Wikipedia’s gender trouble is well-documented. In a 2011 survey, the Wikimedia Foundation found that less than 10% of contributors were women*. While the reasons for the gender gap are up for debate, the practical effect of this disparity is not: content is skewed by the lack of representation from women and non-binary people.

Let’s change that.

To coincide with this year’s Suffrage 125 celebrations, we invite you to Edit for Equity, a series of Wikipedia edit-a-thons to increase the online presence of women and non-binary New Zealanders. People of all gender identities and expressions are welcome to participate.

Each event is themed around a different topic, and you are welcome to attend as many as you like. Each edit-a-thon will start with an introduction from an experienced Wikipedia editor, followed by editing time where you’ll be supported in the editing equivalent of a pick-your-own adventure.

Four Edit for Equity edit-a-thons will take place during October, each with a different focus:

STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths): Tuesday 9 October
(this event will also be celebrating Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration of the achievements of women in STEM).

Film, TV & Movies: Thursday 11 October

Art & Literature: Saturday 13 October

Politics & Social Change: Sunday 14 October

Beginners are welcome. People of all gender identities and expressions are welcome to participate.

Accessibility: all venues have sliding/open door front entrances with a flat entrance or ramp. There is elevator access where venues aren’t on the ground floor (InternetNZ and Ngā Taonga). There are accessible bathrooms at all venues.

The Edit-a-thons will be following “friendly space” guidelines; check them out. Harassment and disruption won’t be tolerated, online or offline.

Bring you laptop and power cord if you have access to one — we will also have some availiable to use. Note that iPads aren’t quite as easy to edit on. Snacks and drinks will be provided to keep you energised and caffeinated.

For preparation and more information please read eventbrite event as well as the the relevant wikipedia meetup for each edit-a-thon. Wikipedia meetup for STEM; Film, TV & Movies; Art & Literature; and, Politics & Social Change.

#EditForEquity hashtag

When and Where

Four Edit for Equity edit-a-thons will take place during October, each with a different focus:

STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths): Tuesday 9 October
Tuesday 9 October 2018, 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Sustainability Trust, 2 Forresters Lane, Wellington

Film, TV & Movies: Thursday 11 October
5:00pm – 9:00pm
Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision, 84 Taranaki Street, Wellington

Art & Literature: Saturday 13 October
12:00pm – 4:00pm
Adam Art Gallery, Gate 3 Victoria University, Kelburn Parade, Wellington

Politics & Social Change: Sunday 14 October
10:00am – 3:00pm
InternetNZ, Level 11, 80 Boulcott Street, Wellington

How Much

Free and open to all. Register here on Eventbrite for any or all of them..

More

Eventbrite event.

Wikipedia meetup for STEM; Film, TV & Movies; Art & Literature; and, Politics & Social Change.

Edit for Equity

Suffrage 125 celerations

2018 Dollhouses & Miniature Show & Sale – Palmerston North – 20 – 22 October 2018

What

Members of Miniature Clubs all over New Zealand bring their work together every 2 years and show it off. Doll Houses, Miniature items, Room Boxes.

The fascination of miniatures lies in viewing life made small. Most of the displays are in 12th scale ( 1 inch – 1 foot) but some are even smaller. We have a lot of talented miniaturists in this country and this is a chance to view their work altogether.

There is a completed doll house, which has been donated and worked on in a voluntary way, by members of the Lower Hutt and Kapiti Miniature Clubs. This is being raffled over the weekend. The exhibition is a large one and well worth the visit. The venue has a cafe on site and good parking and wheelchair access.

There are also sales tables of miniature items or tools if you want to get started on an absorbing hobby.

This event is hosted by the Lower Hutt Miniature Makers and the Palmerston North Miniaturists. The Lower Hutt Miniature Makers meet every third Saturday of the month. It is around 45 members strong.

They usually work on a workshop put together by one of the members. It could be making an item of furniture or small items to go into their small houses. It is a chance not only to meet with friends, but to learn new skills.

There are miniature clubs all over New Zealand. If you are interested please contact NZAME, the parent of all the clubs to find a club near you.

When and Where

Sat 20 Oct 2018, 10am–4pm
Sun 21 Oct 2018, 10am–4pm
Mon 22 Oct 2018, 10am–4pm

Awapuni Racing Centre,
Racecourse Road,
Awapuni,
Palmerston North

 

How Much

$5 – Door sales only

More

Eventfinda page for Dollhouse and Miniatures Show

 

Augmented Reality Auckland experiential tech 102 – Auckland – 10 October 2018

What

Want to dip your toes into the world of experiential tech’ including Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (XR), Gamification and Edufication? Then you’ve come to the right place. The way we learn, work and engage is changing fast.

Pop-ups may include strategy and actual case studies, but you’ll also get to talk with real people who know stuff, and play with cool real-world examples to take away.

miAR 102 – The experiential economy

5:29 Welcome
5:45 Latest news on experiential tech
6:15 tic-toc workshop
6:45 Speaker – Subject matter expert
7:00 the greater good project
7:30 Close

It’s capped at 50 people to ensure a quality experience.
RSVP is required to access the security floor.

When and Where

Wednesday, October 10, 2018
5:29pm to 7:30pm

Bizdojo Takapuna
Partner Life Building – 3rd Floor, 33-45 Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna, Auckland

How to find us:
Building access set back from Hurstmere Rd. See person at lift for 3rd floor access.

Note: Location has been updated from previously published location. Please refer to meetup event for correct details.

How Much

Free

More

miAR 102 – The experiential economy meeting on 10 Oct
Augmented Reality Auckland experiential tech Meetup Group

AI: the future is here – adapt and embrace or move aside – Wellington – 11 October 2018

What

AI: the future is here – adapt and embrace or move aside

Panel discussion about the implications of artificial intelligence for New Zealand organisations.

Panel member bios

Will Browne has been developing artificial intelligence algorithms to learn through their experiences for 24 years in the UK and New Zealand. This includes disembodied tasks, such as data mining, and embodied systems, such as robot navigation. His passion is developing artificial cognitive systems that perceive, represent, reason, learn and act in their problem domain. How these agents can learn from small problems and apply their learnt knowledge to larger-scale and related problems is particularly fascinating. He has presented invited talks on advanced machine learning in MIT, Boston and Microsoft Research, Seattle as well as on machine consciousness in Nokia, Europe. Will is a co-leader of a national science challenge developing intelligent robots for the workplace.
***
Neil Dodgson was, for twenty years, head of the Graphics & Interaction Research Group at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory. In 2016, he returned to New Zealand to be Programme Director of Victoria’s Computer Graphics Programme and to bring skills that complemented the already strong computer graphics research group in Victoria’s School of Engineering & Computer Science. He chairs Victoria’s pan-university Digital Futures research theme, which considers how technology will affect society in all its aspects.
***
Akash Jattan has more than 10 years’ experience in leadership, technology and portfolio management in Cloud and Big Data. Taking multiple products from conception to delivery with five products currently in market. He built Australia’s first security focused ‘Big Data Platform as a Service’ product in Telstra. In Qrious as Head of Products/platforms, he successfully implemented the ingestion of 3BN events per day from Sparks mobile networks into a big data stack to service people movement insights and launched a Hadoop-as-a-service product to market. Currently works for Revera helping leverage Big Data technology and helping customers understand and adopt big data solutions in the cloud. He is passionate about technology and product management by delivery value through data.
***
Torrance Mayberry is an Information Technology, science and data engineering professional with more than 20 years of experience. He has developed enterprise software for Business Analytics, Data Warehousing, and Enterprise Resource Planning for PeopleSoft and Informatica Corporation in Silicon Valley. He has developed software with firms like Dynamic Research Corporation, Metis Associates and Annie E Casey Foundation. He has run business intelligence and data warehouse units at InterContinental Hotels Group, General Electric, Westpac Bank New Zealand Limited, and led the data engineering and data scientist pursuits at start-up Antuit, a Goldman Sachs portfolio company. More recently, he has been Data and AI Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft innovating and driving solutions with partners to generate repeatable customer value and profitability.
***

Moderator bio:

Abinesh is currently the Client Strategy Director at leading technology talent recruitment firm Potentia Limited, following a successful stint as the Commercial Manager at Health Benefits Limited where he was the Lead Negotiator for the National Infrastructure Platform Programme. This strategic initiative drew upon Abinesh’s significant knowledge, experience and network across the technology domain and the health sector gained through over seven years of senior leadership tenure at healthAlliance (a shared services organisation serving the four northern region District Health Boards’s and one of the largest ICT operations in the country).

When and Where

Rutherford House
23 Lambton Quay, Wellington

Schedule:

5:30 – 6:00 networking, drinks and nibbles
6:00 – 7:00 panel
7:00 – 7:30 networking, drinks and nibbles

How Much

Free

More

Meetup event.

IT Conversations Meetup.

Sponsors: Potentia Limited (http://potentia.co.nz) and Victoria Business School (https://www.victoria.ac.nz/vbs)