Linux.conf.au 2019 – Christchurch – 21 – 25 January 2019

What

Linux.conf.au (often abbreviated as lca) is Australasia’s regional Linux and Open Source conference. It is a roaming conference, held in a different city every year, coordinated by Linux Australia and organised by local volunteers.

In January 2019 Linux.conf.au will held be in Christchurch at the University of Canterbury. The conference starts out with 9 Miniconfs spread over 2 days on the 21st and 22nd of January. The remainder of the conference, from the 23th to the 25th of January, has 80 talks and 8 tutorials spread over 6 parallel tracks.

Themed Linux of Things, the 2019 linux.conf.au will again attract speakers and attendees from across the world to socialise, fraternise, lecture, listen, ask, answer and share with their peers.

The conference will explore the use of free open source software and hardware for Internet of things devices, along with security concerns, privacy and legal aspects, environmental impacts, everyday communication, health, ethics, and much more.

When and Where

21 – 25 January 2019
All Day plus evening events.

The University of Canterbury
Ilan, Christchurch

How Much

Early bird pricing till October 31st or when sold out

Professional   $1099  ( $899 early bird )
Hobbyist         $549   ( $399 early bird )
Student           $199

More

Linux.conf.au 2019 Website
Schedule of talks in the main programme

CHCon (Christchurch Hacker Conference) – Christchurch – 25-27 October 2018

What

CHCon is a conference for security professionals and hackers in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is for anyone interested in software, hardware, and physical security in tech.

  • Training will be run on Thursday 25th October
  • Presentations on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th.
  • Badge and locksport challenges will be run throughout the main event

When and Where

UCSA Events Centre,
90 Ilam Rd,
Riccarton,
Christchurch

Training Day
Thursday 25 October 2018
8am – 5pm

Main Event
Friday 26 and Saturday 27 October 2018
9am – 6pm

How Much

For the Main event

General Admission  $70
Students/Unwaged  $35

Tickets for Training sold separately, prices to be confirmed.

More

Chcon Website
Chcon Main Event Schedule
Tickets

Kiwicon 2038 – Wellington – 14 – 17 November 2018

What

Kiwicon is the one of the myriad technical computer security conferences in the Australia-Pacific region, but remains triumphant as the one that most resembles a variety show. Organised by a masochistic cabal of the security community, Kiwicon attempts to bring together the commercial infosec industry, academics, students, and hobbyist hackers to discover the new, the interesting, and technologically crackin’.

First run in 2007, by now Kiwicon has gained reputation, size, and an extra cleaning run for the toilets. Attendance in 2016 was around 2100 people (although we do not claim all of them are paying attention) plus 30 or so speakers, staff and crue.

Kiwicon is a hacker conference, which, if you were wondering, means we talk about the intricacies of breaking into, breaking out of, or breaking around technological systems.  It might have had a “warranty void if removed” sticker, but that’s now a scrunched up ball, and we are reverse engineering the firmware.

If you’ve been to a hacker con elsewhere, then you’ll know what Kiwicon is about – any of the other grass roots community cons are what Kiwicon pays homage to, but we try to add a little special (strange) kiwi flavour to it.

If you’re new to hacker conferences, well, we think you’re in for a treat. Kiwicon is probably not like any other tech conference you’ve been to – there’s no dry, boring talks (we hope), no vendor booths, no bags of crappy pens and tripe you don’t want. Instead you’ll get people who are engaged with tech because they are pathologically curious; people who like poking things till they break just because its there and then figuring out how to fix them. You’ll probably also get one of the more hostile network environments you’re likely to connect to (perhaps, second to the Ministry of Health, circa 2009), so, unless you’re particularly confident at securing your laptop, phone, RFID proxcard, passport, pager, or iPad, you’d be best to just leave them at home. Or take the battery out (and watch out for HERF guns.)

Yes, some hackers break the law. Lots of hackers don’t – we’re not Legion; the Kiwicon community includes people from corporate and government backgrounds, through purestrain infosec industry, and the wider tech sector, students, academics and onwards into space cadets, conspiracy theorists, freaks, and goths. So pretty much like life, then, but with much more people wearing black. Keep an open mind, and, in the words of Frankie, relax.

When and Where

Training Days (plus pre-events)

Wednesday 14 November
Thursday 15 November

Main Event

The Michael Fowler Centre
111 Wakefield St
Wellington

9am – 6:30 pm
Friday 16 Novemeber and Satuday 17 Novemeber 2018

 

How Much

$99.95 standard (or pay more if you want)
$29.95 for student and benficiaries

Costs of training to be advised but some free places.

More

Kiwicon 2038 Website
Kiwicon 2038 Schedule

New Zealand Game Developers Conference – Auckland – 1-3 August 2018

What

The New Zealand Game Developers Conference (NZGDC) is an annual professional game development conference hosted in Auckland, New Zealand. NZGDC18 will be an action-packed three-day conference for professional and indie game developers.

This year’s conference will span three days with one day dedicated to hands-on workshops (1st August), and two days full of a mix of presentations and panels (2nd-3rd August). Sessions will cover a variety of topics, from Art & Game Design to Production & Marketing and everything in between.

When and Where

Level 4,
SKYCITY Convention Centre,
Federal Street,
Auckland

Wednesday 1 August 2018 – Workshops
Thurs 2/Friday 3 August – Main conference
Plus Evening events

How Much

NZGA Member – Full Pass  $280
NZGA Member – Thurs Pass (+ Free Wed Workshop pass) $180
NZGA Member – Thurs Pass (+ Free Wed Workshop pass) $180
Student single day tickets $50

If you’re a New Zealand based game developer, make sure you’ve registered as an NZGDA member for a 15% discount on your NZGDC ticket! Register at http://nzgda.com/about-us/join-now/

More

Conference Website

ITx 2018 – Wellington – 11-13 July 2018

What

ITx is a collaboration of twelve tech-focused conferences and bodies and focuses on innovation, technology and education.

ITx brings IT professionals, decision-makers, leaders and academics together under one roof. This is a conference like no other: where industry, academia and government come together to network, learn and engage.

  • IT Professionals NZ is New Zealand’s leading body for those working or studying in Software and Information Technology (IT) related fields.
  • The IT Service Management Forum (itSMF) is the only internationally recognised and independent organisation dedicated to IT Service Management.
  • Computer and Information Technology Research and Education New Zealand (CITRENZ) is the representative body for the IT departments of New Zealand’s Polytech and Institute of Technology sector.
  • NZTech is the voice of the New Zealand technology industry.
  • NZRise exists to represent the interests of NZ-owned digital technology businesses.
  • Health informatics is about getting the right information to the right person at the right time.
  • AgileDay is a new Agile software development-focussed day at ITx.
  • The Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand exists to inform, educate and advocate.
  • InternetNZ’s vision is for a better world through a better Internet
  • TechCommNZ supports, educates, and encourages technical communicators around New Zealand
  • Project Management Institute is the world’s leading not-forprofit professional membership association for the project, program and portfolio management profession.
  • The New Zealand Open Source Society exists to share the freedom of open source software, open standards, and open information for the benefit of New Zealand.
  • ITx 2018 also sees the return of the New Zealand Excellence in IT Awards

There are also MasterClass Workshops on Tuesday the 10th of July.

When and Where

TSB Bank Arena and Shed 6 Complex
4 Queens Wharf, Wellington

Main Conferences:
9am – 6pm
Wednesday 11 July – Friday 13th July 2018

It Awards Gala Dinner
6pm – late
Thursday 12 July

ITx MasterClass Workshops:
1pm – 5pm
Thursday 10 July 2018

How Much

Earlybird Pricing:

Member 3 Days:           $895
Non-Member 3 days:   $1095
ITx MasterClass Workshops: ~$600  (not included in 3 day price)

More

Website

 

Astrobiology Australasia Meeting – Rotorua – 25-26 June 2018

What

The third Astrobiology Australasia Meeting (AAM), a joint meeting of the New Zealand Astrobiology Network and the Australian Centre for Astrobiology (at UNSW Sydney, Australia).

This meeting will be held on 25-29 June 2018 in Rotorua, New Zealand. It will be preceded by a one-day astrobiology teachers workshop on the 24th of June, and followed by associated field trips through the hot springs of the Rotorua area on the 26-27 June.

Conference themes and sessions:

  • The Origin and Evolution of Life
  • Life beyond Earth & its detection
  • Future of life

When and Where


Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Tutanekai St
Rotorua

Teachers Astrobiology Workshop:  Sunday 24 June 2018
Astrobiology Australasia Meeting:  25-26 June 2018
AAM2018 Field Trip Taupo Volcanic Zone: 27-29 June 2018

How Much

Teachers Astrobiology Workshop:  $120 + GST
Field Trip: $217 + GST
Main conference Professionals: $528 + GST
Main conference students: $320 + GST

More

Conference Web page

New Zealand Bird Conference – Waitangi – 2-4 June 2018

What

 

The 2018 New Zealand Bird Conference and the 79th Annual General Meeting of Birds New Zealand will be held in Paihia Northland during 2-4th June 2018 (Queens Birthday Weekend). We look forward to welcoming you to the sunny Far North for what should be a fantastic weekend of birds and birding.

The conference will comprise two days of scientific papers and workshops,with field trips to local birding highlights on the third day. The AGM will be held on Saturday afternoon.

The conference again aims to continue the fine work of previous conferences in making this the premier New Zealand event for the communication of new research findings on New Zealand birds while providing opportunity for discussion, networking and workshops for bird researchers and birders in New Zealand.

The format of the conference will be similar to the most recent conferences, with the first two days largely being devoted to scientific presentations. A variety of workshops are planned for the Sunday morning.

As in previous years we look forward having a number of local speakers sharing some of the latest research knowledge with you. Alongside this we look forward to bringing together researchers and Society Members from across the country to share their knowledge and findings to make for a dynamic and informative event.

When and Where

 

Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands
Tau Henare Drive
PO Box 150
Paihia
Saturday 1 June – All day Conference
Sunday 2 June – All day Conferce
Monday 3 June – Field trips

How Much

Member late registration      $ 165.00
Non-member registration       $ 195.00
Daily registration member     $ 90
Daily Registration non-member $ 140
Dinners                       $ ~50
Field trips                   $ ~50

More

Conference webpage