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Student-owned agri-tech startup gains business boost from Microsoft

A student-based agri-tech startup company that has developed an inventive way to measure moisture, salinity and fertiliser content in soil has been accepted into a startup programme run by tech giant Microsoft.RH Innovation, which was set up by five students from the University of Waikato, has been accepted into the Microsoft for Startups programme, and as a result they will receive more than $30,000 to boost their business, and will have access to Microsoft’s cloud system, sales and marketing...

A sneak peek into the future of health care

The government is developing a person-centred Digital Health Strategic Framework “consisting of aspirational goals and enabling priorities, guidelines and resources”, and that will evolve as the digital future emerges, and last month a record number of attendees at Digital Health Week NZ in Hamilton were able to get a sneak peek into some of the technologies and to hear insights from leading experts on what the future of healthcare could look like. The annual Digital Health Week NZ brings to...

Waikato Regional Council aims for a complete systems 'reboot'

Waikato Regional Council is banking on SaaS software from Infor to deliver a massive systems transformation in an effort dubbed "Project Reboot".WRC is replacing its current financials, budgeting and planning, property and rating, HR and assets solutions with Infor’s CloudSuite Public Sector solution.However, the council has now gone to market separately for a payroll system to replace a 2009 implementation of PSE HR/Payroll, manage pay for around 500 staff and integrate with the new Infor sta...

Waikato tech firms shine

Waikato firms Gallagher Group and The Instillery have won accolades in a prestigious New Zealand report as the tech export industry booms in New Zealand.Gallagher was named one of the top 10 companies to watch in this year’s TIN Report, while The Instillery was one of 10 scale-ups identified.For The Instillery, the recognition came the day before Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited its Hamilton headquarters.Read more...

Vertec celebrates 100 years of innovation

Manufacturing engineers Vertec, who are celebrating their centenary this year, have come a long way since founder Thomas Mullan opened the doors of his foundry and engineering business in Hood Street in 1919.Advertising of the time shows Mullan and Noy were a forward-thinking enterprise with an eye for new opportunities, such as the growing market in motor car repair.Read more...

Artificial intelligence and solar-powered cameras to tackle problem freedom camping

Artificial intelligence and solar-powered cameras are among tech-tools being deployed to better manage freedom camping this summer.Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis on Monday announced a package of tools aimed at both encouraging responsible freedom camping, and aiding communities and councils in managing the travelling tourists. The technology is being piloted as part of the broader $8.5 million package first announced in August, which also included temporary coun...

Soda showcase fuels entrepreneurial fire

One year of hard work and determination for several Soda Inc graduates was celebrated by more than 200 people who left with a fire in their belly and a drive to fulfil their entrepreneurial dreams.The Soda Inc Ambition Showcase – powered by ASB Bank – saw entrepreneurs from all over New Zealand and as far as Australia come together for an evening of storytelling.Read more...

Turning science on it's head

SCIENCE SPINNERS CREATIVE LAB houses a massive group of hands-on science activities presented by Kudos scientists and industry professionals. The Kudos Science Trust launched this project in 2016 as a science engagement programme for Yr 9 & 10 students from low decile Waikato Schools. The purpose; To ignite an interest in Science and STEM through 'real-life' activities and to inform more students about subject choice and career opt...

Regional TIN report launch at IoT Waikato

A tour of New Zealand wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the mighty Tron, and TIN had a taste of true Hamilton hospitality early last week courtesy of Wintec at the IoT Waikato Future Tech Meetup.Greg shared the stage with Graeme Muller, CEO of NZTech; Thomas Coats, Chair at CultivateIT; Michael Bassett-Foss CEO at Te Waka; and Jason Catchpole and David Tse who talked about digital humans, privacy and developing the world’s first digital human barista; a collaboration between UneeQ, Jad...

First phase of government's Ultra-Fast Broadband Scheme complete

New Zealand has become one of the best connected countries in the OECD after the first phase of the government's Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB1) programme is complete. The programme is the broadband scheme deploying fibre-to-premises to 87 per cent of the population by 2022. Read more...

Health clinic of the future only a couple of years away, innovators say

Tiny heart monitors, virtual assistants and Fitbit data could be part of future doctor visits.A model clinic of the future - envisaged by innovation-focussed health organisation Ventures - is on display at Digital Health Week in Hamilton.Technology's getting cheaper and most devices on display will be moving into Kiwi practices within a year according to the company, which is linked to Midlands Health Network.Read more...

evokeAG - 18 & 19 Feb 2020, Melbourne

Asia Pacific regions largest agrifood tech event which which allows delegates to explore what’s next in the agrifood tech space, covering three main themes; food – farm – future. evokeAG. is an immersive experience delivering diverse topics and cutting edge innovation from across the region and around the world. It is the only event of its type where people come together to connect, collaborate and evolve all things agriculture.Find out more and register...

Te Awamutu College student Bert Downs wins in Skills Bright Sparks contest

Te Awamutu College Year 12 student and recently announced School Dux, Bert Downs, has capped off a successful week by being named a winner in the Skills Bright Sparks Competition.But it was an app that allows parents and siblings of wayward teens to eject them from the shower and a scanner that helps the visually impaired to 'read' colours that are the two overall award-winning inventions in this year's Skills Bright Sparks competition.Read more...

'Cloud guys' push Waikato tech hub: The Instillery pitches NZ-based public cloud

Lifestyle and local ties helped land a computing company's headquarters in Hamilton.The Instillery's team members are known as the cloud guys - they move businesses away from traditional IT hardware and onto the cloud.They're also into data, which founder and chief executive Mike Jenkins said is the new oil.Read more...

IT Partners only Hamilton finalist in Humankind Employee Experience Workplace Awards

Hamilton company, IT Partners has been ranked one of the best places to work in the national 2019 Humankind Employee Experience Workplace Awards.Sitting alongside Xero, Sharesies and Overland Footwear, the company is the only finalist from the Hamilton area and is open to sharing their initiatives in order to support local businesses who are seeking ways to develop their workplace experience programmes.Read more...

Institute of Awesome: school camp reimagined

A former outdoor education camp in 40 hectares of regenerated bush in Raglan will re-open its doors in 2020 as a rebooted school camp where young innovators will have their pick of technology and science to find solutions to real-world problems.Read more...

Sold on electric vehicles after petrol bills pile up

He used to make fun of electric vehicles, now Shane Hobson sells them.It was the petrol bill from his wife's 15-minute commute to the city from Whatawhata that spun the wheel for him. "She was commuting into Hamilton every day, spending $60 a week on petrol and I thought, she's a good contender for an electric car."Read more...

All-in-one transport app just one idea floated at Lightning Lab GovTech

Imagine an app that consolidates all transport options, allowing you to check bus times, see how much driving your own car might cost, or if ane-scooter is just around the corner.That app - Arrive - was one of 10 ideas pitched to decision-makers as part of Lightning Lab GovTech - a tech innovation "accelerator" programme's demonstration at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington on Tuesday afternoon.Read more...

Taku Wairua goes digital

It’s important for people to know where they have come from, to imagine a future, and know they have choices.But sometimes it’s difficult to make good choices, perhaps through lack of finance or resources, or through a lack of family support. That’s where The Waterboy comes in.Read more...

Virtual tour has minister thinking of future

A government delegation toured a state of the art dairy shed, mainline gas valve, packhouse and cool store, all in the Hamilton office of virtual reality software specialist Company-X.Minister for Local Government and Associate Minister Trade and Export Growth Nanaia Mahuta donned a virtual reality headset on October 7 to try the latest technology developed by the Company-X team.Read more...

Datacom tops TIN200 rankings as ICT sector surges ahead

The yearly stock-take of the tech sector, the TIN200 report, found the industry in robust good health, gaining $1.1 billion in revenue to reach $12.1 billion in total.It was the second year running the report recorded both double digit revenue growth and growth of more than $1 billion and the third time in the past four years.The sector employs 51,569 people, cracking the 50,000 barrier for the first time, and exports $8.7 billion across ICT, biotech and high tech manufacturing. However, it was ...

Jason Catchpole (UneeQ)

What role do you play in the local/NZ tech sector? I am a software engineer/scientist (I often wear both hats) who has worked for many local and international companies. I am normally brought in when there is a specific project that needs my specialist skills involving computer vision & machine learning. What is your favourite habit to keep up to date with the latest technology trends?  I like to follow technology news.  There are many, many websites for this such a...

NZ’s TIN200 top tech companies on a $12b winning streak

New Zealand’s tech sector is on a phenomenal road to success, as New Zealand’s 200 largest tech export companies by revenue (TIN200) exceeded more than $12 billion in revenue and more than $8 billion in export earnings.Those are some of the figures from the 2019 Technology Investment Network (TIN) report, which was launched at a gala awards event in Auckland last night.Read more...

MobileTechAg - 7 & 8 April 2020, Rotorua

Brings together 300 technology leaders, innovative developers, early adopters and the next generation of primary industry operators from throughout New Zealand and Australia. MobileTECH is an annual event showcasing the digital technologies transforming the agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors.Find out more and register...

Digital Health Week NZ & HiNZ - 18-22 Nov, Hamilton

Digital Health Week NZ features over a range of events and workshops, catering to the various professions and topics within digital health. The week culminates with the HiNZ Conference, New Zealand's largest digital health event.Find out more...