Hey everybody,

It’s time for instalment 2/3 of WellyForge: Holiday edition 🏖 I’m still hanging out in Europe but I’ve had zero work chat this week. Unless you want advice with shopping your breakthrough novel around, my old schoolmate’s got an app for that 🎓😆 Also, what’s up with the snow?! I leave for a minute and I miss the only snow in 15 years ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ain’t nobody can quit yakin’bout Data Centres, August edition. Contact Energy reports solid financial results on the back of the Manawa deal and seeks to join CDC to build a 250MW renewable-powered data centre in Taranaki (the release names “geothermal, wind and solar”). Yet as energy demand scales to accommodate AI, two Newsroom articles present the solid, ‘ship has sailed’ AI reality as something more elastic: one piece urges readers to save AI for high-impact solutions rather than gimmicks, while covering industry leaders’ cautions on safety as a call for a "nuclear-free moment" for AI.

I posted about a heavier “nuclear-free” scenario (with trepidation) a while back. All of this I see as the continuing dissonance between surveys that brand Aotearoa AI-phobic even when our per capita use is among the world’s highest. We have a small number of dedicated users on these isles and a population that needs to better understand the technology. I’m not pushing gimmicks either (hint, watch my TEDx talk). But I want people to grasp this opportunity to make their lives better. Let’s help out, WellyForgers! 🛠 🤖

Meanwhile, across the ditch, South Australia has launched a Royal commission into artificial intelligence at “a really important fork in the road” for the further development of this technology.

The fourth edition of Tech New Zealand's Digital Skills Aotearoa report highlights that while the tech sector remains a primary economic engine, the country faces a digital skills gap requiring coordinated action. Our global pull seems to be back, at least in the golden visa context, yet filling long-term talent pipelines requires interventions right at the level of foundations. So it’s encouraging to see the government approve nine new industry-led secondary school subjects.

And our aerospace sector ecosystem is going great, so the National Aerospace Centre is seeking private overseas investment for a second rocket launch pad to tap all that launch demand.

I lied, I did have a work chat with a friend who chose to hire a “professional” director for his science spinout, so he can continue to be cutting edge on the science side. This seems to be the approach at CullBeck, where the scientists won't be running the business.

First, some local events that captured a lot of people’s imagination:

As research commercialisation accelerates in a few quarters, The Credibility Crisis in Science reminds us how perverse researcher incentives and publication bias can distort truth, reinforcing that commercial scale must be anchored by rigorous scientific integrity. Still: a good product today is better than a perfect one in❓years.

There’s lots on Wellington’s civic infrastructure and development. Business Central releases a position statement on shaping the region's future as local councils clarify their general support on the proposed regional council mega-merger. Meanwhile, Willis Bond shared progress on the Te Aro - Courtenay precinct revitalisation: plans for the former Reading Cinema and facade updates aim to ensure the precinct thrives day and night.

And there are a few opportunities annouced out there:

Highlighted entries are new from last week.

Wed, Aug 12th, Shadow Tech offers girls in years 9-11 an opportunity to discover the world of tech, spark their curiosity and explore career pathways.

Thu, Aug 13th, 12–1:30pm, Westpac Smarts: Beyond the AI Hype by Business Central and Welly Chamber, hosted by Asa Cox.

Thu, Aug 13th, 4:30–7pm, WNT in Wellington - Deep Tech Mixer in Kelburn.

Fri, Aug 14th, 2–4pm, GTM Engineering: automate, scale, win by KiwiSaaS.

Wed, Aug 19, 12:30pm, AI and digital transformation in Allied Health Scientific and Technical webinar by Health Informatics NZ.

Aug 24–25, GEN NZ Unconference and Workshops at Rutherford House. Check out this preview, with one name yet to be announced 😅

Tue, Aug 25th, 7:15–8:30am, Beehive to Business session six by Chamber of Commerce.

Thu, Aug 27th, 5:30–9pm, AI in Large Organisations + Student Innovation Showcase, super-sizes the monthly AI Engineering meetup.

Wed, Sep 2nd, 7–8.30am, Welly Chamber hosts An hour with the Prime Minister

Thu, Sep 3rd, 5:30–6:30pm, Building from scratch: How materials science is decarbonising the world is the inaugural lecture of incoming VUW Prof Franck Natali.

Fri, Sep 4th, 4–5:30pm, The AI-driven future of biotechnology in New Zealand at AI and Society.

8–9 Sep, Aotearoa AI Summit at Tākina.

Fri, Sep 11th, 4–5:30pm, All the time in the world: AI-driven computation hones lab work and frees human hands and brains for creative work at AI and Society.

Mon, Sep 14th, 5–7pm, Summer of Tech Intern Job Fair at Hnry Stadium ✨

Thu, Sep 24th, SaaSpocalypse Now at Hnry Stadium, Aotearoa’s premier SaaS gathering, hosted by KiwiSaaS.

Fri, May 7th 2027, NZ Tech Rally on a Super Early Bird launch.

The Atom at Victoria is open for any unfunded Founders (Students, Early Stage, Idea Stage) and is run by Tania Jones, with entrepreneurs in Residence, Parisa Shademan, Jack Shennan, and Alistair St Pierre and investors in residence Dave Moskovitz, Aaron Scott + Ralph Highnam. Email or join the Facebook community.