Hey everybody,

I can hardly keep up with all the events! So much good stuff going on around town, we’re coming out of our shell as a community. Want a thing? Welly provides. Everything from professional development 💼 to doodling 🖍 on the list.

WellyForge #10 is imminent, and we have a late release of a handful of extra tickets! Join us for a massive Deep Tech showcase and connect with the best young talent in town. Also, HackAotearoa will return on Fri, Oct 2nd 😎🛠

SwellGen goes small on tidal generation! Since I reached these shores I've wondered how come there aren't cottage industries for residential-scale tidal and wind generation. Well, these good people are making it happen!

We’re inching ever closer to the November election and the conversation around AI and tech policy is heating up. There’s only one thing missing: policy announcements. I’m checking the RNZ Technology policy guide as I compile this newsletter and I can see only one (1) policy announced for technology: "Labour promises to set up AI regulator, copyright rules if elected”. On the whole it seems more about regulation than liberation. There is a section on mandating renewable energy for new data centre builds as a nod to sovereignty, but as Darryl Grauman points out, “adding a building and power isn't true compute sovereignty”.

So, with only one party putting forward an AI stance, maybe it's time we start phoning them in! →BusinessDesk Election Readers Survey.

To contrast against the global context, 22 countries have backed a call to keep AI ‘under human control’, acknowledging the balance between advancing science and managing frontier risks. “Balance” is a good word to keep in mind.

Read Creative HQ’s five ideas we would import for New Zealand innovation, which collates overseas strategies we should consider for our own economy. And then Welly Chamber’s business election priorities, one of which is to “make Wellington New Zealand’s innovation capital”. We are extremely well placed to thrive as a city and as a country.

MBIE is readying the open banking renewal process. The register of Consumer Data Right participants will see its accreditation renewal process unveiled in October, another step in the maturing of New Zealand's open banking framework.

HackAotearoa had a massive first Wellington session with 40 builders coming through the doors of Telos! It's a brilliant format focused entirely on progress over polish: just a day of making cool stuff and connecting with other builders. The demos were mind-blowing for their variety as much as their quality. Next session Friday, October 2nd, grab a ticket before they go!

Small community organisations that aren't able to incorporate (or can’t handle the admin overhead) should check out Open Collective. It's a solid legal and financial framework to raise, manage, and disburse money with full transparency. Those subs and events aren't paying for themselves, now you can get them under control!

For the academics out there living by "publish or perish", Paper2Agent (also on arXiv) is some excellent, enabling technology that converts research papers into interactive AI agents. If anyone can ask a paper questions in their own words, they can figure out what's in it far better than heads-down reading. Huge for non-native speakers and brains that struggle to tackle a wall of text.

One more chance to cast your vote for People’s Choice at the Aotearoa AI Awards.

Highlighted entries are new from last week.

Wed, Sep 23rd, 5–7:30pm, The 2026 Innovation Election Debate, hosted by Creative HQ at the Beehive.

Wed, Sep 23rd, 6–8pm, WellyForge #10 at Gracefield. Late release tickets available!

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

Fri, Sep 25th, 4:30–6.30pm, Welly Biotech ‘n’ Beers at Fork and Brewer.

25–27 Sep, VESA Buildathon: software focussed but not just for coders. You get fed for there days and maybe you change the world ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Thu, Oct 1st, 5–7pm, The Waiting Room Sessions, HealthTech meetup.

Thu, Oct 1st, 5–7:30pm, After the Agent Writes the Code, Wellington AI Meetup at Hnry (🏢 not 🏟)—waitlist only.

Thu, Oct 1st, 6pm, Innovative Young Minds quiz and fundraiser at Boulcott Farm Golf Club.

Fri, Oct 2nd, 9am–12pm, next iteration of Supercharge your Business Productivity with AI, right next to the rail station 🚉

Fri, Oct 2nd, HackAotearoa #2: Co-working for startup builders 🛠

2–4 Oct, Climate Hack-tion is a “hackathon for students to reimagine climate solutions”. Go imagine! And maybe win a prize 🥇

Thu, Oct 8th, 4–7pm, VUW Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence research showcase at Rutherford House.

Fri, Oct 9th, Small nation, big opportunity: NZ's path into global fusion ⚛

Mon, Oct 12th, 3–5:30pm, Ada Lovelace Day 2026: Demystifying AI at Deloitte.

Tue, Oct 13th, 10:30–11:30am, Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Life is an intro talk aimed at seniors, at the fancy new library. Tell your folks 🙂

Tue, Oct 13th, 5:30–6:45pm, Doodle Cafe: Playtime for serious professionals. Because creativity and openness to experience are strong drivers of innovation.

Thu, Oct 22nd, 11am–8pm, Show Me the Money, “A full day of practical capital, growth and connections for founders”.

30–31 Oct, Kawaiicon 4 at the Michael Fowler Centre no less.

15-17 March 2027, Life Sciences Summit at Tākina.

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.