Featured Events
🧠 AI Tools for Education & Productivity
Organised by: REAP Marlborough & ACE Aotearoa
Discover how AI tools like ChatGPT can enhance your teaching,
streamline admin, and improve learner engagement. Led by educator
Tai Samaeli, this hands-on workshop is designed for educators,
tutors, kaiako, and volunteers working in adult and community
education. You’ll explore practical ways AI can support lesson
planning, assessment, communication, and student interaction. Bring
a device and get ready to try the tools yourself.
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📍 Kaikōura – Mon 19 May, 3:30–5:30pm – Te Hā o Mātauranga –
Register
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📍 Blenheim – Wed 21 May, 2:30–4:30pm – REAP Marlborough –
Register
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📍 Picton – Date & location TBC –
Free Hands-on
Educators
🚀 Startup Mixer
Organised by: Business Trust Marlborough
Thinking about starting a business? Building a startup already? Or
just curious what’s happening in Marlborough’s entrepreneurship
scene? The Startup Mixer is for you. Meet other founders, share
ideas, and hear from guest speakers who’ve navigated their own
startup journeys. It’s a low-pressure, friendly event for anyone
interested in innovation, business, or community-led change. Drinks
and snacks provided.
- 📅 Tuesday 20 May, 5:30–7:30pm
- 📍 Te Au Pūngao, Level 1, 33 Arthur Street
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🔗
RSVP via Email
Free Networking
Startups
🧪 Wonder Project: Engineering & Tech Workshop
Facilitated by: Beca
This full-day workshop is designed for secondary school students
with an interest in how STEM applies in the real world. Hosted by
Beca engineers, the programme blends hands-on group challenges with
presentations from specialists in civil, water, transport,
structural, and geotechnical engineering. Students will learn what a
day in the life of an engineer looks like and apply core concepts in
problem-solving exercises.
The afternoon introduces students to digital innovation through live
demonstrations and interactive tools including the BLK360 scanner,
VR walkthroughs, a Digital Twin experience. Students will leave with
real insights into how engineers help shape our world—and where
their own ideas could take them.
- 📅 Wednesday 21 May
- 🕘 9:30am–3:00pm
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📍 Te Au Pūngao – Marlborough Tech & Innovation Hub (Schools only)
- 🔗 Learn more
Status: Fully booked – contact participating
schools for more information.
Secondary Students
STEM Engineering
Hands-on
🎤 AIM Pitch Night
Organised by: Angel Investors Marlborough
AIM Pitch Night is the region’s biggest opportunity for local
startups to share their vision with real investors. Founders take
the stage to present their business ideas in a fast-paced,
high-energy environment, followed by Q&A and informal networking.
Investors, mentors, and supporters come together to explore
investment potential, offer feedback, and support innovation in Te
Tauihu.
Whether you're a seasoned investor, a first-time founder, or someone
curious about the region’s startup potential, this event gives a
behind-the-scenes view of the entrepreneurial journey.
- 📅 Wednesday 21 May
- 🕠 5:30pm
- 📍 Blenheim Club
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🔗 More info
Free Investment
Startups
🌿 Investment Journeys: Puro Investment Story
Speaker: Sank Macfarlane, CEO/Founder of Puro
Join Sank as he shares the investment journey of Puro –
Marlborough’s organic medicinal cannabis company. Since 2018, Puro
has secured over $15M in private capital and $13M in government
support to scale its operation and drive innovation.
This is a rare chance to hear how Puro navigated seed investment,
crowdfunding, iwi partnerships, and backing from agencies like MPI,
NZTE, and Treasury. Come for candid insights into the financial path
of one of Aotearoa’s most high-profile agri-tech ventures.
- 📅 Thursday 22 May
- 🕣 8:30–9:30am (followed by networking)
- 📍 Te Au Pūngao – Marlborough Tech & Innovation Hub
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🔗
Register via Humanitix
(by 15 May)
Investment
Agri-Tech
Founder Story
✨ Showcase Open Night
Organised by: Te Au Pūngao
This is your chance to see Marlborough’s innovation community in
action. Drop in to explore robotics projects, 3D printing, digital
fabrication tools, and more. Meet the creators, test the tech, and
kōrero with locals building the future from right here in Te Tauihu.
- 📅 Friday 23 May
- 🕠 5:30pm–7:30pm
- 📍 Te Au Pūngao, Level 1, 33 Arthur St
- 🔗 Visit site
Free Showcase
3D Printing
Robotics
💖 I ❤ Algorithms
Organised by: For Good Studio
This workshop is for women curious about how technology works—and
how they can shape it. No coding or tech background needed.
Together, we’ll explore design thinking, machine learning, and the
hidden assumptions behind algorithmic systems through hands-on games
and group discussion. You’ll leave with a better understanding of
how digital systems impact the world, and how empathy,
communication, and critical thinking are essential tech skills.
- 📅 Saturday 24 May
- 🕙 10am–1pm
- 📍 Te Au Pūngao, 33 Arthur St
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🔗 Register here
Free
Women in Tech
Inclusive
Childcare Available
