Next Event: Waipa Tech Meetup #3 2026 -Looking beyond AI technology to the people it impacts
Tuesday 21 July 2026, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm - Bridges Church, 28 Duke Street Cambridge
AI is reshaping the way we recruit, work and lead. What happens when CVs and cover letters all start to sound the same, people feel mentally overloaded by AI tools, and leaders need to think harder and better about governance?
This Waipā Tech Meetup looks beyond the technology itself to the people it impacts.
Join us for a fast-paced, interactive event
Our panel of experts will lead a practical discussion on hiring, decision-making, AI fatigue, and keeping humans at the centre of digital change.
No slides, no scripts, just authentic insights.
This event will be a facilitated panel to dig into the issues with plenty of time for Q&A and audience participation.
Guest speakers
Joining us for Tech Meetup #3 are:
Dannielle Mickleson - Head of People & Culture, London | Green
More to be announced shortly
Enjoy drinks and nibbles while connecting and networking with other founders, operators, and support providers.
Be sure to book your place now and get inspired for 2026!
WAIPĀ TECH MEETUP
SEASON 2
We have an exciting lineup for 2026
Pencil the following dates in your calendar.
Details for topics and speakers will be shared as soon as we can. It's shaping up to be a great season!
Date | Topic | |
|---|---|---|
24 February | Cyber Security - how you can protect your business | |
19 May | Harnessing AI to enhance your business offering | |
21 July | Looking beyond AI technology to the people it impacts | |
1 September | Topic to be confirmed |
Past events
Harness AI to enhance your business
19 May 2026
Waipā’s May Tech Series meetup brought local businesses together to explore practical ways to use AI without the overwhelm. Speakers shared real-world insights on moving beyond efficiency gains to create new value, maintaining brand consistency in AI-driven marketing, and transforming product development through faster testing and stronger data context. The session highlighted both the opportunities and challenges, with a clear message: start small, stay intentional, and build from there.
Cyber Security
24 February 2026
At this session of the Waipā Tech Series, we heard from Kelcy Ballantyne and Tim Bixley from IT Partners, alongside Barry Mitchell from Millennium Technology and Support, who spoke candidly about the real-world cyber risks facing New Zealand businesses.
The discussion centred on practical protections businesses can put in place to reduce their exposure to cyber attacks, from basic hygiene through to more considered system and staff safeguards. Just as valuable were the stories shared about incidents where things went wrong, and the reality of what it took to respond, recover, and rebuild trust once the damage was done.
The session reinforced a clear message: cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue. It’s a business risk that requires leadership, preparedness, and ongoing attention. The open discussion that followed reflected the value of learning not only from best practice, but also from hard-earned experience.
Growth models
27 November 2025
What does growth really look like in practice?
That was the question at the heart of our last Waipā Tech Series event for 2025, where a panel of seasoned experts shared authentic, no-slides, no-script insights into scaling with purpose.
Each speaker delivered a three-minute snippet of their learnings on growing tech businesses, followed by interactive breakout sessions that gave attendees the chance to dive deeper and exchange ideas.
Free money? Avenues to government funding
7 October 2025
This fast-paced, practical session explored the real opportunities available to tech founders through government-backed funding and support.
From R&D tax incentives to capability building and accelerator programmes, this event helped attendees understand what’s on offer and how to engage.
From Tractors to Tech
21 August 2025
Who said driving a tractor was an easy job?
At this meetup, we heard from Andre Syben, Founder and Director of Ag Tech NZ, who shared his journey of starting an agricultural machinery company and taking it global by embracing agricultural technology.
There was something for everyone at this session - founders, techies who love to apply technology practically, farmers - you name it.
Read our blog for more learnings from Andre.
Different ways to fund your venture
24 June 2025
Are you keen to learn more about the different ways to fund your venture? Waipā Tech Meetup number four allowed us to hear from the providers of different funding models.
In a fast-paced presentation + Q&A, we learned about crowdfunding, bank debt funding and venture capital funding.
Deep Perspectives on AI
3 April 2025
We mixed things up at our second Waipa Tech Meetup. We started with a fast-paced session featuring three concentrated sessions.
A professor and world expert in AI research shares what's coming next
A SaaS platform shares learnings from building AI into your software
An AI trainer shares what they're learning from helping businesses adopt AI
The speakers then took part in an engaging Q&A. Read the blog for the full update and takeaways.
Once we have our first meetup we can add some pics!
Get connected
Waipā Tech Meetups are aiming to transform tech connection and innovation in Waipa. Be part of this unique community dedicated to fostering growth and collaboration by registering for updates about upcoming Waipā Tech Meetups.