
Electrify Aotearoa
Calling all aspiring and early-stage startup founders to register! The Ministry of Awesome together with Blackbird Ventures is hosting an in-person women founders conference on 26 May 2022. NZ’s fastest-growing venture-backed startups along with key investors and leaders will be there to meet and inspire you, and to help you take your idea to the…

Onside named as a finalist in the 2022 NZ Hi-Tech Awards
EPIC Innovation are thrilled to advise that one of our tenants Onside has been named as a finalist in the 2022 NZ Hi-Tech Awards for the Punakaiki Fund Hi-Tech Startup Company of the Year. Congratulations! NZ Hi-Tech Trust had a record number of entries this year and as always, the bar continues to rise –…

E Tipu 2022: The Boma Agri Summit
E Tipu 2022: The Boma Agri Summit is set to catalyse the future of Aotearoa’s primary industries. Set for 21-22 June in Ōtautahi Christchurch, E Tipu 2022 features two days of talks from global and local leaders in food and fibre, plus interactive workshops, expert panels and special Q&As, innovative exhibits, valuable cross-sector networking and…

UPCOMING EVENT – EPIC Director Wil McLellan coaches the Energy Academy through what it means to be a rebel where it counts
When: Thursday 27th January 2022, 4-4.30pm NZT Where: Zoom Hosted by Energy Academy Tune in to hear from EPIC Director Wil McLellan on his experience taking risks to bring big ideas to life. Since arriving in New Zealand Wil has spent over 20 years in the technology industry where he developed an unconventional approach to…
EPIC sponsors the 2021 Special Childrens Christmas Party
Epic is proud to sponsor the 2021 Special Children Christmas Party. The Christmas parties are for special children who live with life threatening illness, physical or intellectual impairment, domestic violence, or in underprivileged circumstances. We want to see children happy and beaming with smiles for a day, regardless of the challenges they’re experiencing in life….

Electrify Aotearoa
Spearheaded by Ministry of Awesome and Blackbird Ventures, this all-day conference is the rallying call for Aotearoa’s founders, aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups to take part and celebrate our homegrown diversity. Globally, women only represent 1 in every 5 startup founders, despite research showing women-led startups are more capital-efficient, achieve 35% higher return on investment,…
Kea Connect – How to guide
Welcome to Kea Connect. This guide will help you understand how the Kea Connect process works, and what this free service can do for your business. Is Kea Connect right for you? Kea Connect is for any New Zealand business that wants to or is already exporting offshore. It does not matter where you…

CerebralFix’s Virtual Forest
Technology leaders at the EPIC Innovation Campus in Christchurch enjoyed drinks and a catch up in a virtual forest on the 12th of October, courtesy of CerebralFix. The regular tenants drinks, where companies meet to share lessons learnt in business, was hosted by gaming company CerebralFix, which occupies 600+ sqm of the 4000 sqm technology…

French Embassy Call for “French Related Research Projects 2021” (F2RP 2021)
The F2RP 2021 call for applications is now open until 30 July 2021 to support the attendance or the development of a France-related scientific project or event by a New Zealand-based researcher, student, institution, or association. Grants up to $10 000 will be awarded to support expenses. Eligibility ■ The proposal must be submitted by a…

How Kawatiri Westport’s innovation hub is balancing the old world with the new
It’s a region known for its breathtaking natural beauty and vilified primary industries. So where does Buller’s acclaimed innovation hub fit into it all? Michael Andrew went to find out. In May 2018, a Japanese businessman named Hiroki Koga stepped off a plane at Westport airport and blinked in the West Coast gloom. He’d left Tokyo three days…

Introducing E Tipu 2021
Following the success of 2019’s Boma NZ Grow summit, Boma New Zealand presents E Tipu 2021, the food and fibre event of the year. Set to be Aotearoa’s ultimate agricultural forum, E Tipu brings together leaders who understand the primary sector from top to bottom, including guest speakers, exhibitors, and like-minded attendees with a focus…
Orion Energy Accelerator competition calls for big ideas
The Ministry of Awesome and Canterbury electricity lines company, Orion, today launched a national competition calling for new ideas to reduce New Zealand’s carbon emissions. The Orion Energy Accelerator offers two Start-up Grants worth a combined $25,000 for people and start-up companies with ground-breaking energy innovations to be guided through a programme to validate and…

What became of the transitional project movement in Christchurch’s rebuild?
The transitional movement – Gap Filler, Greening the Rubble and so forth – made Christchurch globally famous. Will Harvie looks back at how it emerged. It’s hard to believe now that for a time the most famous building in Christchurch was made from 3000 blue shipping pallets, open to the sky. It lasted just 16…

Canterbury Innovators Post-Quake
After the earthquakes, Christchurch businesses were forced to take risks and work together to overcome shared challenges. That collaboration helped drive and fuel innovation in the city — something epitomised by the story of EPIC and its tenants. Inside the high-ceilinged, wooden Enterprise Precinct and Innovation Campus (EPIC) building are hundreds of people working…
New World and Ministry of Awesome have started the search for New Zealand’s food and beverage product superstars!
FoodStarter competition supersizes providing boost to supplier community in 2021 New World and Ministry of Awesome have started the search for New Zealand’s food and beverage product superstars, this year with an additional category for small suppliers and a supersized prize package which includes the priceless opportunity for the winners to range their products in…

Seeds Podcast Reaches 200th Episode
Almost 3 years ago in September of 2017, Michelle Sharp, CEO of Kilmarnock Enterprises, was the first interviewee on a locally produced podcast that has since gained over 75,000 listeners. Last Monday, Seeds released its 200th episode. Seeds is hosted by Steven Moe from Parry Field Lawyers. At its heart, the series is about telling…
HealthTech Supernode Challenge
We’re less than 2 weeks away from the application closing date for the HealthTech Supernode Challenge! The Challenge is looking for New Zealand’s most innovative healthtech solutions, whether you’re at the idea stage or have a developed product. If you are still on the fence, NOW is the time to take that leap of…
Survivor City: How space flights could reinvigorate the Christchurch economy
Future strategist and business consultant Roger Dennis welcomes the supernodes. “There’s little point in trying to spin up something entirely new in a crisis, it’s much more logical to look for existing strengths and capabilities that you can support.” Read more here
Additional funding available for business advice and support
Information from ChristchurchNZ More Canterbury businesses will be able to access specialist support following the government’s announcement of an additional $40 million in advisory funding. Read the full article and find out more, including how to apply, here. The funding means small to medium businesses can access specialist advice and support across a number of…
Challenge aims to position Christchurch as NZ’s centre of health innovation
PRESS RELEASE EMBARGOED UNTIL MONDAY, 29 JUNE 2020 Ōtautahi Christchurch aims to become the home of health tech innovation in New Zealand with the HealthTech Supernode Challenge, opening Monday 29 June. With a total prize pool across multiple categories valued at over $340,000, there are plenty of reasons to enter the HealthTech Supernode Challenge. This…
The Garden City battled back after a series of massive localised disasters. Now NZ faces a national one.
Extract from article published by Stuff on 13/06/2020. “One that comes to mind is a somewhat infamous meeting that the then minister Stephen Joyce gate-crashed back in 2012. Christchurch’s Central Development Unit had been given 100 days to prepare a “blueprint for action”. This saw a high-powered congregation of Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet,…
Grow Ō Tautahi Christchurch Garden Festival – Garden Festival dates set for 2021
Grow Ō Tautahi, Christchurch’s very own Garden Festival, will return in 2021 – with dates locked-in for the free, three-day festival celebrating gardening, homegrown food, sustainability and education. Organisers confirmed today the Festival will be held 12-14 March 2021 in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. The 2020 event was cancelled just days before it was due…
Starlifter.Dev Show featuring Jamie from Meta Digital
“EPIC Innovation features in the latest episode of the Starlifter.Dev Show! Benet Hitchcock chats with Jamie Hamilton, Creative Director at Meta Digital about making CD-ROMs, what’s changed in the Christchurch web scene over the years and how 2020 is shaping up.” https://www.starlifter.dev/meeting-meta-featuring-jamie-hamilton/ Benet ‘Dr’ Hitchcock Starlifter.NZ Internet | Audio Email: benet@starlifter.nz Mobile | Signal :: +64…
Grow Ō Tautahi with Christchurch!
There’s something for everyone at Christchurch’s FREE, three day garden festival – Grow Ō Tautahi. Celebrity chefs, how-to workshops, garden exhibits, science and sustainability talks, a kids’ zone, plants, flowers, entertainment and much more! Christchurch Botanic Gardens, 20-22 March 2020 – see you there! Grow Ō Tautahi, Christchurch Garden Festival, will showcase creativity, innovation and…
Trade Me New Zealand Innovator of the Year Award
The Award recognises inspiring Kiwis whose game-changing discoveries, research or inventions are driving our country forward. The three finalists for the first Trade Me New Zealand Innovator of the Year Award have been announced, and they’re all awesome! From developing world-leading wireless charging technology, to designing a machine that treats cancer, to using virtual reality…
Seven simple tips to keep hackers at bay
source NZ Herald 13/2/20 Seven easy ways to keep safer online: 1. Use a different password for every service. 2. If you have trouble remembering dozens of different logons, InternetNZ’s inhouse security expert recommends investing in password manager software, like LastPass, which will auto-generate and auto-fill passwords for multiple websites. 3. The longer and…
Rocket Lab chosen by NASA to launch Pathfinder Mission to the Moon
source NZ Herald 15/2/20 Rocket Lab has been selected by NASA as the provider for a small satellite mission to the same lunar orbit targeted for Gateway. Gateway is an orbiting outpost that astronauts would visit before descending to the surface of the Moon in a landing system as part of NASA’s Artemis program. The…
Salt District presents The SALTY Buskers Club
READY YOUR LAUGH-HOLE cos stuff just got way more buskery, frens! Mark 20-23 Feb in your everythings for Salty Buskers Club – an exciting day & night SALT District takeover with cheeky choices to choose from. It’s all here and at www.saltybuskers.club TELL EVERYONE! Venue The event is three days with daytime Buskers in…
Grow Ō Tautahi Christchurch Garden Festival
Quirky science will help broach tough issues at Grow Ō Tautahi- March 20-22-FREE ENTRY-Christchurch Botanic Gardens “Ever wanted to know if a cow is smiling? Or how you can make your car run on food waste from the rubbish dump?” Grow Ō Tautahi Science Ambassador Trevor Stuthridge is keen to share cool science alongside research…
West Coast tech firms and iwi get Provincial Growth Fund cash boost
The Government has pledged almost $2.2 million for pounamu and technology industries on the West Coast. Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau made the funding announcement at Waitangi Day commemorations in Hokitika on Thursday He said the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) would be giving $800,000 to Development West Coast for a Grey District Regional Digital Hub and an…
Brush Technology Develop Surflocker- a fully automated surfboard and wet suit hire
Brush Technology have been working with Aaron Lock (@SurfcoachNZ) to develop Surflocker – a fully automated surfboard and wetsuit hire kiosk. Comprising a web app booking and payment service with solar-powered embedded hardware to control electronic locks, Surflocker is like Lime scooters for surfboards! Click on here for more info. Simply pre book your board and wetsuit…
Startup Weekend Christchurch is back!
Startup Weekend Christchurch is back! Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th of May, 2020 at EPIC Calling all budding entrepreneurs! Come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, launch startups, and have an absolute blast at this high-energy 54-hour weekend for designers, developers, and business-focused (non-technical) participants. Don’t miss this chance to meet your future…
Robot start-up Radius Robotics seeks to solve world’s soil depletion
Farming by robot is no longer a fantasy, and it also could be a breakthrough for preserving our soil quality, a group of Kiwi entrepreneurs say. Christchurch’s Radius Robotics is developing a wheel-based robotic system which would direct drill seeds with a minimal footprint, irrigate, weed and collect data. Reducing the amount of land having…
Episode 8 with Lauren Peate (Multitudes)
Episode 8 with Lauren Peate (Multitudes) OUT NOW! This episode we wrap up our interviews from the Canterbury Tech Summit with Kris Herbert and Andy Poulsen chatting with Lauren Peate, CEO and co-founder of Multitudes, about her career to date and how to build an excellent culture inside organisations. Then Andy is joined in the…
Salt District Artwork for sale
Look who’s hanging out with Markus at Espresso245. This beauty (the one that isn’t Markus) is for sale. Want it? Course you do, you pirate. Three more stonking big artworks also up for grabs. Exciting. You need this artwork like the morning needs a coffee. Both available from Espresso245. The beautiful soul sister here…
Lunch Time Concerts at Little High
There will be a series of Friday Lunch Time Music in the Little High Courtyard 🎶 The Ara Music Arts students, SALT district neighbours, will be performing between 12-2pm 🎷 It’s the perfect excuse to gather up right here
What is SALT District?
We think the area around St Asaph, Lichfield and Tuam Streets is the best urban neighbourhood in Christchurch. We are a friendly, creative and well connected community in a gritty, lively part of town including the Innovation Precinct, awesome hospitality and retail, with the South Frame and Rauora Park right on our door step. Apart…
SALT District brings home the silverware
From Left to Right: David Snyder (Town Team Movement), Ethan Kent (Project for Public Spaces, PlacemakingX), Mike Percasky (SALT Collective Charitable Trust), Charles Landry (Creative Cities Index). The team behind the beating heart of Christchurch’s most innovative and edgy District has been recognised at a major international awards. Ōtākaro and SALT District were last…
Lift off in Christchurch: city’s plan to be New Zealand’s aerospace testbed by 2025
Christchurch aims to be at the centre of New Zealand’s burgeoning aerospace sector by 2025, according to the city’s aerospace strategic plan. Read the sector plan here. Read the summary here. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) commissioned Deloitte Access Economics to develop the plan which sets out goals and actions for…
NZ Hi-Tech Awards Launch Event
Interesting in finding out more about the awards and how you can be involved? This event will kick off with a “fireside” chat with two Flying Kiwis and one of our young achievers. This will be followed by a quick run-through on the 2020 Awards, with tips and tricks on writing that killer entry. WHEN 4 December 2019 WHERE…
Vodafone xone Startup Accelerator 2019 – Applications now open!!
Kia Ora!! I hope things are going well for you and your teams as we get closer towards the end of 2019 – It’s been a big year for us at Vodafone xone, and I wanted to share some details about our new xone accelerator programme of which we have just opened applications! J The least important…
The Quantum Industrial Revolution – Christchurch
WHEN: 23 Oct 2019 5:30 PM WHERE: Te Ōhaka – Centre for Growth & Innovation Madras HOW LONG: 1.5 hours Whilst quantum computing, and quantum cryptography gain headlines in the popular press, there is a quiet revolution underway in the industry. What are 50 of the world’s largest companies planning in the light of this next big…
Startup Breakfast Club: Building a Successful Team
WHEN: 31 Oct 2019 7:15 AM WHERE:Te Ōhaka, Kahukura Building (Ara) HOW LONG:1 hour 45 minutes Ministry of Awesome’s Startup Breakfast Club – powered by MYOB and sponsored by DHL – is your monthly morning caffeine hit where you’ll find valuable social networks, gain business insight, and find the critical support you need to power your…
C-Prize 2019 – Information Evening – Empowering New Zealand’s next generation of environmental innovators
22nd October 5.30 -7.30 pm, at Te Ōhaka – Centre for Growth & Innovation This year’s C-Prize competition is challenging entrants to develop innovative tech-based solutions with the power to change environmental outcomes. At this information evening at Te Ōhaka, you’ll hear from leading New Zealand environmental innovators, learn more about the challenge, hear how to…
COME AND SEE THE FINALISTS PITCH THEIR SOLUTIONS!
CHALLENGE PITCH FEST AND AWARDS EVENT ON OCTOBER 18 ChristchurchNZ and Airbus are pleased to announce the eight finalists in the New Zealand Aerospace Challenge 2019. The finalists are: Christ’s College Drones Technologies NZ Ltd Kea Aerospace Landpro Lincoln University NIWA Samplair Seequent New Zealand Aerospace Challenge 2019 Pitchfest About this Event Finalist Pitchfest-Book Here…
‘The Ministry of Awesome’ reflects the exciting new era of Christchurch startups
Written by Steven Moe Guest writer for The Spinoff There’s an innovation renaissance brewing in post-earthquake Christchurch as multicultural entrepreneurship replaces the old boys’ network. This required a new name, writes Steven Moe. An unusual name that evokes images from Harry Potter is fine by the Ministry of Awesome, because it immediately sets it apart. Founded in…
EISENHOWER FELLOWSHIP Indonesia – New Zealand – Australia Regional Conference Wellington, 26 October 2019 “PARTNERS IN HUMANITY: Managing Harmony & Diversity”
EPIC is proud to be supporting the Eisenhower Fellowship (EF) Regional conference in Wellington this year. Eisenhower Fellows from Indonesia are initiating a collaborative conference with New Zealand and Australia Fellows to commemorate the Eisenhower Day of Fellowship highlighting the critical issues of social harmony and diversity. The objective of this collaboration is to strengthen…
Google’s Maps adds augmented reality – for walking directions that might actually work
Google’s Maps app has got a new augmented reality or “Live View” feature, which should help solve a persistent annoyance: knowing which way to head when you’re following directions. You know the drill: a blue dot appears on the map on your smartphone’s screen – but it’s often hard to tell which way you’re supposed…