What we’re about
The Christchurch Game Developers Association frequently offers events in person or digitally to create conversations and share stories, encourage community growth, connection-building and the sharing of knowledge and expertise.
A typical meetup includes:
- A Guest Speaker or Panel presenting on a core topic
- An opportunity for Q&A with our Guest Speakers
- Games Industry News and Events from around New Zealand
- Screen & Games Industry Job Opportunities
- Casual networking over pizza
Originally founded in 2015, the Christchurch Game Developers Association (CGDA) is an organisation dedicated to supporting the local Ōtautahi Christchurch Game Development Community.
CGDA works with local sponsors and tertiary institutes to provide monthly Meetup Events, featuring a wide variety of Talks from local and international guest speakers. We also facilitate Canterbury sites for Game Jams (weekend-long collaborative game creation events) and Playtest Exhibitions, with the goal of showcasing local talent and illuminating pathways into the Game Development Industry.
Check us out on:
Web: https://chch.gamedev.co.nz
Discord: https://discord.gg/68YqqFZ
Facebook: fb.me/CHCHGameDev
Twitter: @CHCHGameDev
Help us grow on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CHCHGameDev
Upcoming events
5
CGDA 10th Anniversary Meetup - November
EPIC Innovation, 76/106 Manchester Street, Christchurch, NZWelcome to the November 2025 Christchurch Game Developers' Meetup!
Location:
EPIC Innovation, 100 Manchester St, Christchurch CBDThe meetup will also be streamed online:
[Link to be added!]Don't forget to check us out at:
Website: https://chch.gamedev.co.nz
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chchgamedev.bsky.social
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/christchurch-game-developers-new-zealand/
Discord: https://discord.gg/68YqqFZ
If you enjoy our meetups, consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/CHCHGameDev
***MC - Keegan Gibson
Keegan has been in game development for nearly 15 years, specializing in Unreal Engine, networking, performance, and AI. Throughout his career, he has worked on a diverse range of projects, including mobile, console, PC, indie, and AAA titles, as well as making some short contributions to film. Passionate about growing the game development community here in Christchurch, he founded this very meetup and is proud to see how it has grown over the years.6:15 PM - KICK OFF
Welcome to the Christchurch Game Developers Meetup, with news from around New Zealand!6:30 PM - CGDA 10th Anniversary
Celebrating 10 years of the Christchurch Game Developers' Association, our wonderful community, and a decade of games made in Christchurch NZ!7:20 PM - PIZZA
Enjoy some refreshments (AKA pizza) and catch up with/meet other game dev enthusiasts.Event Photography Notice: The CGDA occasionally takes photos and/or videos at our events for promotional purposes. If you would prefer not to have your image recorded for marketing purposes, please make your wishes known to the photographer, and/or reach out to a committee member, and we will accommodate your request. Thank you!
***Massive thanks to all our supporters for making our meetups possible!
Our Corporate Supporters:
Yoobee College of Creative Innovation - a tertiary institute committed to developing creative and technical talent across New Zealand.
https://www.yoobee.ac.nz/courses/HIT Lab NZ - a multidisciplinary, Human-Centred Research environment that collaborates with industry.
https://www.hitlabnz.org/CerebralFix - a Christchurch-based game development studio specializing in work for hire from some amazing companies.
https://cerebralfix.com/Screen Canterbury NZ - a Canterbury-based film office helping creatives get their projects delivered to the screens of their choice, providing fantastic resource-sharing & advocacy for our screen production industry.
https://www.christchurchnz.com/screen-canterburynzAnd our awesome Patreon Supporters:
Matt Barton
Leith Caldwell
Samantha Cook
Nik Scarr
Carl de Visser
Alexander Swords15 attendees
HIT Lab NZ and Christchurch Game Developers Exhibition
John Britten Building, 69 Creyke Rd, Ilam, Christchurch, NZThe Human Interface Technology Lab (HIT Lab NZ) will be hosting an Open House on Friday, 7 November 2025 from 1:00pm – 3:30pm.
If you're a developer and would like to showcase a game project at this event, you can register here: https://forms.gle/rcR2xVBqGGw6k78r9
We are a research centre at the Faculty of Engineering. We use virtual reality, augmented reality, immersive simulations, applied gaming, 360° video capture, AI and sensory systems to explore the intersection between people and technology.
Come see what we do and experience the technology for yourself!
Talk to our faculty, staff, and students about their research projects. and our postgraduate programs.Nau mai, tauti mai, come join us. We look forward to seeing you here!
Location:
HIT Lab, Level 2, John Britten Building, 69 Creyke Road, Ilam
This is an in-person only event.Don't forget to check out the Christchurch Game Developers Association at:
Website: https://chch.gamedev.co.nz
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chchgamedev.bsky.social
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/christchurch-game-developers-new-zealand/
Discord: https://discord.gg/68YqqFZ
If you enjoy our meetups, consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/CHCHGameDev***
Event Photography Notice: The CGDA occasionally takes photos and/or videos at our events for promotional purposes. If you would prefer not to have your image recorded for marketing purposes, please make your wishes known to the photographer, and/or reach out to a committee member, and we will accommodate your request. Thank you!
***Massive thanks to all our supporters for making our meetups possible!
Our Corporate Supporters:
Yoobee College of Creative Innovation - a tertiary institute committed to developing creative and technical talent across New Zealand.
https://www.yoobee.ac.nz/courses/HIT Lab NZ - a multidisciplinary, Human-Centred Research environment that collaborates with industry.
https://www.hitlabnz.org/CerebralFix - a Christchurch-based game development studio specializing in work for hire from some amazing companies.
https://cerebralfix.com/Screen Canterbury NZ - a Canterbury-based film office helping creatives get their projects delivered to the screens of their choice, providing fantastic resource-sharing & advocacy for our screen production industry.
https://www.christchurchnz.com/screen-canterburynzAnd our awesome Patreon Supporters:
Matt Barton
Leith Caldwell
Samantha Cook
Nik Scarr
Carl de Visser
Alexander Swords12 attendees
Past events
157
