Blog Marketing

We are finally coming back to the capital! Join GitHub Engineers **Marco Celon** and **Vic Perdana** as they demonstrate how to harness your workflow and explore how developers boost productivity with AI, reduce friction, and accelerate innovation, all while keeping control and quality in your hands. **Agenda** 5:30 - Pizza and networking 6:00 - Talk 6:40 - AMA 7:00 - Finish Please make sure to register for the event as we need to provide contact details to Microsoft for security purposes. Registration will close 48 hours prior to the event to provide enough time to send out the access passes for in-person attendees, but you can [join online](https://aka.ms/aotearoanzgithub/stream) on the day. If you have a topic you'd like to present (or hear about) please reach out, or create an idea in our [GitHub Ideas discussion board](https://github.com/orgs/NZ-GitHub-UG/discussions/categories/ideas).

**Menno Finlay-Smits: Off-grid messaging with Meshtastic & Python** Python talks! Python people! Join our monthly meetup about all things Python. If all goes well there will also be pizza and drinks. * We meet **every fourth Tuesday** of a month at 5:45pm (talks start at 6:30pm) * **Space is limited** at the venue, so please only register (it's free) if you really intend to come. Also, as we will aim to provide some food and drinks, this will help us manage amounts and avoid waste. Thank you! * \*\*Join the [Python NZ Discord ](https://discord.python.nz/)\*\*to stay up to date, interact with others or help with upcoming events. * Python New Zealand's **[Code of Conduct](https://events.python.nz/redirect/?url=https%3A//python.nz/about/code-of-conduct/%3AfBv4yOxQ5i0fg9WnNd7RvQ4JrjpQ4CztIw_jdXQaRoY)** applies to all Python New Zealand events and participants agree to abide by it. * The meetup will also be accessible virtually. Point your web browser at [https://bbb.nzoss.nz/rooms/qik-mr2-6ds-fer/join](https://bbb.nzoss.nz/rooms/qik-mr2-6ds-fer/join) **Meshtastic provides long range encrypted messaging using cheap hardware and ad hoc radio networks, and Meshtastic devices can be controlled by Python! I'll be bringing along a couple of devices for some live demos.** **Finding the meetup:** Look for a glass door with a sign mentioning the meetup and head upstairs to the Trade Me office. Call the phone number on the sign if you arrive late and the door is locked. Don't hesitate to pass this information around to whomever you think may be interested to hear and discuss all things Python. Join our meetings online or in person: \* [Python New Zealand - Online Events](https://meetup.com/pythonnz-online) \* [Python New Zealand - Auckland](https://meetup.com/pythonnz-auckland) \* [Python New Zealand - Wellington](https://meetup.com/pythonnz-wellington) \* [Python New Zealand - Christchurch](https://meetup.com/pythonnz-christchurch)

We're back for 2026! Are you wondering what an 'AI Product Manager' actually does? Continuing our theme of real world AI product stories, come to hear from 5 amazing One NZ product people, some of whom have this title... One NZ has one of the largest and broadest AI transformation programmes in NZ spanning all areas of its business - from finance to customer service to software engineering to back office processing. With almost 50 new AI solutions launched in the 2025, they are learning at a rapid pace what it takes to build and run AI. The speakers will share the learnings, gotchas and wins. They're all using AI in their own work and teams so along with learning how to build and run AI they are also learning how to work with AI - it's been a HUGE change! **Natalie Burrows, AI Transformation Programme Director** Nat will share an overview of the AI Transformation Programme across One NZ - the mission, the mandate, and operating model. **Steph Randell, Senior AI Product Manager** Steph will share her learnings from developing & scaling our AI Concierge for 1 million+ mass market customers and what's different about managing AI products. **Kavita Nandha, AI Product Manager** Kavita will share her learnings from developing, scaling our suite of AI agents for all enterprise & business customers and co-creating agentic B2B experiences. **Ethan Li, AI Product Chapter Lead** Ethan will share his workbench for AI product management and experimenting with blending product & engineering crafts. **Neeharika Chowdhary, GM AI Product & Value** Neeharika will share her perspectives about the future of product management and learnings from scaling AI products & experiences across CX, AX, & EX. Huge thanks to One NZ for hosting and sponsoring this event! We're figuring out the livestreaming details - watch this space for updates on that. As always the livestream will kick off from just before 6pm. And please take a moment to fill out the ProductTank Auckland 2026 topic survey! We'd love to hear what topics you'd like to see at an event this year. Click here for the survey: [https://forms.gle/dNUKUf6bDaoTApJz5](https://forms.gle/dNUKUf6bDaoTApJz5) Note that as part of the signup process for this event you'll be asked to agree to a Mind the Product waiver. Mind the Product is the global parent organisation of ProductTank Meetups around the world and this waiver ensures that we can safely bring these events to you free of charge! If you have any questions please message one of the event organisers.

Join GitHub Engineers **Marco Celon** and **Vic Perdana** as they take a deep dive into GitHub Copilot’s evolution from autocomplete to an agentic AI partner. Learn about MCP, A2A, and orchestration patterns shaping the future of agent workflows. They will also be an opportunity to ask your curly GitHub and/or AI Agent questions. **Agenda** 5:30 - Pizza and networking 6:00 - Talk 6:40 - AMA 7:00 - Finish Please make sure to register for the event as we need to provide contact details to Microsoft for security purposes. Registration will close 48 hours prior to the event to provide enough time to send out the access passes for in-person attendees, but you can [join online](https://aka.ms/aotearoanzgithub/stream) on the day. If you have a topic you'd like to present (or hear about) please reach out, or create an idea in our [GitHub Ideas discussion board](https://github.com/orgs/NZ-GitHub-UG/discussions/categories/ideas).

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. If the weather cooperates we will be meeting in the patio. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

Our next much-awaited **COLUMBUS** meetup is **Tuesday February 24 from 7-10 pm at ACE OF CUPS**. Meet patients, cultivators, processors, dispensary managers/staff, physicians, home growers, educators, activists, nonprofits, artists, attorneys, business owners, writers, students, and supporters to network, share our knowledge, collaborate, support each other and make new friends! WE HOPE TO BE COLLECTING SIGNATURES TO OVERTURN SB56. BRING YOUR FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO JOIN US AND SIGN! Hope you will be there too! Save the date and pass the word. **Please RSVP** so we know who is coming and how many to expect. Find us to say hi and we will introduce you to others. We should be easy to spot. (The happy-looking group wearing cool nametags! See photos from our past events.) Sign in, grab a name tag, start your own bar/food tab, meet old friends and make new ones! Everyone is welcome. SEE YOU THERE!

Have a small business? Ever wish you could just ask some questions around how to grow your business, get more customers or just know what the freak you are doing with sales? Now is your chance!! Every month we are hosting the "Ask an Expert" at the Columbus Metro Library, Main campus. I will be there to answer your Sales related questions. Drop-in for sales coaching designed to help small business owners, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals sharpen their sales approach. Whether you have questions on how to refine your pitch, are looking to close deals more quickly, or are working on building better client relationships, Smashing Your Sales Goals Coaches are here to help. Drop-in to get expert insights, actionable strategies and real-time solutions to grow your business and generate higher profits. Drop-In Sales Coaching is FREE + OPEN to the public. No appointment needed. First come, first served. EPIC Learning created. Accelerate Columbus supported.

Calling all founders, CEOs, lawyers, doctors, and entrepreneurs to join our special *Founder Edition* of Sip & Read meetup event. Let's sip on fine wine and discuss our first book **The 5AM Club- Own Your Morning Elevate Your Life, by Robin Sharma**. We will pair this book with our favorite wine at **Wine on High** and engage in thought-provoking discussions on startup businesses and entrepreneurship, and network with like-minded individuals in a cozy book club setting. Come prepared to discuss this month's book. At the end of each book club meeting, we will take next book and venue suggestions from the participants for the next meeting. Whether you are a book lover, women entrepreneur, or a content creator, this event is perfect for sharing ideas and insights with other funders and founders in the entrepreneurial world. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together. Sign up now to reserve your spot! *Fun fact! This meetup was established in 2015 and had over 1,000 members. I had to shut down operations while attending law school, but we're back!!*

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas