Events

Join us online for a panel and Q&A event celebrating the announcement of pilot GovGPT, a major step forward in AI adoption within New Zealand’s public service. The launch of GovGPT marks the start of a journey filled with opportunities for AI-driven innovation in government. We’ll delve into the opportunities our panellists see for AI in Government, what we need to do to make it happen and how NZ can carve out a leadership position for public sector AI globally.

GovGPT is just the beginning - what else could be done quickly and within the constraints of public sector? The panel discussion will explore areas where AI can revolutionise decision-making processes, enhance service delivery or accelerate efficiency within governmental operations. We will also hold a separate Q&A with our GovGPT build team, for a more detailed view on how simply AI powered pilots can now be made.

This is your chance to hear from experts at the forefront of AI innovation and engage in an essential conversation about the future of the public service in New Zealand. If you’re curious about the intersection of government and technology, this event is not to be missed!

Access link will be delivered to registered attendees via email two days prior to the event..

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Inaugural Professorial Lecture – Professor Tony Savarimuthu

About Professor Tony Savarimuthu's research

Tony conducts research in multi-agent systems (a branch of artificial intelligence) and software engineering.

In multi-agent systems, he is passionate about creating ‘socially aware’ software (e.g., those used in robots), that can learn human concepts such as social norms, trust and reputation, and apply them when interacting with other humans or artificial agents. Such futuristic software can enable collaboration and cooperation between interacting entities.

In software engineering, he studies the socialness of the software development process. His research has focused on analysing social networks of developers to understand behavioural patterns, unearthing decision-making processes from large software repositories, and extracting insights from app review data.

He has also led projects on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for social good such as crime mapping based on newspaper data, offensive language detection and reduction in online communities, preventing the generation of useless data, and tackling energy poverty.

Tony is the director of the Software Engineering programme and the coordinator of the Business Analytics minor.

Changes in crime trends in New Zealand attract significant attention from both the media and the public. However, most news reports rely on Police data, which only accounts for crimes that are reported to the Police. The New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (NZCVS) is currently the only source of data that measures both reported and unreported crimes against adults aged 15 and over. Since its launch in March 2018, the NZCVS has interviewed over 42,000 respondents.

The survey is now also being used to track progress toward the government’s new target of reducing violent crime by 2029. This seminar will provide an overview of the NZCVS methodology, highlight the latest crime trends from the 6th Cycle (2023), and discuss how the survey has been adapted to measure and monitor violent crime for the government’s target.

Tadhg Daly is a Principal Advisor in the Research and Evaluation team at the Ministry of Justice. Tadhg has a PhD in criminal psychology from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

Patrick Neilands is a Senior advisor in the Research and Evaluation team at the Ministry of Justice. Patrick has a PhD in animal cognition from the University of Auckland.

This seminar will be held ‘in-person’.

Enjoy a free movie screening of Good Night Oppy, followed by a talk by Betina Pavri, Space Research Senior Principal Engineer at the Robinson Research Institute.

Good Night Oppy is a 2022 American documentary directed by Ryan White and narrated by Angela Bassett. It had its world premiere at the 2022 Telluride Film Festival on September 3, 2022. 

The film tells the story of Opportunity, nicknamed Oppy, a Mars rover launched in 2003 that was expected to operate for only 90 sols but explored Mars for nearly 15 years.

The film features archival and interview footage with scientists and engineers and re-creations of the rover's treks over the Martian landscape in search of water.

Following the screening, enjoy a talk by Betina Pavri, who took the role of senior principal engineer at Paihau – Robinson Research Institute in 2022, having an intense interest in what happens here on Earth that led to a lifetime of study and work looking beyond our planet.

She is currently working on the development of high temperature superconducting magnets for use in space, and will be happy to talk about her recent projects.

When you're here, you can enjoy the display of a replica of the Opportunity and a colouring station for younger kids opposite the theatre's main entrance.

Calling all curious minds, from young explorers to the young at heart!

Have you ever found a rock and wondered what it was? Want to learn more about the unique volcanoes around Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland?

Curious as to why some volcanoes erupt with lava flows and others with huge explosions?

Join the DEVORA (DEtermining VOlcanic Risk in Auckland) team for some fun and interactive volcano experiments. See examples of both explosive and oozing eruption styles, and check out our display of rocks and minerals from the Auckland Volcanic Field – and far beyond. Have a chat with volcano scientists and geologists from the University of Auckland – ask any questions you have about volcanoes, earthquakes, rocks, and the natural world around us.

Volcano Fest: Explore Auckland's Fiery Past and Future - OurAuckland (aucklandcouncil.govt.nz)

Distinguished Professor Dame Anne Salmond and Emeritus Professor Jonathan Boston

Inspired by Dame Anne’s article ‘How to split a society’ and Jonathan Boston’s recent presentation to U3A on threats to democracy, St Andrew’s on The Terrace and the Wellington Ephesus Group invite you to join them for what promises to be a fascinating exchange of ideas between two of our leading public thinkers.

Entry free but koha welcome.

Distinguished Professor Dame Anne Salmond
Dame Anne Salmond is a Distinguished Professor in Maori Studies and Anthropology, and a former Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Equal Opportunity) at the University of Auckland. She has written a series of prize-winning books about Maori life, European voyaging and cross-cultural encounters in the Pacific. She served as Chair of the NZ Historic Places Trust, and has written a number of submissions on Te Tiriti o Waitangi for the Waitangi Tribunal.

In 2013 Dame Anne won the Rutherford Medal, New Zealand’s top scientific award, and became the New Zealander of the Year. She is a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences in the US, Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy, and Foreign Member of the American Philosophical Society. In 2021 she was awarded the Order of New Zealand.

Emeritus Professor Jonathan Boston
Jonathan Boston, ONZM, is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy in the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington.

His research interests include: climate change policy (both mitigation and adaptation); child poverty; governance (especially anticipatory governance); public management; tertiary education funding (especially research funding); and welfare state design.

He has served as the Director of the Institute of Policy Studies and the Director of the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies at Victoria University of Wellington. In the early 2000’s he was a member of the Tertiary Education Advisory Committee and helped design and implement the Performance-Based Research Fund in New Zealand’s tertiary education sector. During 2012-13 he co-chaired the Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty in New Zealand, and during 2022-23 he served as a member of the Expect Working Group on Managed Retreat.

Recent books and major reports include: Child Poverty in New Zealand (with Simon Chapple) (2014); Governing for the Future: Designing Democratic Institutions for a Better Tomorrow (2017); Safeguarding the Future: Governing in an Uncertain World (2017); Foresight, Insight, and Oversight: Enhancing Long-Term Governance through Better Parliamentary Scrutiny (with David Bagnall and Anna Barry) (2019); and A Radically Different World: Preparing for Climate Change (2024). He has served since 2005 as the editor of Policy Quarterly.

https://www.standrews.org.nz/event/divisiveness-and-democracy-in-aotearoa-new-zealand-a-conversation

Join Dr Carwyn Jones as he examines the concept of ‘the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi’ — where they come from, what they are, and how they have been defined and applied in law and policy over the past 50 years.

Join us at the Library or online. This event will not be recorded.

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