Regional Spotlight: Manawatū
This is the first in the first of our new series Regional Spotlight where IT Professionals members across the motu will be bringing us stories, events and insights from across the motu. This post is brought to us by Steve Pavarno from ManawaTech.
Manawatū is an important contributor to New Zealand’s bottom line. We have 120+ tech companies and nearly 4000 scientists (more than our fair share) all building the good stuff that we love to work on. AgriTech/AgriFood is one sub-sector that gets us global attention. IoT is another local speciality.
Thanks to ManawaTech the tech ecosystem here is well connected, with a range of regular meetups to keep professional skills sharp, plenty of collaboration between companies to cross pollinate ideas, a mentoring program, strong connections with local tertiary providers, career development pathways and tons more. We are just the right size: big enough to have a satisfying career with all the big city advantages; and small enough to have a welcoming community where people know and help each other. And a 5 minute commute.
A couple of weeks ago, 39 ambassadors, high commissioners and delegates from around the world spent the day touring local AgriTech companies to get a feel for our breadth and depth of tech, and to take home some new business connections. This was part of the annual Festival of Cultures that brings tens of thousands of people to The Square for tasty international food, cultural performances, and to celebrate the diversity here.
If you are travelling through, get in touch. We can connect you with interesting people or companies to talk to, find speaking opportunities, or pass on some tips for the best cafes or beers in town. Join us at the monthly ITP Breakfast. Always tons to do and try here.
Want to know more?
Watch the Manawa 2.0 video
Get a feel for our work life balance
Read stories about what it’s like do tech here: from Nodero, Integration Technologies, Levno, and many more
Follow us on LinkedIn for regular updates
