AI in Public Sector & Private Business
Monday, 9 November 2026 · EPIC Innovation Centre, Christchurch
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Revisit the presentations from the November meetup, covering AI in the public sector and practical AI-powered business operations.
Download the November slides →Watch the event replay
November's Christchurch AI meetup explored how AI is being put to work across local government and private business, from public experimentation and discussion to an AI-powered back office.
AI in the Council Chamber: Learning in Public
Environment Canterbury Councillor Joe Davies chairs the council's AI Working Group, re-established in May 2026. He shared how personal experimentation led to a public forum where councillors could explore AI, share knowledge, and report insights back into council discussions.
The talk covered working within real constraints — no budget or delegated authority, but a council chamber, a livestream, and the ability to make recommendations in public — as well as what AI may mean for local government as its responsibilities and structures evolve.
How I Run My Businesses on AI
AI engineer Blake Harkness, founder of Harkness AI and Young Kiwis in AI, shared practical examples from running two ventures with an AI-powered back office. He walked through builds across marketing, accounting, web development, sales, and content.
Each example followed the same useful pattern: the problem, what he built, the results, and what comes next — giving attendees a list of ideas they could adapt to their own businesses and workflows.
Event schedule
- 5:30–6:00 pm — Drinks and networking
- 6:00–6:45 pm — Cr Joe Davies: AI in the Public Sector
- 6:45–7:30 pm — Blake Harkness: How I Run My Business on AI
- 7:30–8:00 pm — Drinks and open Q&A
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