| He kōrero nā te kaihautu | Executive Director's Note |
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Kia ora Gina,
It’s been a big month for NZGDA, particularly in government and advocacy.
We submitted feedback on the proposed vocational education (VET) reforms and had a productive discussion with NZ First about what’s needed to sustain industry momentum. Our open letter, which focused on the impact of leaving our industry out of the new qualifications framework, received a strong response and opened the door for further engagement.
We’ve also been engaging with IGEA in Australia to inform our response to proposed social media reforms here in New Zealand. They’ve shared valuable insights from their own experience working with legislators on similar changes.
Meanwhile, preparations for NZGDC are in full swing. The programme and tickets will launch next month, and we’re working with local businesses, hotels, and airlines to secure discounts to help attendees travel to and stay in Wellington more affordably. The 2025 Industry Survey will also launch soon, with some additional questions this year to give us even more detailed insights to support our advocacy efforts.
Ngā mihi nui,
Joy Keene, Executive Director |
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The government is proposing changes to the vocational education system that would exclude game development and creative tech from industry-led oversight. |
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This is a critical moment and NZGDA has published an open letter calling on government to reconsider and we have received over 330 signatories from our concerned and supportive game dev community.
You can read Joy's blog here to understand why this is so important to our industry and how you can help; and we'll keep you updated on progress. |
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Mario Wynands, PikPok and Joy Keene, NZGDA, were interviewed by TV1's Breakfast Show this morning (Thursday 29th May) on the challenges and successes facing the game dev community in Aotearoa. As soon as we have a copy of the interview, we'll share it with you. They were great! 👏 |
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Joy Keene (NZGDA) and Lance Burgess (NZGDA Board Treasurer) met with NZ First's Jenny Marcroft and Andy Foster to continue our advocacy work on behalf of Aotearoa's game dev industry. It was described as a fruitful meeting with discussions around funding, skills shortages, education, indie & studio success stories and more. |
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Minister Brooke van Velden took the time to visit Legend Story Studios and hear firsthand from James White about the opportunities and challenges that high-growth NZ companies face in today’s fast-moving global landscape. See James' post here. |
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Hello Teeto!!!
The new demo from Eat Pant Games is out now! New camera setup, visuals & optimisations, new NPC interactions, a whole bunch of quality of life changes & a whole lotta love. ❤️ |
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Kiwi Game Starter finalist, Project Mix, launches their Kickstarter campaign by smashing through their first goal of USD$50k in under an hour! And it's still climbing 👏
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Couldn't not share this DREDGE fan art. How great that NZ games have such a passionate fan base! 🫶 |
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We welcome our most recent individual and student members and hope to meet you an an NZGDA event soon.👋
Make sure you finish setting up your profile and then log in to the Member Hub on the NZGDA website. There's plenty of benefits and resources to get you started on your membership journey with us. |
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It's true - we need your help! We have three volunteer opportunities available - two for NZGDC and one for NZGDA. If you've got the time and are genuinely keen to help us, help our game dev community, then please read more here and get in touch. We'd really appreciate it! 🙂 |
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| Kaupapa whakatairanga | Events |
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Some great face to face events coming up as well as some virtual webinars to keep you learning. Make sure you come along - we'd love to see you! |
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Wellington Game Design Meetup - at Capital E on 3rd June. Register now |
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Auckland Makes Games Meetup - at Brew on Quay on 5th June. Register now |
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Christchurch Game Dev Meetup - at EPIC on 5th June. Register now |
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NZGDA Webinar Series: Immigration Insights from MBIE on 11th June at 11am. Register here |
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NZGDA Webinar Series: Structuring for Success with MinterEllisonRuddWatts on 18th June at 2pm. Register here |
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Media Design School: Senior Girls in Game Dev day on 25th June. Find out more |
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Kiwi Games Zone
A standout feature - this year’s Kiwi Games Zone will continue to spotlight indie developers and emerging game creators, providing a platform where their innovative projects can truly shine.
It’s an opportunity to engage directly with players, gather feedback, and build connections within the industry. |
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If you would like to showcase your game in the Kiwi Games Zone - apply here! The deadline for applications has been extended to 2nd June - don't miss this opportunity! |
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Workshops on Thursday, 25 September
Workshop submissions are open until 8th June. This year, for the first time ever, you can choose a 1, 2, or 3-hour workshop format - giving you even more flexibility to share your expertise and creative ideas! Whether you’ve got a quick tip or an in-depth masterclass, we want to see what you’ve got. Apply now! |
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Stay Connected
To stay up to date with the latest news and updates, follow us on our social media channels and visit the website regularly.
Don't miss your chance to be a part of the NZ Game Developers Conference – we can't wait to see you there! |
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These are just some of the organisations that have listed cool jobs this month - check these out and more on the NZGDA jobs board ✅ |
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If you have news, content, community activities, events or jobs to share, email info@nzgda.com |
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