| He kōrero nā te kaihautu | Executive Director's Note |
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Kia ora Gina,
It’s been a Big Month for NZGDA!
Engagement with government has been strong. We’ve had productive meetings with Ministers, including a recent session with Minister Reti, who followed up with a studio visit to PikPok. It’s fantastic to see such genuine interest! The Minister is clearly highly engaged with our industry and the opportunities it presents for New Zealand.
We’re also preparing key submissions to ensure the voice of our sector is heard loud and clear in ongoing policy decisions.
And yes, the moment you’ve been waiting for… NZGDC 2025 tickets are now on sale! We can’t wait to bring the community together this September for three packed days of connection, inspiration, and celebration.
Ngā mihi nui,
Joy Keene, Executive Director |
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TICKETS FOR NZGDC ON SALE NOW! 🙌
So get yours now and take advantage of the Early Bird specials!!
This year’s conference will be held from 25–27 September at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, as part of Wellington Games Week.
🎟️ Tiered Pricing Now in Place For the first time ever, we’re rewarding those who get in early with special tiered pricing: - Early Bird pricing is available now and ends on Sunday 27th July
- Prices will rise from Monday 28th July and again in August
- A late registration price will apply in September just before Conference.
We encourage you to purchase early to secure the best rate and stay in the loop by following our social media channels.
👥 Bulk Ticket Orders Studios that wish to purchase a block of tickets now and assign attendee names later can do so by contacting us at info@nzgda.com. We’re happy to help coordinate your group registration.
🧭 This Year’s Theme The 2025 conference theme is He tangata, he tangata, he tangata – the people at the heart of games. Our programme will celebrate the people who shape our industry, tell our stories, and build the future of games in Aotearoa. We can’t wait to come together again, and we look forward to seeing you in Wellington this September. |
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What else to look out for at NZGDC?
The Conference is shaping up to be an engaging event with lots of opportunities to connect.
✩ The speakers on our preliminary programme are busy getting their talk descriptions and headshots done to bring our Programme to life; ✩ workshops have been finalised and hosts have provided us with 1, 2 and 3 hour options for you to choose from; ✩ the KiwiGames Zone exhibitors have been confirmed and we are gathering amazing looking game visuals and descriptions to share with you. |
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Remember, it's not just about the presentations and panels - although they are good - we've got lots more to help you connect and collaborate. - The Firestarters Speed Networking room returns with 3 sessions per day - one of those being a dedicated B2B session
- The Mytona quiet room is back for another year so you can rest and recharge between sessions
- There's dedicated space for pop-up meetings, casual seating to chill out and of course - coffee!
- Not to mention the WinGS event on Thursday 25th Sept and After Party on Saturday 27th September 🙌
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The website has been updated with all the latest info so you can find everything you need to have the best Conference experience.
To stay updated - be sure to follow us on social media for the latest updates, announcements, and sneak peeks.
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NZGDA has submitted industry feedback on Toi Mai’s proposed: Level 3 NZ Certificate in Creative Production/Promotion Level 5 NZ Diploma in Creative Production and Strategy. |
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The NZGDA has made a submission on the Education and Training Amendment Bill, which outlines the proposed replacement of Workforce Development Councils with Industry Skills Boards. Our response raised key concerns about the exclusion of digital technologies, including game development, from the scope of the new boards. |
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On the 10th June, the NZGDA has released an open letter outlining serious concerns with the proposed vocational education and training reforms. The open letter has been signed by studios, educators, and industry leaders across the game development and wider creative technology sectors. Read more.... |
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More ministerial meetings - Lance Burgess (NZGDA Treasurer) and Joy Keene (NZGDA Executive Director) met with Minister Reti in his office to fully brief him on our industry. This was followed-up with a personal visit to PikPok for a studio tour. |
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It's great to see other governments supporting their local game dev industries! The Creative Industries Sector Plan just dropped, and for the first time, video games aren't an afterthought, but part of the solution! |
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We celebrate the success of NZ made Roblox game "Grow a Garden" which clocked 20 million people playing it at once and became one of the most played games of the year. Congratulations to Janzen Masden and the team at Splitting Point Studios. Read the RNZ article here |
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Some of PikPok's team recently spoke to Unity about the real lighting setup in Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days. Interested? Check out the full article |
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It's SO close! Toroa: Skycall from Atawhai Interactive is coming this spring!! 🤩 Let's all wishlist it on Steam!
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🌳 Nice one team! 🌱 Some of the crew from Runaway out planting with The Halo Project - Beyond Orokonui. Find out more about their day and the project here. |
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Abiotic Factor will be leaving Steam Early Access, and version 1.0 launches on PC on 22nd July along with Xbox & Playstation 🙌 Check out the latest trailer here! |
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We welcome our most recent individual and student members and hope to meet you an an NZGDA event soon.👋
Be 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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MEMBER BENEFIT: BUY NZ MADE!
NZGDA has partnered with Buy NZ Made to bring you the opportunity to purchase an Associate Licence. This investment allows you to use the NZ Made logo to promote your NZ-made game!
This logo serves as a powerful symbol of quality and authenticity, instantly signalling to players that the game is locally developed and supports the New Zealand economy. |
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By proudly displaying the NZ Made logo, Studio Members can enhance marketing, attract a loyal customer base, and differentiate yourselves in a competitive market. It fosters community pride and resonates with players who value supporting homegrown talent, helping you build strong relationships with your audience while contributing to the growth of our local game industry.
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MEMBER BENEFIT: DISCOUNTED NZGDC TICKETS
NZGDA Members receive discounts on tickets to the New Zealand Developers Conference. If your membership renewal is outstanding be sure to have that paid to take advantage of the member discount. |
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| Kaupapa whakatairanga | Events |
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SATURDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER - SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER 2025
WELLINGTON |
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Wellington Games Week (WGW) is back for 2025! This exciting week celebrates the vibrant NZ games community, inviting developers, publishers, educators, studios, businesses, and all gaming enthusiasts to join us in Wellington.
We are now accepting applications for this year’s lineup of satellite events, including workshops, exhibitions, live demos, tournaments, and more. Whether in-person, online, or hybrid - all events that align with our core pillars of community, inclusivity and creativity are encouraged to apply. WGW welcomes a diverse range of game types, from digital to non-digital, to showcase the full spectrum of game creativity.
You can apply here |
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We've partnered with MinterEllisonRuddWatts to bring you an in-person seminar in August on managing legal risk and where to start. |
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While industry events such as Christchurch and Dunedin's game dev meetups and Wireframe are all listed on our event calendar here. |
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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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