Innovation in MedTech
A Night of Ideas, Energy, and Collaboration
Hardware Meetup NZ brought together inventors, engineers, and investors for a night focused on one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing deep-tech sectors: medical technology.
Hosted by Mikayla Stokes at the lively GridAKL, the evening delivered an inspiring mix of product showcases, founder journeys, and community energy — proving again that Kiwi hardware innovation is alive, well, and scaling globally.
For this event, we partnered with MedTech IQ Aotearoa and Ella Dixon outlined their mission to accelerate the medtech sector by connecting clinicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors.
Goodair: Mechanising the Ancient Art of Humming
Dr David White, Chief Science Officer at Goodair, unveiled a fascinating Kiwi invention transforming respiratory wellness.
Originally conceived as a medical device, Goodair’s “nose buds” use high-frequency airway oscillation — essentially a mechanised version of humming — to enhance breathing and wellbeing.
“Humming is incredibly healthy,” White explained, “but you can only hum while you exhale. Our device lets you hum on both inhale and exhale.”
Since launching in August 2024, Goodair has sold out its first production run, earned TV coverage, and sparked growing demand from wellness communities worldwide.
Developed and prototyped entirely in New Zealand, then manufactured in China, the product’s success reflects the global potential of locally-driven deep tech.
Goodair is now conducting a clinical study exploring nasal breathing’s impact on mood and sleep — and offering volunteers a chance to participate.
Kitea Health: Reading the Brain’s Pressure at Home
Bryon Wright from Kitea Health showcased one of New Zealand’s most advanced medtech projects: an implantable pressure sensor that allows patients with hydrocephalus to measure brain pressure at home.
The system combines a rice-grain-sized implant with a handheld reader (“the wand”), transmitting real-time data to a smartphone app.
After eight years of R&D and a $5 million seed round, Kitea is now in clinical trials at Auckland City Hospital and preparing for FDA submission.
“For millions living with chronic fluid-pressure conditions, this means safety, autonomy, and peace of mind,” Wright said.
The technology opens the door to wider applications in long-term physiological monitoring — a perfect example of deep-tech perseverance paying off.
RespirAq: Respiratory humidification Support for the ICU
RespirAq is a New Zealand medtech startup creating a next-generation respiratory humidifier designed to make breathing support simpler, smaller, and smarter.
Matt Wilson explained that conventional humidifiers fall into two extremes — simple devices that deliver poor humidity, or large, complex hospital systems that are difficult to use. RespirAq bridges that gap with a compact, self-regulating device that uses a thermoresponsive polymer to capture and release moisture in sync with each breath.
Originally born from a PhD project, the device has evolved through multiple prototypes and recently achieved FDA Breakthrough Device status. Clinical testing shows it performs on par with active hospital humidifiers but without the need for water tanks or external power.
Now entering its validation phase, RespirAq is preparing for commercial launch — aiming to start in the U.S. market, then expand to hospitals in New Zealand and beyond. Its long-term vision: to deliver hospital-grade respiratory care in a portable, patient-friendly form.
One-Minute Pitches & Community Energy
As always, the meetup ended with rapid-fire community pitches, giving the mic to local makers and founders:
Chris —train-network circuit boards.
Simon (Rocket Lab) — hiring an Avionics Test Engineer for ion propulsion.
Adrian (RapiDos) — paediatric resuscitation dosing device preventing medication errors.
Jerry (3rd Year Biomedical Engineering) — proposal for a student-led medtech team, building real devices with industry mentors.
Sneha (2nd Year Computer Systems engineering student and volunteer), presenting her light-sensing “Baby Spice” alarm bat and championing diversity in engineering.
It was a snapshot of what makes the Hardware Meetup NZ community special — inclusive, inventive, and always prototyping.
The Future of MedTech in Aotearoa
From Goodair’s breathing tech, Kitea Health’s brain-monitoring implant, and RespirAq’s respiratory humidification, the meetup celebrated innovation with tangible human impact.
As the crowd mingled, one message echoed across the room:
The future of MedTech hardware is being built right here in New Zealand.
Key Takeaways
Momentum is real. New Zealand’s medtech ecosystem is maturing fast — with founders commercialising science faster than ever.
Collaboration is the multiplier. Universities, investors, and industry partners are finally connecting in ways that unlock deep-tech growth.
Hardware is hard — but community makes it easier.
Speakers
Speaker 1: Bryon Wright
Kitea Health
Bryon Wright is the Chief Technical Officer at Kitea Health and is a bioengineer with over 20 years of experience working on academic and commercial development of microscale technologies.
Prior to moving to New Zealand he obtained his BSE in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University while also working in the semiconductor industry, then a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Utah.
Bryon then moved to New Zealand to found and direct the Auckland Microfab, a multidisciplinary microfabrication facility at the University of Auckland. An interest in translational research lead to working on applications of microfabrication and nanotechnology in commercial products, including medical devices and sensors. Bryon is passionately devoted to delivering the Kitea System to improve health outcomes for patients worldwide.
Speaker 2: Matt Wilson
RespirAq
Matt Wilson is Head of Product Development at RespirAq, where he’s building a new respiratory humidification system to make this therapy more accessible to patients worldwide. With over a decade of experience leading the design and development of complex medical from early prototype to market, Matt is a passionate hardware engineer and product designer who loves turning bold ideas into practical, elegant products. He’s driven by a mission to create technology that delivers real value and improves lives.
Speaker 3: David White
Goodair
David White is Chief Science Officer at Goodair, where he is leading research and validating new markets for their Nosebuds nasal wearble technology. With over 25-years of nasal research and breathing device design, David has a strong background in biomedical engineering and industrial design which has been focussed on the development of new and innovative breathing technologies that utilise the body’s inate ability to adapt and resolve health challenges.
MC: Mikayla Stokes
Mikayla Stokes is a mechatronics engineer at Crown Equipment making autonomous forklifts. She loves using tech to make cool wearable things like a light-up dress or 3D printed earrings. She's passionate about creating an inclusive community where any kid can pursue a future in STEM, and is the two time overall female winner of the BrightSparks inventing competition.
Event Sponsors
GPC Electronics
GPC Electronics is Australasia's largest contract electronics manufacturer, specialising in a wide range of sectors including Industrial Controls, Power Electronics, Aerospace, Medical and Defence. GPC Electronics provides comprehensive services from design and prototyping to full-scale production and testing, leveraging advanced technologies to deliver high-quality electronic solutions globally.
Globex Engineering
Globex Engineering are a mechanical product development consultancy who partner with ambitious customers to design world-class hardware products. Our expertise spans product design, prototyping and design for manufacture. Globex partners with our customers and other specialists to deliver complete solutions and to achieve your mechanical product development milestones at every stage - from raising a seed round to scalable mass production.
Callaghan Innovation
Callaghan Innovation is Aotearoa’s innovation agency. Whilst there’s been a lot of changes over the past few months as part of the Government’s science system reforms, many of our products and support offerings are still available. Callaghan Innovation is still accepting applications for a range of R&D grant funding support that could help your business innovate, grow and thrive. Although these funding services will transition to a new home within MBIE (Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment), you’ll continue working with the same people and products.
Medtech-iQ Aotearoa
Medtech-iQ Aotearoa is New Zealand's national innovation hub that brings the MedTech sector together to spark creativity, drive economic growth and generate positive outcomes for our people, our communities and New Zealand as a whole. With four regional hubs across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, Medtech-iQ Aotearoa is led locally and coordinated nationally to provide direction, connection, coordination and support to all our MedTech innovators.
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