Hardware in Wellington
Hardware in Wellington
We hosted our very first Hardware Meetup NZ in Wellington – and what a turnout! We weren’t sure how many hardware enthusiasts would show up, but the room quickly filled with engineers, makers, founders, and curious minds ready to dive into the world of building real things.
This event marked a major milestone: while Hardware Meetups have been running since 2016, this was our debut in the capital. We also had watch parties in Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown, thanks to our amazing venue partners.
🔧 Why We’re Here
Hardware is hard – but incredibly rewarding. The goal of these meetups is simple: connect the community, showcase bold innovators, and create space for sharing challenges and insights unique to deep tech and hardware startups.
We kicked things off with a quick welcome, followed by lightning talks and demos from three phenomenal Kiwi companies building breakthrough products.
🌀 Eight360 – The Untethered VR Experience
Terry Miller - founder and CEO (Chief Everything Officer) of the hardware startup Eight360
Terry took us on the wild ride that is Nova, Eight360’s fully untethered 360° VR motion simulator. What started as a hobby project in a Wellington makerspace has grown into a product used by military, researchers, and universities around the world. With a self-contained cockpit that can literally flip you upside down, Nova offers full-body immersion for VR training and gaming.
Takeaway: Innovation doesn’t start with budget – it starts with curiosity.
Ask: They’re hiring! Follow Eight360 on LinkedIn and refer engineers their way.
⚛️ OpenStar – Fusion Energy in the Hutt
Bradley Leuw is the Head of HTS Subsystems at OpenStar.
OpenStar is trying to do the impossible: build a compact fusion reactor in Lower Hutt. They’re working on a levitated dipole confinement system – think magnetic fields like Earth’s, but squished into a vacuum chamber.
After building dozens of magnets, power systems, and custom components, they achieved their first plasma in Halloween 2023 (yes, they dress up for milestones). Next step? Levitation.
Takeaway: The future of energy might just be born in a garage in New Zealand.
Ask: Hiring electrical engineers, technicians, and integration wizards.
🐭 Goodnature - Humane, Toxin-Free Pest Control
Craig Bond is the co-founder and head of Product Development at Wellington-based Goodnature.
Started in a Wellington garage 20 years ago, Goodnature now ships their CO₂-powered, self-resetting traps to over 42 countries. Their devices are designed to humanely kill pests like rats and stoats without using toxins – and they’re working on a biodegradable, single-use trap that could be deployed by drones at scale.
Their story is one of persistence, purpose, and a whole lot of prototyping. From testing on trap lines in the bush to battling compliance, Goodnature has built a globally respected company by tackling the problem no one else wanted to.
Takeaway: You can save biodiversity and build a scalable business.
Ask: Help them solve a tough materials challenge (biodegradable spring), or send engineering talent their way.
⚡ Community Vibes
Beyond the main speakers, we had lightning pitches from:
Anita Perkins, research storyteller with NZ–Germany links.
Jessie from Vivid Origin, offering design and manufacturing connections.
Paul, a mechanical engineer new to Wellington and seeking maker spaces (help him out!).
🎯 Final Thoughts
The big themes of the night?
Hardware is hard. Everyone’s solving tough problems with real-world constraints.
Talent is scarce. Every founder mentioned the challenge of hiring engineers.
Community matters. Most breakthroughs come from sharing knowledge and finding the right collaborators.
NZ punches above its weight. We’re exporting motion simulators, fusion reactors, and humane pest control tech from garages and local factories.
Massive thanks to Chamber of Commerce, Outset Ventures, and all our partners and sponsors for supporting this event. And of course, thank YOU to everyone who came out, shared ideas, asked questions, and made it such a vibrant night.
Wellington, you showed up. Let’s do it again soon.
Speakers
Speaker 1: Bradley Leuw
Bradley Leuw is the Head of HTS Subsystems at OpenStar. Over the last three years, Brad has had the opportunity to design and build the hardware under the hood of OpenStar’s core magnet, a technology stack that ranges from sensitive instrumentation and power electronics to mechanical systems in vacuum and cryogenic environments. His focus currently is on building teams that can quickly scale the technologies needed to build a fusion power plant.
Speaker 2: Terry Miller
Terry Miller - founder and CEO (Chief Everything Officer) of the hardware startup Eight360, creators of a world-unique untethered VR motion simulator called the NOVA. He has always been interested in technology and how things work, studying electronics engineering and starting his career in R&D and product development before his side project Eight360 became a full-time job. He was awarded NZ Young Engineer of the Year in 2019.
Speaker 3: Craig Bond
Craig Bond is the co-founder and head of Product Development at Wellington-based Goodnature. Goodnature are a team of ecologists, scientists, designers and developers, revolutionising the way the world kills rats, mice and other invasive species so nature can thrive. Craig is also involved in community restoration projects that focus on re-planting, trapping, and weed removal to restore wild areas of Wellington to their former biodiversity glory.
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 manufacturers, specializing 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.
Outset Ventures
Outset Ventures are committed to empowering overlooked science and engineering innovators to transform their ideas into groundbreaking ventures, helping them succeed at the critical early stages. As New Zealand's center of gravity for science and engineering startups and scaleups, Outset is home to a community of 40+ founder-led companies, 5000 square meters of laboratory and workshop spaces, and the country's most active deep technology investment fund.
Lune Digital
Lune Digital is an embedded systems expert specialising in high-tech, IoT and wearable solutions. For the past 10 years, Lune Digital has been assisting visionary companies with hardware design, electronics engineering, embedded software development, and technical advice. They excel in optimizing battery life, boosting power efficiency, enhancing wireless connectivity, and creating scalable, future-proof systems.
Invenio
Invenio empowers manufacturing businesses with cutting-edge design-to-production solutions, including SOLIDWORKS, 3DEXPERIENCE, CATIA, and advanced technologies like AI-driven automation, CAD to ERP integration, and industrial 3D printing. We provide expert guidance to streamline workflows, reduce costs, and accelerate product development, ensuring smarter, more efficient manufacturing.
Venues
Wellington
The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce is here to support the Hutt Valley business community be successful. This includes supporting business to connect through events and activities, supporting businesses to get your views and issues through to the right people in local and central government, and businesses to get training and information to ensure they are kept up to date.
Auckland
Outset Ventures are committed to empowering overlooked science and engineering innovators to transform their ideas into groundbreaking ventures, helping them succeed at the critical early stages. As New Zealand's center of gravity for science and engineering startups and scaleups, Outset is home to a community of 40+ founder-led companies, 5000 square meters of laboratory and workshop spaces, and the country's most active deep technology investment fund.
Christchurch
Queenstown
Ministry of Awesome is the driving force behind Aotearoa's high-growth startups and innovators. They equip startup founders with essential advisory support, expert mentorship, a vibrant community, and strategic connections to accelerate their success.
The Workshop is a creative space in Queenstown designed for product developers, makers, and small businesses, with a focus on outdoor innovation. It combines a shared office with a fully equipped workshop (including benches, tools, 3D printers, and more), and an event space for the local hardware and design community.