Kia ora
As AI shifts from screens and prompts into the real world, IoT is becoming increasingly important. Connected devices, sensors and networks provide the real-time information that enables AI systems to understand their environment, make informed decisions and, increasingly, act in the physical world.
This convergence, often described as AIoT or Physical AI, is creating opportunities across infrastructure, primary industries, logistics, manufacturing and beyond. IoT is not simply a source of data; it is the sensing, connectivity and control layer that helps translate AI capability into practical outcomes. Read more.
IoT Forum New Zealand is pleased to support AI Forum New Zealand and the wider Tech New Zealand community as these technologies continue to converge. Earlier this month, I took part in Mission Ready’s AI for Good Hackathon as a mock judge, helping teams prepare for the event. I then joined the Unitec and Seen Ventures Hackathon — part of the 2026 Aotearoa AI Hackathon Festival (3–10 August) — as a mentor, alongside Mohammed Hassanien, Dr Masoud Shakiba, Husain Al-Badry and Midu Chandra.
These events bring together emerging talent, innovators and industry mentors to explore practical AI applications, and offer a valuable opportunity to share IoT perspectives as AI solutions move closer to real-world deployment. Read Masoud’s highlights from the Unitec Hackathon here.
We look forward to continuing this collaboration, bringing IoT expertise into conversations about how AI can be applied responsibly and effectively in real-world settings.
If you are interested in nominating yourself, or someone else, for the IoT Forum New Zealand Executive Council, submit your nomination here. Nominations close on 31 August.
The results will be announced at our Annual Meeting, on 5 October at 1.30pm via Zoom. I will also be sharing an update on the Forum’s strategy and plans for the year ahead. Register here or learn more.
We’d love to hear from members about what monthly newsletter content, topics or updates would be most useful and relevant to you — please get in touch and let us know what you’d like to see included.
IoT News
- Rocket Lab to acquire satellite firm Iridium (~US$8b) — a NZ-founded company becoming a vertically integrated satellite-IoT player. Read more.
- SiteHive gains traction with construction-site environmental sensors — real commercial traction for IoT sensing across ANZ construction sites. Read more.
- Spark splits into Connectivity & Digital Services divisions, with IoT confirmed core to the new Connectivity business. Read more.
- Myriota launches a hybrid 5G satellite + cellular IoT network — relevant for NZ industrial use cases beyond cellular coverage. Read more.
- Amazon Leo files for a 5,105-satellite direct-to-device constellation, explicitly covering IoT connectivity for remote sensors. Read more.
Read full news here: Where AI Meets the Physical World