Business Wairarapa Summit 2026
Create your Future!
We're bringing together some of New Zealand's sharpest minds, most inspiring entrepreneurs, and most provocative thinkers for a full day of keynotes, practical workshops, and real conversations — all designed to help you build the future you want for your business, your career, and your community.
Event Logistics
📍 Venue: Wairarapa Events Centre, Carterton
🕗 Registration opens: 8.15am
🕘 Summit begins: 9.00am
🕒 Summit ends: 3.00pm
🥂 Networking: 3.00pm to 3.30pm, Wine sponsored by Urlar
🚗 Parking: Limited on-site parking is available, with plenty of on-street parking nearby.
What is included in your ticket:
Full day Summit access
Morning tea- sponsored by Ohynx (catered by Clareville Bakery)
Lunch voucher
Networking session (sponsored by URLAR)
Attendee bag with vouchers from local Wairarapa businesses
Other goodies supplied by speakers and sponsors.
Lunch Options — Your Food Voucher
As part of your ticket, you will receive a lunch voucher to redeem at one of our four amazing food stalls:
🍔 FAMLY (Bobbies Burgers)- organic cheeseburger and tallow fries -Certified organic beef, organic diced onions, organic house pickles, 10cc potato bun.
🌮 Lulus Taqueria- Tacos, Nachoes and Burgers (GF/DF/Vegan option)
🎉 Good Times Food - flatbread -haloumi, lamb or Falafel served with Pilaf rice or chips
🍽️ Korkeys- Slow cooked Korean pulled beef brisket, broccoli and cabbage slaw with miso dressing and a small brioche roll with kimchi butter. (GF without brioche)
Lunch vouchers are allocated on a first in first served basis per stall from the registration desk. Once vouchers for a stall are gone, that stall is closed.
YOUR TAKEAWAYS FOR THE DAY >>>
This isn't a day of death-by-PowerPoint. Every session has been designed to leave you with something — a fresh perspective, a new skill, or a renewed sense of what's possible. Here's a taste of what's on the programme:
The confidence to disrupt. Meet the environmentalist and social entrepreneur who created the world's first full range beauty and lifestyle bar brand, sold it globally, and is now shaking up the drinks industry all over again. If she can do it, what's stopping you? (Brianne West)
Networking skills you'll actually use. Walk away from a practical, fun session knowing how to work a room, build real connections, and make networking work for your business — not against it. (Catherine Jones)
A reason to be optimistic. Forget the doom and gloom. One of New Zealand's most respected economic commentators is here to show you why the next 30 years could be the best we've ever seen — and he says he can prove it. (Sam Stubbs)
AI that works for your business. Cut through the noise and learn how to use artificial intelligence as a practical tool for your business — starting tomorrow. (Mike Burke)
Your local economy, brought to life. Understand where Wairarapa has been, where it's heading, and where the unexpected opportunities are hiding — so you can plan your next move with confidence. (Brad Olsen)
A distinguished 25-year career in the advertising industry- leading large globally acclaimed agencies in New Zealand and Australia. (Peter Biggs)
Lineup
Brianne West (Keynote- Founder of Ethique)
Brianne is an environmentalist and social entrepreneur. She is best known for establishing the world’s first full range beauty and lifestyle brand (Ethique) and now disrupting the drinks industry in the same way with her new venture, Incrediballs. She’s an animal-obsessed, science-loving, scuba diver with a love for exploring slightly unusual places.
Brad Olsen (CEO & Principal Economist at Infometrics)
Brad Olsen is the CEO & Principal Economist at Infometrics. He is widely recognised as one of New Zealand’s most respected and engaging economic commentators. Nicknamed “Bad News Brad", Brad has been described as a “boy wonder and economist extraordinaire” and “the face of economics in New Zealand” and has built a reputation for cutting through noise and getting to the heart of what really matters.
Catherine Jones (CEO Creative HQ)
Catherine Jones is the Chief Executive of Creative HQ, New Zealand’s leading startup hub and innovation agency. Creative HQ helps grow the companies that drive prosperity for our region and the ecosystem that supports and sustains them. Their active alumni are currently valued at $1.4 billion. With over two decades of international experience in law and investment banking, Catherine joined Creative HQ in 2018 and became CEO in 2020. Under her leadership, Creative HQ has earned major national awards and helped companies raise over $350 million, create 1,500+ jobs, and contribute $120 million annually to the NZ economy.
Mike Burke (Managing Director of multiple companies including Point16 and NZ Fintech Fund.)
Mike Burke is an entrepreneur, investor, and Managing Director of multiple companies including Point16 and NZ Fintech Fund. Point16 helps leaders and businesses reach their critical point of growth, while NZ Fintech VC backs innovative ventures reshaping financial services in New Zealand and beyond. Mike has helped many companies identify technology (include AI) and customer trends for the future and ensure they bring the right ones to life.
Sam Stubbs (Co-founder of Simplicity)
Sam Stubbs is the co-founder of Simplicity, one of NZ’s fastest growing KiwiSaver plans. Simplicity is a nonprofit KiwiSaver and Fund Manager that gives 15% of all fees to charity and invests with a conscience. Sam was previously CEO of Tower Investments. He was MD of Hanover Group and worked for Goldman Sachs in London and Hong Kong. He has also worked for NatWest Markets, Fay, Richwhite and IBM. Sam has an MA (Hons) in Politics from the University of Auckland. Sam is a father of 4 children, and has no time for any hobbies! He dreams of Simplicity and sailing around the world.
Peter Biggs CNZM
Peter Biggs has had a distinguished 25-year career in the advertising industry, leading large globally acclaimed agencies in New Zealand and Australia. He now has an active governance career, including founder and Chair of the Featherston Booktown Trust, a Board member of Destination Wairarapa and a Board member of fast-growth Saas company, Marsello. Peter was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Philanthropy and Arts Governance in 2013.
Your MC - Brent Gare (The Breeze).
If you've spent any time in Wairarapa, you'll know Brent's voice. The Breeze Wairarapa morning show host and General Manager for MediaWorks Wairarapa, Brent brings over two decades of local radio and a deep connection to this region — from its businesses and media landscape to his well-known passion for local sport and rugby. There are few people better placed to keep Summit 2026 sharp, engaging, and moving at pace.
Agenda
- 8:15 am - 9:00 am
Registration, Tea and Coffee | From 8.15am
Doors open at 8.15am — head straight to registration to collect your pack and name tag before finding your seat. Each ticket includes a coffee voucher redeemable with the brilliant team at Gracias Coffee, who will be serving up barista coffee on arrival. Make sure you pre-order to avoid missing out! Prefer to help yourself? Complimentary tea and coffee is available inside the venue throughout the day.
- 9:00 am - 9:15 am
Welcome and Mihi whakatau | Presented by Media Works/ The Breeze
We open the day in the right way. Join us for a formal mihi whakatau as we welcome everyone to the Business Wairarapa Summit 2026, followed by an official welcome presented by our MC Brent Gare, sponsored by MediaWorks. A moment to settle in, connect with the room, and set the tone for the day ahead.
- 9:15 am - 10:00 am
Keynote Inspirational - Brianne West (Presented by Spark Business Hub Wairarapa)
Disrupting an industry: combining business with passion. From disrupting the beauty industry with shampoo and beauty bars to disrupting the drinks industry with flavour balls, Brianne will tell you how she took her first company, Ethique, from her kitchen table to a global leader that she sold (for a lot of money). And how's she's using what she learned in that process to launch her new business, Incrediballs.
- 10:00 am - 10:45 am
Practical workshop - networking - Catherine Jones
Networking made easy Have you ever been told that to help your business, you need to network? But you don't actually know how and it all seems a bit scary for you? You are not alone. The dynamic Catherine Jones from CreativeHQ will take you through a practical and fun session where you learn networking skills you could use tomorrow (or later in the day).
- 10:45 am - 11:00 am
Morning tea - Sponsored by Ohynx
Refuel, reconnect, and keep the conversation going. Enjoy a well earned break with food by Clareville Bakery, courtesy of our wonderful morning tea sponsor Ohynx — and make the most of the connections happening around you.
- 11:00 am - 11:45 am
Keynote (Informative) - Sam Stubbs
Why the next 30 years should be the best ever. Are you overwhelmed with all the doom and gloom talking about how tough business will become? Well, Sam Stubbs from Simplicity is here to paint a picture of why the next 30 years should be the best ever. And he says he can prove it!
- 11:45 pm - 12:30 pm
Practical workshop - AI- Mike Burke
Demystifying AI Everyone tells you AI is the next big thing, but how do you get started? And how do you use it as a tool for your business, not just a technicological trend to play with? Mike will help demystify AI for you, and leave you with some practical tips and tricks you can use for your business tomorrow.
- 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
Lunch
Choose from a selection of local food trucks - delivering up a storm of deliciousness! FAMLYS Bobbys burgers, Goodtimes, Lulus Taqueria, Korkys.
- 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
Keynote (Informative) - Brad Olsen | Presented by Wellington NZ
To plan your future, you need to know the story so far. "Plan your future, know your history" is a principle emphasizing that understanding past experiences, lessons, and patterns is essential for creating a successful and intentional future. Brad brings the Wairarapa economy to life with surprise twists, fresh challenges, and unexpected opportunities.
- 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Keynote - Peter Biggs (stepping in for Nicole Retter)
Peter Biggs has had a distinguished 25-year career in the advertising industry, leading large globally acclaimed agencies in New Zealand and Australia. He now has an active governance career, including founder and Chair of the Featherston Booktown Trust, a Board member of Destination Wairarapa and a Board member of fast-growth Saas company, Marsello. Peter was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Philanthropy and Arts Governance in 2013.
- 2:45 pm - 3:00 pm
Wrap up + Prize draw
- 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Post summit drinks & networking- Sponsored by URLAR
The conversations that change everything. Wind down with fellow Wairarapa business people over drinks from the amazing team at Urlar and food by Famly — because some of the best ideas happen after the sessions end.
Thank you to our 2026 Summit Partners
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity