Skill Share: Home Automation with Home Assistant

Build your own smart home—no experience needed.

Curious about automating lights, sensors, or heating in your whare? Heard of Home Assistant but not sure where to start? This hands-on skill share is for beginners, hobbyists, and time-poor tech lovers who want to learn the ropes without the overwhelm.

We’ll explore:

• How to set up Home Assistant and connect it to your devices

• ESP32 boards, Shelly WiFi switches, and basic sensors

• DIY tips for automating heating, lighting, and more

• Real-world setups that actually work in Aotearoa homes

• How to maintain (or improve) the all-important WAF

• When and how to use cloud integrations—and when not to

This session assumes basic familiarity with networks (things like IP addresses, WiFi setup, and local access). It’s aimed at people who want to control and run their own automation at home, with optional cloud integrations if you choose to use them.

Bring your questions, projects, or a sense of curiosity. Whether you’re starting from scratch or halfway through a home automation tinker-fest, there’ll be something here for you.

Come for the kōrero, stay for the hacks—and maybe join us for a drink afterwards.