EXPO: Office Goodies

OFFICEMAX SHARPEN UP

For the third year running in Wellington, Officemax hosts the office products expo of the year! Come on down to the Michael Fowler Centre and take a look at new releases in office products, furniture, technology, hygiene products and consumables.

Talk to the experts, catch the demonstrations and try products for yourself. There are fantastic free samples to collect and great prizes to be won.

WHERE: Renouf Foyer, Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield St, Wellington
WHEN: Wednesday 12 July
TIME: 10am - 3pm

JULY MEETING: Young IT Professionals Network

What's Up Event: Gadgets, Games and Geeks
The 5th July is shaping up to be one whopping great big geeky networking fest and the Unlimited Potential committee is very excited to be bringing some awesome speakers and exhibitors who are passionate about their technology for your networking pleasure.

When: Wednesday 5th July, 2006
Time: 4.30 for 5.30 start
Where: Renoulf Foyer,Wellington Convention Centre

We've brought back the Half Dozen speaker session and invited inventors, suppliers and commentators to give us the skinny on what's up, what's breaking internationally and in our own back yard in just six minutes. The Wellington Convention Centre is providing a venue for these local and global vendors to showcase the latest gadgets, games and home media solutions and NZWireless is kindly providing access to cafeNET for our exhibitors. It will be a great opportunity to view and interact with everyones latest gadgets.


Speakers & Exhibitors
Unlimited Potential is pleased to welcome Radio New Zealand IT guru and media commentator on all things cyber Paul Reynolds, who be our special keynote speaker. Paul admits to being besotted with all things web 2.0 and being able to take charge of his own digital life…

Following on from Paul our speakers include…
Dr Kate McGrath from The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology. Kate will shed some light on what our academics have been up to in the Nanotechnology space around New Zealand .

Jay Templeton from Mabode, in association with Microsoft, is ready to wow us with the latest technologies for working and playing with Digital Media. We also look forward to Mabode showing off some of the latest Digital Home technology in the exhibition area..

Dan Milward from Instinct Entertainment who create online and mobile phone games is going to talk about their work on teaching Chinese people how to familiarise themselves with English using gaming. Helping people make connections they may not have in a traditional learning space.

Humphrey Wikeepa is the Manager of Software Development at Te Papa and will be talking about the technology challenges faced in creating Mobile Exhibition Guides using the likes of PDA’s and also discussion other options explored at the International Conference “Museums on the Web 2006” last month.

We are delighted to have David Oliver from The Apple Computer Division of Renaissance Limited back at an UP event to show and tell on what’s hot & new from Apple. The Apple event in June 2005 was a stand-out, so don’t miss the opportunity and they may even let you have a play with their new tools and gadgets. Apple are also giving away an iPod Nano!
Dave Merral from Orb, in association with Telecom. Orb brings the highest quality technology and telecommunication solutions from around the world and is providing some insight into the latest cool gadgets such as the plug and play Logitech video calling solution or the Bluetooth laser keyboards.

We finish the session with Mauricio Freitas the Geekzone® site admin and editor and director at Sohosolutions Ltd, a company that specialises in mobility consultancy. Geekzone® is based in Wellington, New Zealand and is rated New Zealand ’s top IT Media website, according to HitWise. The site cover Information Technology topics, including news, articles and reviews and we look forward to hearing Mauricio’s spin on the latest games and gadgets.

We may not have got our hands on the Nike+ iPod running shoe, the Oakely THUMP eyewear with integrated music, or the textile keyboard MP3 player on display, but we have a very keen group of exhibitors wanting to showcase their latest and coolest toys.

We will be utilizing CityLink StreamingNet to capture the speakers presentations and replay at www.up.org.nz after the event.

Our exhibitors to date include:

Mabode – Digital Home technology
Jonny Martin of JonnyNet will bring us some of the latest and coolest in Wireless/VOIP internet gadgets
Parkside – Publishers of Tone and Macguide technology magazines…. Along with a few of their favorite gadgets to play with
Enhance Lighting Ltd – want to know how to wire your home for seamless music, lighting and video, cool lighting effects and more. style="mso-spacerun: yes"> These guys know it all.
Centruflow – Using dynamic visual interfaces to display content
Orb & Telecom will follow up their talk with some hands on gadgets.
NZ Wireless will be CaféNet
Apple Computer Division of Renaissance Limited will follow up their talk with some hands on show & tell.
Vodafone – what’s hot in their mobile space
Canon – Wireless Digital Cameras and accessories
The Programme Outline

4.30 for 5.30 start – Networking and visiting exhibits

Keynote Speaker Paul Reynolds
6 x 6 minutes speakers
Guest Speaker – NZ Research & Development
7.00-8.00pm Drinks, Nibbles, Networking & Exhibits

And it's all for FREE - you just have to RSVP at www.up.org.nz and pick up your name badge at the door. New and existing members welcome!

The executive committee,
Unlimited Potential
Young IT Professionals Network
www.UP.org.nz

Socket for June

Guess who's coming to see us?!

It's the Minister of Women's Affairs, the Minister for Small Business, and the Minister of Commerce - who's one in the same person. Perfect!

We warmly welcome the Hon. Lianne Dalziel to June's meeting and of course YOU! It's an absolute thrill to have this direct audience with the Minister, so come along to this very special Socket.

The minister will be talking about what the government is doing for small business, creative business and women in business.

It's also your chance to have a say: you'll be welcome to ask questions about government policy and plans for business, particularly as it relates to women in business. (That's you!).

The Minister's attendance at Socket will be timely considering that Paid Parental Leave for the Self Employed kicks off on 1 July. Under this new legislation passed in May, self-employed mothers will also be eligible for paid parental leave like employee mothers. Great news!

The Hon. Lianne Dalziel is an experienced Labour MP who has been in Parliament since 1990, Ms Dalziel first entered the Cabinet in 1999. She is also a former lawyer.

If you only come to one Socket, make it this one!
It'll be FASCINATING.

Our new venue
We love our new venue - Bambalina's Espresso Bar and Cafe at 35a Dixon Street - you'll find the entrance stairwell just up Dixon Lane on the left.

TIME: 5.00 – 7.00
DATE: Tuesday 27 June

We'd love to see you there, as well as your female friends and whanau. Please arrive early as we're expecting a crowd.

HIPPY CAPITALISTS : Business Sustainability Assessment & Awards program

This program is a great way for businesses to get a handle of the whole sustainability picture and get some recognition for any good work they are doing. For further information on the challenge please visit the website http://www.sustainable.org.nz/.

Being then part of this year's Get Sustainable Challenge will entitle you to
• a 2hr sustainability assessment,
• a judging report on how you are going including feedback on what your priority areas to focus are
• opportunity to be rewarded (and regionally promoted) with one of the three regional awards (and possibly being nominated to go into the national awards to be held later this year)
• membership to the Sustainable Business Network

The benefits of being part of the Sustainable Business Network are:
• Networking opportunities will allow you to share problems and solutions with other businesses who are working on sustainability.
• Our website member directory allows for recognition and profiling of your business.
• Information, advice, practical tools and resources that can help with the achievement of sustainability goals are made available to network members.
• Members get discounted rates for workshops, conferences and exhibitions nationally.
• Members receive updates through email newsletters.
• Being a member is an easy way to enhance your reputation as a sustainable business, which leads to benefits such as strong brand value, easier recruitment and lower training costs (through attracting employees).

Costs to enter are really quite reasonable and are dependent on Annual Revenue.
If you are interested to learn more please contact Michelle Hayward; Sustainable Business Facilitator, Resource Policy & Environment Education. Greater Wellington Regional Council, PO Box 11 646, Wellington, phone: 04 801 1061

MUSIC : Friday 9 June

8pm
Friday 9 June
Aaron Laurence Gallery
326 Lambton Quay, Wellington
(Between Sounds & Westpac at the WILLIS ST END of Lambton Quay)

$5... BYO and a Cushion

MHFS:
Sublime computer/tapes/guitar/voice constructions from Mark Sadgrove
(Plains, Infinitesimal and many other Auckland scene collaborations).
Visceral haziness which has attracted the attention of esteemed labels
such as Celebrate Psi Phenomenon, PseudoArcana and Scarcelight (USA). Last
chance to catch mhfs before he leaves for Japan.

1/3 OCTAVE BAND:
Bill Wood and Jules Desmond knead your brain into a puddle of dribbly goo
with their woozy levitation-drone. Fresh from shows in Australia with
blood-brother Birchville Cat Motel.

GLORY FCKN SUN:
Rare live performance from Wellington trio. Great swells of
psych-noise-drone. Antony Milton (guitar), Simon O'Rorke (wall of
percussion) & Ben Spiers (guitar).

www.aaronlaurencegallery.co.nz

BOOK LAUNCH: Gecko Press

Gecko Press invites you to the launch of Elfrida, the story of a sheep who decides to be different.

Storytelling, drama and dance on stage
at Capital E, McKenzie Stage, Civic Square, Wellington
Tuesday 18 July, 2006 11.00-11.30 am
(Performance start 11.00am)

Presented by Zappolina, the Kidzclub and Capital E

Parents, preschool and early primary age children are especially welcome.
Join us for a sandwich and juice afterwards (and chance to buy the book J)

RSVP by 30 June to julia@geckopress.com and go into the draw to win a copy of Elfrida, drawn on the day

Phone 04 381 4476
www.geckopress.com

As Elfrida sashays past
The mob goes crazy with delight.
“We want to look like you!” they bleat.
“We’re sick of looking plain and white.”

Elfrida by Klara Fall Illustrations by Heide Stollinger
Published Gecko Press
ISBN 0-9582598-3-6

THEATRE : Magdalena Aotearoa presents Rosa Casado

Please pass this on to anyone who may be interested.

From June 20 to July 5 2006, the Magdalena Aotearoa Trust will host a visit by Spanish theatre artist Rosa Casado. She will give lectures, workshops and performances in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin.

An independent creator and performer based in Madrid, Rosa Casado's work centres on rewriting reality by de-contextualising ordinary daily acts to explore new ways of "thinking" and "doing". She is particularly concerned with issues around tourism, migration and art's capacity for transformation.
"Paradise 2: the incessant sound of a falling tree" is the title of the 30-minute solo performance which she will present in New Zealand. In it, Rosa describes her own holiday in Mali, juxtaposed with the story of a man's migration from Senegal to Spain. Rosa will give the performance in English, and also in Spanish if there is the demand for it. "Paradise 2" features a large chocolate island - which she eats during the performance - and will be followed by a discussion with the artist.

New Zealand artists will have the opportunity to participate in a two-day workshop with Rosa, "To Create in a Time and a Place." The workshop is directed at anyone wanting to investigate the capacity of art and action to speak about reality and to promote new ways of thinking.

The workshops are limited to TEN PARTICIPANTS ONLY so please reserve your place now! Workshop fees are $150 waged, $75 unwaged, for the two days.

20-23 June: AUCKLAND
21-22 June: 2-day workshop
22 June, 8pm: performance of "Paradise 2"
Venue for both: Luxembourg Gardens, 14 Customs St East
Phone Lilicherie McGregor, 09 372 9798, for more information

23-29 June: WELLINGTON
24-25 June: 2-day workshop (Tararua Tramping Club)
24-25 June, 8pm: performances of "Paradise 2" (Wellington Performing Arts Centre)
27-28 June: 2-day workshop (Thistle Hall)
Phone Helen Varley Jamieson, 04 934 9605 for more information

30 June - 4 July: DUNEDIN
1-2 July: 2-day workshop and performance of "Paradise 2"
Venue for both: Dance Studio, School of Phys Ed, Cumberland Street
Phone Karin Reid, 03 472 7998 for more information

Further information about Rosa Casado, her performance and her workshop is available online at http://magdalena.actrix.co.nz/guests/rosa.html.
To register for the workshops and for any other enquiries including images, please email magdalen@actrix.co.nz or phone Helen Varley Jamieson on 021 023 92928 or (04) 934 9605.
Auckland: phone Lilicherie McGregor, 09 372 9798
Dunedin: phone Karin Reid, 03 472 7998