Make NZ - Industry Conference

The Make | NZ Industry Conference is your opportunity to gain practical insights from industry leaders, discover the latest technologies and network with peers who are shaping the future of New Zealand manufacturing. Explore a program packed with valuable sessions and find solutions to your business challenges.

Get your tickets on makenz.org.

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Wed 28 May

SouthMACH opens

Come in early and enjoy exploring the latest products and innovations on display at SouthMACH before heading into the MAKE | NZ conference.

10:00 am - 10:10 am

Wed 28 May

Welcome & Introduction

Welcome and introduction to MAKE | NZ at SouthMACH 2025.

10:10 am - 11:10 am

Wed 28 May

The Comfort Group | Rebecca Phillips & Ben Rae

The Comfort Group is in the middle of a major move -shifting its operations from Auckland to Ohinewai (Waikato). Ben & Rebecca will share their experience with managing that transition.

11:10 am - 11:40 am

Wed 28 May

Motivating people | Tony Smale, FORTÉ Management

How to get it right in different cultural contexts.

11:40 am - 12:10 pm

Wed 28 May

Panel discussion | Leading through change

Join Natalie Smith (Kiwicare), Rebecca Phillips & Ben Rae (The Comfort Group) and Tony Smales (FORTÉ Management) for a Panel Discussion on the theme: Leading through change.

12:10 pm - 1:00 pm

Wed 28 May

Lunch Break

Take a lunch break and enjoy exploring SouthMACH!

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Wed 28 May

Improving engagement at all levels | Lucien Thiele & Natalie Smith, Kiwicare

Explore how we got that to work, and what the impacts on our business are.

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Wed 28 May

Achieving and maintaining high levels of genuine engagement | Sara Ogier & Michael Anderson, Wyma Engineering

Achieving and maintaining high levels of genuine engagement – the Wyma experience.

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Wed 28 May

Engagement. What is it really about? | John Eatwell, Strategic People Group

Engagement. What is it really about?

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Wed 28 May

Panel discussion | Raising levels of engagement

Join Rebecca Phillips (The Comfort Group), Lucien Thiele & Natalie Smith (Kiwicare), Sara Ogier & Michael Anderson (Wyma Engineering) and John Eatwell (Strategic People Group) for a Panel Discussion on the theme: Raising levels of engagement.

3:00 pm - 3:20 pm

Wed 28 May

Afternoon Tea & Networking Break

Network with presenters and enjoy and afternoon tea break!

3:20 pm - 4:20 pm

Wed 28 May

Argus ManuTech & Energyline | Aaron Haines & Nathan Hay

Argus and Energyline have both recently put a lot of effort into adopting digital tools that help them to improve productivity. They will share how they got there, and what mistakes to avoid.

4:20 pm - 4:50 pm

Wed 28 May

Getting ERP to work with lower-level manufacturing process management software | Carl Broxup, CHC Engine Centre

Getting ERP to work with lower-level manufacturing process management software - we FINALLY got it work!

4:50 pm - 5:20 pm

Wed 28 May

Panel discussion | Making the boat go faster

Join Ben Bainbridge & Carl Broxup (CHC Engine Centre), Aaron Haines (Energyline) and Nathan Hay (Argus ManuTech) in a Panel Discussion on the theme: Making the boat go faster.

5:20 pm - 5:30 pm

Wed 28 May

Wrap Up

Wrap up for MAKE | NZ conference.

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Wed 28 May

Social Hour

Enjoy drinks and nibbles, network with colleagues, presenters and industry members.