Kiwi tech showcase planned for during Cup

Brett O'Riley, one of the The Rutherford Innovation Showcase's organisers. Photo / Supplied

The Kiwi tech sector will put itself on show this September, in the hope it can grab the attention of high-profile visitors at the Rugby World Cup.

The Rutherford Innovation Showcase will run around the country for six weeks during the sporting tournament, using Auckland's Queens Wharf as its base.

It will be a chance to show the world the technological innovation coming out of New Zealand, said one of the showcase's organisers Brett O'Riley.

As well as letting international companies know about investment opportunities, the event will also market New Zealand products.

"What we want to do is something visually [impressive], to show at a high level what companies are doing. There's been some fantastic ideas come out so far," he said.

Companies were exploring how they could incorporate techniques like 3-D imaging into their displays and presentations.

"We're inviting key investment partners, customers and stakeholders that [New Zealand] companies nominate. We expect there's going to be leading figures from the industry down [here]," he said.

"It's like an-inbound investment and trade mission for many companies," he said.

While not all the visitors invited to the showcase are interested in rugby, Mr O'Riley said the Cup acts as leverage to get more attendees along.

As well as showing off technology, the events will include a number of forums covering topics such as public sector IT and broadband development.

These conferences could become more regular, as a way of improving the global profile of New Zealand technology, Mr O'Riley said.

The event will also table international trade opportunities, with Chinese delegates attending to discuss the possibility of strengthening trade ties.

"So many of our companies are small, so it's hard for us to do things on scale. What this does, is give them opportunity to participate in something on a big scale which can leverage off local and central body politicians."