AI Sandbox

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AI Sandbox

Explore AI at the AI Sandbox in Nelson and Christchurch.

Everyone is welcome to drop in or book a visit for free access to AI tools, hands-on support and a safe place to learn.

03/11/2026

One week left to register for The Vibe-athon!
https://events.humanitix.com/vibe-athon

Come along to connect with others in our community, share ideas and build something together. Bring your curiosity and an idea you’d love to explore. It’s a chance to meet new people, learn from each other and see what we can create with AI.

We’d love to see you there. Grab your spot using the link above!

The NAIS VIBE-ATHON returns! Free AI event. All abilities welcome.

19/10/2026

We’ve got two Claude workshops on this Friday in Stoke and there’s still room, so I’m sharing it here too.

The morning one is the one I’d pick. It’s about getting Claude to do a whole job rather than answer one question at a time. You give it the files and the instructions, and it works through the steps while you keep an eye on what it’s doing. I use it to turn workshop feedback into reports, and it’s taken a lot of the grind out of that.

Bring something from your own work that drags on: a monthly report, regular admin, anything where you’re pulling information together from all over the place. You’ll spend the session working on it.

The afternoon is Claude Design, for turning notes and documents into presentations and one-pagers.

Friday 23 October at Greenmeadows in Stoke. Come to one or both.

12/10/2026

Ever wondered what all the fuss about AI is really about?

Join us for Wake Up to AI: A Call to Arms for Nelson, a free talk with tech investor Serge van Dam.

In about three years, AI has gone from novelty to everywhere. Serge will give a straight look at what that means for Nelson: where AI is genuinely useful right now, the risks worth knowing about, and how to get started without being technical. He’ll even build a working website live on stage in about two minutes!
Serge started out as an organisational psychologist, so he comes to AI through people rather than code. He’s now an investor in several NZ AI companies, co-founder of AI Supercharge, and an adviser to MBIE and NZTE.

You don’t need any AI experience to come along, and if you already use it every day, there’ll be plenty here for you too.

📅 Thursday 29 October, 7-9pm
📍 Nelson Function Centre, Nelson Golf Course, 38 Bolt Road, Tāhunanui
🎟️ Free, but please book your seat: https://events.humanitix.com/wake-up-to-ai-a-call-to-arms-for-nelson
🍷 Cash bar available

Everyone’s welcome. Bring a friend! 😊

A free evening talk with tech investor Serge van Dam: why now is the time to get to grips with AI, where it is actually useful, and how to start.

09/10/2026

Tickets are live for The VIBE-ATHON 2026.

Book your free place: https://aisandbox.org.nz/vibe-athon/

Join us at NMIT in Nelson from 5 pm Friday 13 November to 7 pm Sunday 15 November for a free weekend of exploring real-world challenges and building ideas with AI tools.

Bring your curiosity and your experience. You can come with friends or meet people to work with at the event.

FAQ's and more information is available on our website:
https://aisandbox.org.nz/vibe-athon/

06/10/2026

Vibe-A-Thon is coming back

Last year about 30 Nelsonians spent a day building games with AI, many of them for the very first time. This November we're doing it again, and we're going bigger. A full weekend, real problems from real Nelson organisations, and teams made up of everyone from complete beginners to seasoned builders.

Dates, venue and details are landing soon. If you work in business or a not for profit and have a problem worth solving, or you just want to see what you can build in 48 hours, keep an eye on this space.

An event this size takes a good crew behind it, so we're also looking for helpers: mentors to sit alongside teams, people to help with setup and logistics, and anyone who can lend a hand over the weekend. If that sounds like you, email Jack at [email protected] and we'll be in touch.

06/10/2026

Have you got your ticket yet? 🎟️

Serge van Dam is coming to Nelson, and we'd love to see you there.

📅 Free public talk: Wake Up to AI, A Call to Arms for Nelson
Thursday 29 October, 7pm to 8.30pm, Nelson Golf Course
A plain-talk look at where AI is useful right now, the risks worth knowing about, and how to get started without being technical. Serge will even build a working website live on stage in about two minutes. No experience needed, and everyone is welcome. Cash bar available.
Grab your free ticket: https://events.humanitix.com/wake-up-to-ai-a-call-to-arms-for-nelson

💻 Hands-on workshop: Designing your first AI powered service (agent)
Friday 30 October, 9am to 12:15pm, Trafalgar Park
Bring a service or process you already run and build a working AI agent for it in one morning. Tickets are $195 (incl. GST) and places are limited. Bring a charged laptop and some experience with an AI chatbot. Credits are provided on the day.
Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/designing-your-first-ai-powered-service

Tag a friend or colleague who should be in the room! 👇

A free evening talk with tech investor Serge van Dam: why now is the time to get to grips with AI, where it is actually useful, and how to start.

Address

Nelson
7010

Website

https://aisandbox.org.nz/

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