A new strategic forum designed to reshape council–industry collaboration in New Zealand will take place in Wellington this November, bringing together local government leaders, industry partners and international experts to focus on one question: how do we deliver smarter communities together?
On Monday 16 November 2026, Smart Cities Council, in partnership with ALGIM, will host the inaugural Smart Communities Industry Exchange at the Tākina Convention Centre in Wellington. Held immediately before the ALGIM Annual Conference, the half-day Exchange has been designed as a practical forum where meaningful conversations can occur before the pace of the conference begins.
Rather than another series of product presentations, the Exchange will focus on the challenges councils are trying to solve, the barriers that continue to slow implementation, and how industry and government can work together more effectively to accelerate adoption, procurement, investment and long-term delivery.
A Different Kind of Industry Event
Councils across New Zealand are navigating increasing pressure to modernise services, strengthen digital capability, improve infrastructure resilience, embrace artificial intelligence, enhance cyber security and deliver better outcomes for communities—all while operating within constrained budgets.
Technology alone will not solve these challenges.
The Smart Communities Industry Exchange has been created to encourage honest, strategic discussion between those delivering public services and those developing the solutions that support them. The objective is simple: create stronger partnerships that lead to better implementation and measurable outcomes.
Learning from New Zealand and Around the World
The programme will feature internationally recognised smart cities leader Dr Jonathan Reichental, alongside representatives from the Linked Organisation of Local Authority ICT Societies (LOLA)—an international network connecting local government digital leaders across eight countries.
Together with New Zealand council leaders, industry innovators and government representatives, participants will explore practical lessons from global experience while addressing the realities facing local government today.
Conversations That Matter
The Exchange will be structured around four key themes:
- What councils need industry to understand over the next three to five years.
- How councils and industry can build more effective partnerships.
- What changes are needed across procurement, standards, governance and policy.
- What New Zealand can learn from international best practice—and the actions that should follow beyond the event itself.
Throughout the afternoon, facilitated discussions, keynote presentations and collaborative sessions will encourage participants to move beyond identifying challenges and focus on practical solutions that can be progressed through ongoing collaboration.
Who Should Attend?
The Smart Communities Industry Exchange has been designed for:
- Council executives and leaders responsible for digital transformation, infrastructure, innovation and customer experience.
- Technology providers and industry partners working with local government.
- Smart Cities Council members.
- ALGIM members and exhibitors.
- Government agencies.
- International local government representatives and smart city experts.
Building Better Communities Through Collaboration
As cities and communities face increasingly complex challenges, stronger collaboration between councils, industry and government has never been more important.
The Smart Communities Industry Exchange provides a unique opportunity to step back from day-to-day delivery, share insights, build new relationships and help shape the future of digital transformation and community innovation across New Zealand.
Whether you are responsible for strategy, technology, infrastructure, policy or service delivery, this is an opportunity to engage with the people shaping the next generation of smart communities.
Registrations are now open. Join us in Wellington on 16 November and be part of the conversation that will help shape the future of local government innovation.
For more information on Smart Cities Council programs:
