Top 10 Women in Tech Groups and Resources in New Zealand in 2026

Table of Contents

• Mapping the Journey for Wāhine in Tech
• TechWomen NZ
• She Sharp
• Women in Tech Groups
• ShadowTech Day
• Women in ICT Awards
• Scholarship Programmes
• Mentorship Platforms
• University Support Programmes
• Corporate Diversity Initiatives
• Regional Communities
• Becoming Part of the Trail
• Frequently Asked Questions

TechWomen NZ

When seeking the most comprehensive national network, TechWomen NZ is the unequivocal starting point. Operating under the NZTech umbrella, it's the country's leading non-profit dedicated to growing and retaining women in the sector, with a community that had grown to nearly 900 members by the end of 2025.

Its core value lies in high-impact, structured support like its Mentoring Circles, which facilitated growth for over 150 women in small, diverse groups in 2025. This model provides a less formal, collaborative alternative to one-on-one mentorship, opening for applications periodically throughout the year.

Members gain direct access to a national network of peers and leaders, professional development workshops, and pivotal events during Techweek NZ. The group's ethos, as highlighted in leadership discussions, focuses on collective advancement. As noted in a 2026 summit recap, "leadership is about guardianship and cultural safety", underscoring a commitment to generational growth.

She Sharp

For those seeking vibrant, hands-on professional development, She Sharp is a powerhouse community known for cultivating diverse teams and serving as visible role models. This highly active group focuses on practical skills and forward-looking tech trends through regular events in main centres like Auckland and Wellington.

In 2025, they hosted sessions like "AI Empowerment" in partnership with HCLTech and innovation workshops at Auckland’s Vector, designed for meaningful interaction rather than passive listening. Engagement is primarily through these often free or low-cost events, which you can stay updated on by joining their mailing list or following their social channels.

The value lies in the quality of connection and content. Participants build relationships with like-minded professionals and gain insights into cutting-edge technologies directly from women leading in those spaces. This addresses a critical need in New Zealand's competitive market for both visible role models and practical technical upskilling.

Women in Tech Groups

Sometimes the most immediate guidance comes from fellow travellers on the path right now. The Women in Tech (NZ) Facebook group, with over 4,600 members, and its associated Slack channel function as vital, real-time peer-to-peer resources. This is where job opportunities are shared, candid advice is sought on salary negotiations or workplace challenges, and authentic leadership discussions flourish.

The value is in its unmatched immediacy and authenticity. As contributor Emma Brassington focuses on within the group, it’s a space to help women “show up more authentically” by building confidence and resilience through shared experience. For women outside major hubs like Auckland or in smaller companies, this digital whare provides a crucial sense of community.

Simply request to join the Facebook group to gain access. It offers a platform to ask questions you might not feel comfortable posing in your own workplace, directly tackling isolation and closing information gaps that can hinder career progression in Aotearoa’s distributed tech scene.

ShadowTech Day

Changing the industry's topology starts with inspiring rangatahi. ShadowTech Day is a flagship national programme where Year 9-11 girls spend a day hosted by tech companies like Xero, Datacom, and Spark. Its impact is both tangible and growing: participation increased by 25% from 2024, reaching 1,200 students across Aotearoa in 2025.

For students, teachers, or parents, information and registration are available on the ShadowTech website, with 2026 dates typically held in August. The value is foundational, providing a tangible, exciting look at tech careers and actively breaking down stereotypes at a critical age.

For tech professionals and companies, this is a prime volunteering and pipeline-building opportunity. Hosting a day offers employees rewarding outreach experience and gives organisations a direct hand in cultivating diverse future talent. This initiative tackles the long-term representation challenge head-on, contributing to the national goal of raising female participation in tech to 40% by 2040.

Women in ICT Awards

Visibility is a powerful catalyst for change. The Reseller News Women in ICT Awards (WIICTA) and the Women Leading Tech Power List are premier platforms that celebrate excellence, creating essential role models for Aotearoa’s ecosystem. WIICTA 2026 saw a record number of finalists, showcasing talent across categories from innovation to community impact.

The value is dual. For recipients, it’s career-defining recognition. Recent honourees include innovators like Marika Conomos, recognised for founding an AI-powered health tech system, and Franca Moretto, celebrated as a “Champion of Change” for her community building. For all women in the sector, these lists provide a tangible map of successful career paths and a powerful counter-narrative to the industry’s homogeneity.

Getting involved is straightforward: nominate a colleague or yourself when submissions open, typically early in the year. Attending the awards gala in Auckland also offers an unparalleled opportunity to network with industry leaders and witness the celebration of top talent firsthand, reinforcing the community’s collective progress.

Scholarship Programmes

Financial barriers remain a significant obstacle for many entering tech. Fortunately, several New Zealand-specific scholarships actively lower the cost of entry, providing crucial economic support and early industry connections. The table below highlights key opportunities available for 2026.

Application processes are detailed on the respective institution websites, with deadlines often in the year prior to study. Beyond direct financial support, which reduces student debt, being a scholarship recipient often connects students with donor companies, providing invaluable early industry links and validation of their potential from the start of their career journey.

Mentorship Platforms

Targeted mentorship bridges the gap between aspiration and tangible achievement. In Aotearoa, two standout programmes offer structured guidance tailored to different needs, moving beyond informal networking to provide confidential, strategic advice.

For flexible, accessible support, the Women in Tech NZ Mentorship (OneUpOneDown) platform uses a "near-peer" model, matching mentors and mentees for focused, three-month engagements. For a membership fee of approximately NZ$24.99/month, it provides the technology and structure to facilitate these connections, ideal for those navigating a career pivot or seeking advice on promotion and progression.

For those in the burgeoning health tech sector, the Women In HealthTech EmpowerHer Programme offers sector-specific mentorship. The 2026 cohort opens for applications in February, with events like the "WiHT Breakfast" in Auckland providing further networking opportunities. This programme tackles the unique challenges of health tech innovation, from regulation to funding.

The value of both is deeply personalised guidance. Whether gaining a confidential sounding board through OneUpOneDown or strategic insights into a niche industry with EmpowerHer, these platforms provide a crucial boost in confidence and clarity to navigate the specific challenges wāhine face in tech careers.

University Support Programmes

New Zealand’s universities are critical hubs for early-career support, providing institutional backing that connects academic study directly with industry pathways. Programmes like AUT’s Women in Tech (WIT) offer dedicated industry mentorship and formal partnerships with firms like HCLTech, giving students direct exposure to the professional environment they aim to enter.

Financial support is also a key pillar. The University of Canterbury’s Tuihono UC scholarship explicitly aims to address underrepresentation in senior roles by covering 75% of fees for women in approved online tech programmes. Other institutions, like Victoria University of Wellington, further bolster this ecosystem by regularly hosting tech career expos and showcasing successful female alumni in STEM.

For current or prospective students, the value is a fortified launchpad. Engaging with these university-based initiatives provides a supportive cohort of peers while studying, early access to professional networks through guest lectures and site visits, and targeted academic advice. This integrated approach helps bridge the gap between education and employment, creating a stronger, more confident pipeline of talent for Aotearoa's tech future.

Corporate Diversity Initiatives

The career journey is fundamentally shaped by the workplaces you enter. In Aotearoa, leading tech employers are strengthening their internal pathways with concrete policies and employee networks. When job-hunting, research a company’s public commitment through diversity reports and initiatives, as this signals a supportive environment for growth and advancement.

Global players with a strong NZ presence are setting benchmarks. Xero, ranked 41st globally for gender equality in 2025, launched its Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Advisory Roundtable (DIBAR) to build a more representative workforce. Similarly, Spark NZ operates under a robust Diversity and Inclusion Policy committed to pay parity and supports digital equity for rangatahi through its Spark Foundation.

Once employed, joining an internal women’s or diversity network is crucial. Most large firms like Datacom, Deloitte, and Westpac - often Foundation Partners for groups like TechWomen NZ - host these groups. The value is a supportive internal community for navigating workplace dynamics, direct access to senior leaders, and a formal channel to advocate for inclusive practices. These networks make large organisations feel smaller and provide tangible support for career progression within New Zealand's major tech hubs.

Regional Communities

Finally, don't overlook the power of local or niche communities that provide hyper-relevant context and tight-knit professional support. While national networks offer broad connections, regional groups address the specific challenges and opportunities of their location, offering deeply relatable advice.

In Auckland, as the country's tech capital, WomenHack hosts dedicated tech job fairs focused on connecting female talent directly with employers. In contrast, Queenstown Women in Tech hosts "Women Who Lead" panels during Techweek, sharing honest stories about career inflection points and balancing a tech career with the region's unique lifestyle.

The value of these communities lies in their specific focus. A health tech meetup, for instance, will address industry-specific regulation and funding challenges, while a cybersecurity group provides insights into that specialised career path. For professionals outside Wellington or Auckland's main hubs, these regional and sector-specific groups are indispensable, combating isolation and building a strong, contextualised network that understands your particular professional landscape.

Becoming Part of the Trail

The path for wāhine in Aotearoa's tech sector is being cleared, not by a solitary trailblazer, but by a community steadily planting markers for collective navigation. Each resource outlined - from scholarships funding the first steps to mentorship guiding the steep climbs - represents a critical point of connection and support on this shared journey.

This growing network transforms what was once an isolating trek into a navigable trail built on collective knowledge and trust. The national target of 40% female representation in tech by 2040 is not a distant summit but a destination being reached through these interconnected efforts, where every mentoring circle, every scholarship awarded, and every award celebration adds another clear signpost.

The ultimate goal therefore shifts. It moves beyond simply finding your own way forward to actively becoming part of the group that maintains the trail. Whether by volunteering for ShadowTech Day, joining a corporate diversity network, or sharing your experience in a regional community, you contribute to ensuring the path is wider, clearer, and more welcoming for everyone who follows. This is how the industry's topology changes: not through individual leaps, but through a community walking forward together.

Frequently Asked Questions