New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub

06/05/2026

https://youtu.be/EKhEUzMh5mc?si=Rb13yF_PBozCkH11

​A rapidly evolving confrontation involving Israel, Iran, and the United States is reshaping the strategic balance of the Middle East. This geopolitical shif...

13/04/2026

Hi all, please feel welcome to sign up for this upcoming geopolitical discussion I'm hosting around the current Middle East conflict. The line up is absolutely huge featuring some of the world's top experts.

​Ahmed Quraishi - Pakistan Middle East Specialist currently advising the American Jewish Congress.
Ella Rosenberg - Regulatory Export at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs
Eitan Fischberger - Independent researcher and writer for the National Review, NBC News, New York Daily News.
Bren Carlill - Middle East analyst at the Australian Israel Jewish Affairs Council
Simon O'Connor - Former National MP and NZ commentator and podcaster

May 6th, 5 PM.

A rapidly evolving confrontation involving Israel, Iran, and the United States is reshaping the strategic balance of the Middle East. This geopolitical shift…

25/02/2026

https://www.barrons.com/news/battered-by-gaza-war-israel-s-tech-sector-in-recovery-mode-0961f723

Israel's vital tech sector, dragged down by the war in Gaza, is showing early signs of recovery, buoyed by a surge in defence innovation and fresh investment momentum.

15/02/2026

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-01-18/israel-s-wartime-tech-economy-video

Israel has long been known as the “startup nation,” and its tech sector accelerated during the Israel-Hamas war. Since 2023, Israeli startups have raised record levels of private capital, driven by growth in cybersecurity, defense, artificial intelligence, biotech, and dual-use technologies. Aut...

13/02/2026

➡️ Are KiwiSaver funds drifting from performance to politics? ⬅️

There is a growing perception among some investors that parts of the KiwiSaver industry may be shifting away from their primary objective, which should be about maximising long-term returns, and becoming increasingly influenced by political considerations.

At the New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub, we’ve been hearing from individuals concerned that fund managers may be prioritising ESG frameworks and high-profile divestment decisions, including what they view as unjustified exclusions of Israel, over performance-focused global investment strategies.

(It's worth noting here that in 2025, Israel's stock market was one of the world's best performers, yet Kiwis were completely excluded from this rally because, by and large, Kiwisaver funds like Pathfinder and Simplicity have dropped their exposure to zero.)

If a meaningful number of KiwiSaver members feel their retirement savings are being directed toward political or social positions they do not support, that signals potential demand for an alternative approach, one centred on:
• Transparency
• Strong long-term returns
• A clearly defined investment mandate
• Minimal ideological overlay
• Exposure to global innovation markets, including Israel

We are currently engaging with a KiwiSaver provider open to treating Israel like any other country within a global share fund. Before progressing discussions, they would like to understand the level of potential member interest.

If you hold a KiwiSaver account, we would appreciate you taking 2 minutes to complete this short research survey:

👉 https://forms.gle/Z2Jj86zR5wDgMGs66

Participation is voluntary and may be anonymous. Responses will be used solely for research and discussion purposes.

💸 Incentive: 💸
Participants who complete the survey and provide contact details will go into a draw to win one of three $50 Prezzy Cards.

This survey is for research purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, an offer, or a solicitation to invest. Any potential fund offering would be subject to regulatory approval and disclosure requirements.

Appreciate your engagement on this. Any questions can be directed to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Thank you. The team at the New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub.

There is growing concern among some investors that certain KiwiSaver funds may be placing political or ESG considerations ahead of their primary goal of maximising long-term returns. At the New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub (NZIIH), we’ve heard from individuals who feel some fund managers are maki...

01/01/2026

Israel is NVIDIA's second home!

NVIDIA announced plans to build a large research and development campus in Kiryat Tivon in northern Israel, aiming to create a new tech hub and bring thousands of jobs to the region.

The 160,000-square-meter campus is expected to start construction in 2027 and be completed by 2031, eventually employing around 10,000 people.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang described Israel as the company’s “second home,” citing its engineering talent and innovation ecosystem.

The campus will be built on a 90-dunam (22-acre) plot purchased from the Israel Land Authority for about NIS 90 million ($29 million), including a reported NIS 70 million discount.

29/12/2025

Israel No.1 in R&D per capita.

Top Countries by R&D Spending. These nations invest the most in R&D as a share of their GDP: 1️⃣ Israel – 6.02% 🇮🇱 2️⃣ South Korea – 5.21% 🇰🇷 3️⃣ United States – 3.59% 🇺🇸 4️⃣ Sweden – 3.41% 🇸🇪 5️⃣ Belgium – 3.41% 🇧🇪 6️⃣ Japan – 3.41% 🇯🇵 7️⃣ Austria – 3.20% 🇦🇹 8️⃣ Germany – 3.13% 🇩🇪 9️⃣ Finland – 2.96% 🇫🇮 🔟 Denmark – 2.89% 🇩🇰 Countries that invest heavily in R&D tend to lead in tech, biotech, AI, and advanced manufacturing.

24/12/2025

Wishing our supporters and colleagues a merry Christmas and a great year ahead.

30/10/2025

The New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub Presents:
Innovation Without Borders: A Kōrero with Rt Hon Sir John Key
Join us for an engaging Kōrero with Rt Hon Sir John Key as we explore how New Zealand can harness global ideas, develop international partnerships, and strengthen local innovation and entrepreneurship.
Drawing on his experience as Prime Minister, where he helped shape New Zealand’s foreign policy and economic strategy, and his current leadership roles in technology and at ANZ, Sir John offers a pragmatic, top-down perspective on how entrepreneurs and startups can thrive in today’s interconnected business and tech world.
Together, we’ll discuss what it would take for New Zealand to become the “startup nation” of the South Pacific — adapting global success stories to the Kiwi context and fostering innovation that’s ambitious, grounded, and focused on New Zealand’s future prosperity.
The discussion will also feature insights from Isaac Bentwich, founder of Quris Technologies, tech ecosystem leader, and New Zealand’s Honorary Consul in Israel, and will be moderated by Brigitte Morten — Director at Franks Ogilvie, barrister and solicitor of the High Court, and well-known political commentator and co-host of Three Gals One Beehive.

The New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub Presents: Innovation Without Borders: A Kōrero with Rt Hon Sir John Key Join us for an engaging Kōrero with Rt Hon Sir…

24/09/2025

Shana Tova Chris!