What is the Innovate AI Hackathon?

The Innovate AI Hackathon is a collaborative innovation event bringing together BNZ’s Auckland 2025 and 2026 Technology Graduate cohort and students from the University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology to tackle real-world challenges at the intersection of AI and banking.

Over two weeks, teams will design, prototype, and pitch AI-driven solutions focused on elevating customer experience and accelerating the delivery of value to customers. The event is powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), whose cloud AI tools and subject-matter experts will be available to all participants.

Teams will select one of three challenges to tackle. Each challenge is grounded in a real strategic priority for BNZ and is designed to be ambitious but achievable within the two weeks submission window There is no single correct answer — we’re looking for creative, practical, and well-reasoned solutions.

Note: Details about each challenge will be released on 3 July at the opening event. We have reached maximum capacity and consequently have closed registrations early. Thank you for your interest in the Hackathon.

For University students:

• Work on a genuine industry challenge set by one of New Zealand’s leading banks.
• Access AWS cloud and AI tooling and mentorship from AWS subject-matter experts.
• Collaborate with or compete alongside BNZ’s next generation of technology talent.
• Gain direct exposure to BNZ as a potential future employer
• Win prizes and recognition for your innovation.

For BNZ Technology Graduates:

• Apply your skills to real strategic challenges facing BNZ.
• Collaborate with peers and university students in a cross-functional setting.
• Learn and experiment with AWS AI services in a structured innovation context.
• Strengthen your network and elevate your profile within BNZ.

The partners

Bank of New Zealand (BNZ)
BNZ is one of New Zealand’s largest banks, with a strong commitment to technology-led transformation and a strong cohort of Technology Graduates and early in career colleagues who are shaping the bank’s digital future.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
AWS is the world’s leading cloud platform. For this hackathon, AWS will provide tooling access, technical mentorship through subject-matter experts, and support for all participating teams.

The University of Auckland's Centre of Digital Enterprise (CODE)
The Centre of Digital Enterprise (CODE) at the University of Auckland Business School connects academia with industry to accelerate digital innovation. The University of Auckland brings student talent from its Computer Science and Software Engineering programmes.

Teams select one of three challenges to tackle. Each challenge is grounded in a real strategic priority for BNZ and is designed to be ambitious but achievable within the three- to four-week submission window.

Registrations have now closed. 

Friday 3 July
Launch event at the University of Auckland Campus, 201-265 Lecture Theatre. Challenge details released, briefing, mentor introductions, and team ideation. 

3 July - 22 July
Submission window open. Teams develop and build their solutions. Mentors available for check-in sessions.

5pm Wednesday 22 July
Submission deadline. All materials must be submitted via the submission form.

Tuesday 28 July 
Finalists will be announced via email. 

Friday 31 July
Finals event at BNZ Place, Auckland. Finalist presentations to the judging panel. Winners announced.

Who can participate?

The Innovate AI Hackathon is open to two groups:

• BNZ Technology Graduates (2025 and 2026 cohort).
• University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology students — second and third-year undergraduate students from Business/Management, Computer Science and Software Engineering programmes.

Teams will be formed by the participants themselves. We encourage mixed teams where possible, but BNZ Graduate-only and University-only teams are welcome. We have reached maximum capacity and, consequently, have closed registrations early.

Team composition

• Teams of 3–4 people.
• At least one team member must be able to present at the finals event in Auckland in July 2026.
• Team members must all meet the eligibility criteria for their participant group.
• The number of teams that can be admitted to the hackathon is limited.

Submission deadline

Wednesday 22 July, 5pm— all materials must be submitted by this time. Late submissions will not be accepted.

What to submit

At the end of the submission window, each team must submit the following:

Pitch Deck:

• A presentation of 8-10 slides covering your problem framing, proposed solution, AI approach, technical architecture, feasibility, and impact.
• PDF or PowerPoint format.

Demo or Prototype:

• A working demo, clickable prototype, or clear demonstration of your solution.
• Can be a video walkthrough (max 3 minutes), a live prototype, or a detailed wireframe set.

One-Page Summary:

• A one-page executive summary of your solution for the judging panel.
• Maximum 400 words.
• PDF format.

AWS Architecture Diagram:

• A diagram showing how AWS services are used in your solution (required for Challenge 3; strongly encouraged for all teams).

Our judging panel brings together leadership across banking, digital, data, AI, cloud technology and academia. Together, they will assess each team’s solution for customer impact, AI innovation, feasibility, clarity and business value.

Dr Ilan Oshri
Director, Centre of Digital Enterprise, University of Auckland Business School

Dr Ilan Oshri is Director of the Centre of Digital Enterprise at the University of Auckland Business School. His research and advisory work focuses on digital transformation, digital sustainability, IT outsourcing and global sourcing, and he has worked with leading organisations around the world. Ilan brings deep academic and industry insight to the judging panel, with a particular focus on the quality of the idea, the strength of the problem framing and the potential for AI-enabled innovation to create lasting value.

Lee Challoner-Miles
GM Technology – Digital, Data and AI, BNZ

Lee leads Digital, Data and AI for BNZ Technology, bringing extensive experience across customer-facing technology, digital channels, data platforms and enterprise transformation. His background spans banking, telecommunications, programme delivery and self-service technology across multiple markets. Lee brings a strong technology and leadership perspective to the panel and will be looking for AI solutions that are bold, well-designed and capable of improving the way customers and teams experience banking.

Kieran Earnshaw
GM Technology Operations Portfolio and Performance, BNZ

Kieran is GM Technology Operations Portfolio & Performance at BNZ , whose team lead the Technology Early in career programme, which attracts over 800 applicants each year for Technology Graduate roles. He is a highly experienced technology leader, with more than 25 years across consulting and industry, including banking, insurance, data and analytics, technology advisory, strategy, architecture, engineering, major programmes and operations. Kieran brings a strong delivery, commercial and people-development lens to the judging panel, with a focus on practical innovation, quality thinking and solutions that can create real value in a complex technology environment.

Jenna Broadhurst
GM Private Bank, Home Lending and Small Business, BNZ

Jenna is GM Private Bank, Home Lending and Small Business at BNZ, where she leads with a strong focus on customer experience, transformation and sustainable growth. Known for her customer-centred approach, Jenna brings a practical business lens to innovation, with deep experience in shaping services that respond to changing customer needs. As a judge, she will be looking for solutions that are thoughtful, commercially grounded and capable of creating meaningful value for customers.

Koren O’Brien
Country Manager, Public Sector, Amazon Web Services

Koren is Country Manager, Public Sector at Amazon Web Services, where she works with organisations to use cloud technology to deliver better outcomes, strengthen capability and enable transformation. She brings a strong blend of strategic thinking, operational leadership and practical delivery experience, with expertise across organisational transformation, governance, risk, compliance and customer experience. As a judge, Koren will bring a sharp lens to feasibility, responsible innovation and whether teams can turn a strong idea into a credible path to impact. As AI continues to reshape the way organisations work, Koren is excited by solutions that combine innovation with practicality and deliver meaningful outcomes.

Rob van der Harst
Enterprise Account Executive, Banking, Amazon Web Services

Rob is an Enterprise Account Executive for Banking at Amazon Web Services, based in Auckland. He works with financial services organisations to shape strategic cloud partnerships and support technology transformation across the banking sector. Rob brings a strong understanding of cloud capability, enterprise technology and financial services to the judging panel, with a focus on practical innovation, scalability and how AI-enabled solutions can be applied in real-world banking environments.

Mentor support | Hackathon participants

AWS and BNZ have mentors ready to support you with brain-storming, trouble shooting and idea testing throughout the hackathon build phase. Please reach out to Yiyang Yu (Yiyangy@amazon.com) or Daniel Pruessner (dpkey@amazon.com) for an AWS mentor session, or Liz Ludlow (liz_ludlow@bnz.co.nz) to be matched with a BNZ mentor to discuss your questions and check you're on track!

AWS tooling

AWS is providing cloud tooling and service credits to all participating teams. Details on how to access your team’s AWS environment will be provided at the kick-off event. Teams are encouraged to explore AWS AI and ML services, including Amazon Bedrock, Amazon SageMaker, Amazon Lex, Amazon Rekognition, and others.

Start upskilling early with over 900 free courses, from Cloud foundations to advanced AI skills and tooling.

FAQs

Do I need prior AI experience to participate?

No. The event is designed to be accessible to participants with a range of technical backgrounds. What matters most is curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to learn. Mentors will be available to help your team explore AI approaches.

Can I participate as a solo entrant?

No. This is a team event. Teams must have a minimum of 3 members.

Does my whole team need to attend the finals?

At least one team member must attend the finals event at BNZ Place in Auckland to present. We strongly encourage the full team to attend where possible.

Can University students and BNZ Graduates form mixed teams?

Yes, and we encourage it! Mixed teams are welcome. All team members must individually meet the eligibility criteria for their participant group.

What AWS services can we use?

Teams can use any AWS service available in your provisioned environment. AWS mentors will be on hand to help you identify the right services for your solution.

• Overall Winner: $1000 prize
• Best Customer Experience Solution (Challenge 1): $500 prize
• Best AI Innovation (Challenge 2): $500 prize
• Best AWS-Powered Solution (Challenge 3): $500 prize

All finalist teams will receive certificates of recognition. Winners will be announced at the finals event at BNZ Auckland.

University of Auckland
ilan.oshri@auckland.ac.nz

BNZ — Liz Ludlow
Liz_Ludlow@bnz.co.nz