25 August 2023

Last month, our BizVenture – Japan programme was run for the third year and for the first time, Japanese and New Zealand students competed together in teams. Over the weekend, teams were guided by business mentors to develop a product addressing the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals of no poverty, wellbeing, and gender equality.

Held in Auckland, Tokyo, and online, in a hybrid bicultural exchange event for school students, 30 students from Japan and New Zealand took part in the weekend challenge.

Prior to the weekend online, 18 students came together in Auckland to learn first-hand about doing business with Japan, hearing from New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, Sealord, Anzco, Buckly Systems, and Deloitte. The itinerary also included immersive Japanese cultural experiences (Shinryukan Aikido, and Japanese Calligraphy Auckland) to help students understand Japan’s unique culture.

The 2023 BizVenture Japan programme is an initiative hosted by the North Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence in partnership with Education New Zealand and facilitated by Young Enterprise Trust based in Wellington.