"Modern Science meets Middle-Earth": AUT Business Innovation Centre, the Soda Incubator and the Hobbiton.

 
New Zealand has a long established reputation for world class agricultural science and innovation. More recently, it has become famous as well for its Oscar winning film production, inspired by the creative genius of movie director Sir Peter Jackson.

The tour will feature a visit to the acclaimed AUT Business Innovation Centre, a technological incubator connected to the Auckland University of Technology, the fastest growing University of New Zealand.

At the business incubator SODA Inc we will look at new creative technologies, and learn about the digital cluster they have developed to link industry to the incubator.

This will be followed by a guided tour of Hobbiton, the beautiful piece of Waikato farmland that was transformed into The Shire, the Middle Earth movie set for The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit, currently being filmed on location at Hobbiton and in film studios in the capital city of Wellington – now also known as “Wellywood”.