The Great Debate 2025 - AI would design Auckland better than us!
Six speakers of Architects, Engineers and Social Commentators face off in two teams to argue for and against the motion: “AI would design Auckland better than us!"
Our ever-popular The Great Debate, part of the Aotearoa Festival of Architecture is back! Open to all, join us for a spirited, quick-fire battle.
5:30pm
Doors open | Welcome Drinks
6:10pm
Move into Loft
6:30pm
Debate
7:30pm
Festival Party
Can AI unleash Auckland’s full potential, sparking ideas beyond human imagination? Or, is the future of our city best shaped by us who live, love and design it? How can we learn from AI to get exceptional outputs? What is the mindset shift and AI’s limitations? Will AI be a collaborator to ignite more possibilities or we won’t need building professionals because we have AI?
Featuring speakers: Gordon Harcourt – Communications, former Journalist and Broadcaster with BBC and TVNZ Fair Go presenter Nicole Stock – Strategist, Former Publisher at Architecture NZ and Houses NZ and Editor of Urbis Jon Rennie – Architect and Principal at Athfield Architects with a focus on urbanism and public architecture. Lindley Naismith – Architect, Co-founder of Scarlet Architects and Fellow of the NZIA Mike Quirk – Engineer and Chairman, Buildings Market leader and New Venturers director at Beca Stephanie Miller – Engineer, Project Director at Holmes with a passion for sustainability MC by Jenny Chen - Architect at Warren and Mahoney, NZIA Auckland Branch Representative Moderated by Wallace Chapman – former Creative Director and Reporter, Host of Radio New Zealand's 'The Panel'
“One thing a person cannot do, no matter how rigorous this analysis or heroic his imagination, is draw up a list of things that would never occur to him” -Nobel Prize-winning economist Thomas Schelling
‘fun and a bit rowdy, a great laugh!’
Come along for an engaging evening and to join the Festival Party at Q Theatre’s Lounge with drinks and nibbles provided.
Hosted by the Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architect's Auckland Branch, The Great Debate is a collective engagement tackling issues that matter.
To book a wheelchair space, or if you have any additional access needs, please contact our Box Office on (09) 309 9771 or email boxoffice@qtheatre.co.nz
Presented by: Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects
Creative Team: Jenny Chen with support from Michael Thomson, Clair Nicholls, Tom Locke, Chris Li, Thyra Nelson and Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architect's Auckland Branch
New York Times bestselling author Matt Dinniman is bringing Dungeon Crawler Carl Live to Auckland for an intimate, one-night-only discussion of his unique and highly immersive LitRPG series. The event also celebrates the launch of Dinniman’s brand-new release, Operation Bounce House.
