28-29 October 2026, Hastings, New Zealand
Growing the capability & use of wood in commercial and multi-residential buildings
WoodWorks 2026 Conference
WoodWorks 2026
We have worked closely with a wide range of New Zealand, Australian and international experts, technology suppliers, researchers and government bodies, to develop a strong and innovative programme. The programme is packed with practical case studies, technological innovations, and expert insights from New Zealand, Australia, and beyond. WoodWorks has been a cornerstone event on the NZ timber design calendar for over 10 years. The event fosters collaboration and shared practical, innovative knowledge, equipping architects, engineers, designers, and project managers to continue advancing the use of timber in NZ’s built environment.
Interested in Participating?
While the event programme has been released, if you, or one of your colleagues, are interested in participating in the event, please contact John Stulen via email, john.stulen@innovatek.co.nz, or phone (+64) 27 275 8011.
Site Visit #1 - Heretaunga House
We have two site visits planned – the first is to Heretaunga House – four-storey mass-timber office building. The Lyndon Rd East building will house 80 Hastings District Council staff currently working in three city locations.
Site Visit #2 - Te Aka
The second site visit is to Te Aka – Napier Library and Civic Area. Te Aka is a new library and meeting space for the community and councillors, set within the block bounded by Hastings, Station and Dalton Streets.
Who will attend?
- Engineered timber manufacturers
- Engineered timber suppliers
- Architects
- Developers
- Quantity surveyors
- Planners
- Engineered timber researchers
- Timber industry consultants
- Wood supply chain and logistics companies
- Trades representatives including builders, plumbers, electrical
Speakers
Wade Pulford
Project Manager, LT McGuinness
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Tyson Infanti
Director of Business Development, HESS Timber
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Lee Erksine
Operations & Technical Manager, TimberSpan
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Tim Porter
General Manager, TimberSpan
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Grant Perry
Principal Architect, Studio Pacific Architecture
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Richard Laity
South Pacific Programme Manager, PEFC International
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Crispin Egli
Managing Director, Cadwork Australasia
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Mark Kirby
Director, Miconsult
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Johann Betz
Director, Offsite Design Ltd
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Hamish Denize
Technical Fellow & Director, Beca
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Farshid Abdoli
Technical Consultant, SPAX Pacific
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Jono Skinner
Senior Development Manager, Portus Property
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Andrew Irving
Director, Irving Smith Architects
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Peter Corbett
Senior Associate, Beca
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Gary Lawson
Director, Stevens Lawson Architects
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Programme
Programme | Hastings, New Zealand
Timezone: NZDT
DAY ONE
Wednesday 28 October 2026
9:00am
EXHIBITOR STANDS & REGISTRATION OPEN
Toitoi Events Centre, Hastings Street South, Hastings, Hawke's Bay
11:40am
Lunch & Networking for Conference Delegates
SESSION 1
Chair: Johann Betz, Offsite Design Ltd
12:20pm
Conference Welcome and Introduction
Johann Betz, Director, Offsite Design Ltd
12:45pm
Timberlicious...
Gary Lawson, Director, Stevens Lawson Architects
1:30pm
The Hidden Structure: A Developer's Perspective on Mass Timber
Jono Skinner, Senior Development Manager, Portus Property
2:00pm
Public Architecture: Library and Community Hub project in Tauranga
Grant Perry, Principal Architect, Studio Pacific Architecture
2:30pm
Competition and Collaboration — Lessons from the World of Manufacturing
Tim Porter, General Manager, TimberSpan
3:00pm
Q&A Panel
With Session 1 Speakers
3:15pm
Afternoon Tea, Coffee & Networking
SESSION 2
Chair: Johann Betz, Offsite Design Ltd
3:40pm
The $85M Precision Gap: Why Constructability Reports are the Key to Aligning Procurement with Hybrid Reality
Mark Kirby, Construction Management Specialist, Miconsult
4:10pm
Case Study: WallÉ-X building for Tinline Property in Whakatū Nelson
Andrew Irving, Director, Irving Smith Architects
4:40pm
Latest Developments in Fire Engineering of Hybrid Structures
Hamish Denize, Technical Director Fire Engineering, Beca
5:10pm
Beyond Withdrawal and Shear: Hydrogen Embrittlement — An Overlooked Risk in Structural Screws for Timber Construction
Farshid Abdoli, Technical Consultant, SPAX Pacific
5:30pm
Q&A Panel Session
With Session 2 Speakers
5:40pm
TECH TALK
David Murray, SGS
5:45pm
Drinks, Canapes & Networking
Kindly sponsored by:
DAY TWO
Thursday 29 October 2026
SESSION 3
Chair: Clayton Walker, SPAX Pacific
8:30am
Message to Designers and Engineers — How to Make Mass Timber Projects Work Better
Lee Erskine, Operations & Technical Manager, TimberSpan
9:00am
OSM3604® — The Future of Panelised Prefabricated High-performance Housing
Johann Betz, Director, Offsite Design Ltd
9:30am
Using Timber to Lighten the Load in Adaptive Reuse Projects
Peter Corbett, Senior Associate, Beca
9:45am
Q&A Panel
With Session 3 Speakers
10:00am
Morning Tea, Coffee & Networking
SESSION 4
Chair: Johann Betz, Offsite Design Ltd
10:40am
Heretaunga House
Wade Pulford, Project Director, LT McGuinness
11:10am
Building with Confidence: PEFC Project Certification
Richard Laity, South Pacific Programme Manager, PEFC International
11:30am
Digital 3D BIM Models — A Necessity for the AI-Driven Future of Construction?
Crispin Egli, Managing Director, Cadwork Australasia
11:50am
Two Case Studies: Unlocking Genuine Value in Early Contractor Involvement by Solving Technical Issues and Achieving Price Certainty
Tyson Infanti, Director of Business Development, Hess Timber [remote]
12:15pm
Q&A Session
With Session 4 Speakers
12:35pm
Conference Speaker Presentations Conclude with Lunch & Networking
SITE VISITS: Heretaunga House and Te Aka
NOTE: Please bring your own hard hats; high-vis vests; safety eyewear, closed-sturdy footwear (no raised heels)
Note: You can register for one or both site visits when you register for the conference
Note: You can register for one or both site visits when you register for the conference
1:30-3:30pm
Site Visit #1: Heretaunga House
Heretaunga House is a four-storey mass-timber office building. The Lyndon Rd East building will house 80 Hastings District Council staff currently working in three city locations.
3:30-5:00pm
Site Visit #2: Te Aka – Napier Library and Civic Area
Te Aka is a new library and meeting space for the community and councillors, set within the block bounded by Hastings, Station and Dalton Streets.
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
WoodWorks continues to offer a tremendous opportunity for companies involved throughout the building design and forestry sectors. Exhibition spaces are at a premium. Innovatek has a well-deserved reputation of providing both sponsors and exhibitors with a unique platform for promoting their products and services to the industry.
We always receive strong interest in the sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities available. For a full range of sponsorship, exhibition and branding options, please contact Gordon Thomson, Marketing & Sponsorship Manager on (+64) 7 921 1384 or (+64) 27 275 8022, or email: gordon.thomson@innovatek.co.nz.
Event Partners
Platinum Partner
Partners
Venue
Hastings, New Zealand
Toitoi - Functions on Hastings
Hastings Street South, Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Functions on Hastings, encompasses 660sqm of floor space with ground level access. The ceiling’s breath-taking artistic representation of the Mākirikiri Stream, which runs beneath Toitoi, cleverly conceals rigging systems and utilities designed to make our largest venue a genuine multi-use facility, whilst offering modern style and easy accessibility.
There are several accommodation options in Hastings close to the event venue, just search “Accommodation in Hastings New Zealand”.
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Registration
Standard Rate | $895 + GST
Rates are per person
Group | $660 + GST (Save $235)
A minimum of 3 attendees are required for this special rate. Rates are per person
Registration Details
General Notes:
- The Conference Rate refers to your attendance in person at the New Zealand conference.
- All rates are in NZD.
- All rates exclude GST (15%).
- A card processing fee of 2.7% will apply to all online card transactions.
- The Super Early Bird and Early Bird rates applies only to the standard conference rate. To be eligible, registrations and payment must be received ON or BEFORE the listed date above. All special discounts require payment at the time of registration and before the cut-off date in order to receive any discount.
- For those attending in New Zealand, the event registration payment covers morning and afternoon teas, lunch, refreshments, Networking Evening, field trips, a conference handbook and post-event access to presentations (electronic download for those presentations where presenter approval has been given, in PDF format).
Health & Safety related information:
- The event organiser will work to ensure that all instructions provided by the New Zealand and Australian Government Health Authorities, relating to travel and the running of events because of COVID, or other such health emergencies, are strictly adhered to.
- It is the responsibility of the sponsor, exhibitor or delegate, if intending to travel to attend the conference, to check on all updated health and Government guidelines for any specific entry requirements.
- If for any reason the venue is unable to be used because of State or National restrictions that might have been imposed by either Government, the event organiser may need to either reschedule the event or move the event online. Your registration will automatically transfer to the new dates and/or format. In this situation, no refunds will be given. If the event is not moved online or able to be rescheduled within 12 months of the original date, you will be entitled to a credit or a full refund.
Cancellation policy:
For cancellations on or before Friday 18 September 2026, a 10% administration fee applies. Cancellations received after this date are non-refundable but are transferrable. Please allow 30 days for refunds to be processed. If you wish to transfer your registration to another individual from within your company, please provide us with at least 24 hours advance notice.
Read full Terms & Conditions
