TechComm NZ

The latest newsletter from the International Journal of Technical Communication (IJTC) hit inboxes yesterday. The July newsletter includes:

✔️ Why does AI want to know what's in your sandwich?
✔️ Articles on URI, SPARQL, SHACL, and SKOS skills
✔️ Members wanted for interviews about a standard "day in the life"
✔️ A call for articles

If you're not yet receiving the IJTC newsletter and you’re a paid TechCommNZ member, you can opt in. Just:
✅ email [email protected] with the subject line "Opt-in to IJTC"
✅ in the email, confirm your full name and email address to use for the journal subscription.

When your subscription is activated, you’ll receive an email from ijtc.net with more information. You can unsubscribe at any time.

If you're a member, you'll have received a link to our 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲.
💡 This is the only survey of its kind in Aotearoa.
💡 When we publish the result, our paid members will be able to see where they stand relative to others in our industry.
💡 They'll also see the tools and methods people are using, which can help them decide where to upskill next.

It only takes a few minutes to complete and closes on 25 July 2026. You could also win a $100 Prezzie card (two to be won).

𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐶𝑎𝑛𝑣𝑎

On 2 September, learn how to move from talking about AI to actually building with it, with NZATD.

EVENT 📅
Using AI to Build Power Skills – From Strategy to Storyline Simulations

Are you ready to move from talking about AI to actually building with it?

In this NZATD webinar, we combine big-picture thinking with practical application.

Discover why AI is reshaping how we develop critical Power Skills, and see how organisations are already using simulated conversations to create more human, impactful learning.

Then we’ll show you how it’s done.

Step-by-step, you’ll learn how to embed ChatGPT into Articulate Storyline to create adaptive learning simulations where learners can practise coaching, feedback and difficult conversations in a safe, realistic environment.

It’s not just about using AI. It’s about using it well to build capability that sticks.

Join the kōrero and leave with ideas, workflows and inspiration to start creating your own AI-powered learning experiences.

When: 6.45pm Wednesday 2 September
Where: Online

Register here: https://nzatd.org.nz/event-6511335

You’ve asked AI to write your caption, generate a logo, or code your landing page… but who owns the result? You? The platform? No one?

Join Write Group and Mutatis Legal for a live (free) Q&A to explore these questions on 2 July at 11am.

You’ve asked AI to write your caption, generate a logo, or code your landing page…but who owns the result? You? The platform? No one?

Copyright law wasn’t built with AI in mind, and that creates a blind spot for everyone.

Join us for a live Q&A on Thursday, 2 July with:
• Una Cox from Write Group
• Sophie Everarts de Velp, Lawyer at Mutatis Legal

We’ll break the topic down with clear, practical insights and explore the following questions.
• Is your AI-generated content protected?
• Why is a human in the loop essential for your legal protection?
• Who owns the rights?
• How else can you stay legally protected?

You don’t need to stop using AI — just understand what you own.

A bonus to this Q&A: Simply by showing up live, you’ll make a positive impact. For every attendee, we’ll contribute through our B1G1 partnership to help protect the Indonesian rainforest from wildfires.

Tune in on:
📅 Thursday, 2 July
🕛 11am to 11.30am
📌 On Zoom

Register for free and select ‘Add to calendar’ for a reminder on the day.

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HoNlKs_cQOq_CKnCX3ELMg

We look forward to seeing you there!

𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐍𝐙 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕

This was a very tough decision, but with a drop in board and volunteer capacity recently, it's not possible to put on a conference to the standard we all expect. We’re sorry for any inconvenience if you were already making plans to come along this September.

We still want to offer worthwhile experiences to our members, so we’re working on other options instead, including:
✅ running webinars with the amazing presenters we’d organised for the conference
✅ smaller and more local networking events.

That gives us more time to plan for a conference to happen in the second half of 2027 instead.

We’re still going to be delivering other staples this year too, like the Annual General Meeting and the salary survey.

For more TechCommNZ news, check out the latest newsletter, hitting your inboxes now.

Only one week to go till our next webinar! Have you registered yet?

Our next webinar is coming up on 22 May.
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐈

This webinar introduces practical methods for using AI as a dependable writing partner. You’ll learn how to design prompts that deliver accurate, on-brand results, identify where AI can enhance efficiency and precision throughout the writing process, and understand how to decide between using one-off prompts and reusable custom GPTs (generative pre-trained transformers).

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• 𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑠: Learn how the 3Rs framework helps you craft prompts that consistently produce accurate, relevant, and on-brand writing outcomes.

• 𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐴𝐼 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒: Explore key stages in the writing and editing process where AI can sharpen accuracy, speed up drafting, and reduce rework, with real-life examples using the presenter’s report writing GPTs.

• 𝐷𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑠 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝐺𝑃𝑇𝑠: Understand how to choose between one-off prompts for creative control and custom GPTs for repeatable, high-quality results across projects.

𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬: You'll be offered a free 1:1 follow-up session to discuss a project you’re working on and to receive specific advice on how to integrate AI into that project.

Secure your spot now at the link in our bio.

Photo by Zulfugar Karimov on Unsplash

One week to go till our next webinar! Have you registered yet?

Our next webinar is coming up on 22 May.
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐈

This webinar introduces practical methods for using AI as a dependable writing partner. You’ll learn how to design prompts that deliver accurate, on-brand results, identify where AI can enhance efficiency and precision throughout the writing process, and understand how to decide between using one-off prompts and reusable custom GPTs (generative pre-trained transformers).

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• 𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑠: Learn how the 3Rs framework helps you craft prompts that consistently produce accurate, relevant, and on-brand writing outcomes.

• 𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐴𝐼 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒: Explore key stages in the writing and editing process where AI can sharpen accuracy, speed up drafting, and reduce rework, with real-life examples using the presenter’s report writing GPTs.

• 𝐷𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑠 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝐺𝑃𝑇𝑠: Understand how to choose between one-off prompts for creative control and custom GPTs for repeatable, high-quality results across projects.

𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬: You'll be offered a free 1:1 follow-up session to discuss a project you’re working on and to receive specific advice on how to integrate AI into that project.

Secure your spot now at the link in our bio.

Photo by Zulfugar Karimov on Unsplash

"AI can produce words quickly — but getting it to produce words worth reading is another matter."

Why don’t you just write that using AI? - Write Group Stop settling for generic AI content. Discover three expert ways to brief, fact-check, and edit AI into a powerful writing partner.

𝐖𝐞 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐍𝐙 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝
Can you volunteer your time and skills as a board member? We need to hear from you by 𝟏 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔. Please email: [email protected]

𝐻𝑒𝑟𝑒’𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔
We have some long-serving board members who are stepping down this year. So we’re down to the minimum number of three board members, which isn't sustainable or practical.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐍𝐙 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬
If we don’t get volunteers by 1 May 2026, we’ll need to make some tough decisions about:
💠 if we can offer this year’s conference
💠 the future of TechCommNZ as an organisation.

𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠
It's a reasonable commitment, especially if you already have a day job.
The best fit for the board right now are people who:
✅ could prioritise TechCommNZ
✅ have passion and drive for representing technical communicators, our community, and profession
✅ have experience being on a board, or with board governance, people leadership, or running a business.

Our board members do things like:
☑️ attend monthly meetings
☑️ attend extra, regular conference planning meetings (in conference years)
☑️ share the work to put on a conference
☑️ help make decisions to keep us running and meeting legal requirements
☑️ draft comms for members
☑️ manage and contribute to special projects.

Specific board roles also do things like:
☑️ create our newsletter
☑️ manage social media
☑️ organise webinars
☑️ manage memberships and finances
☑️ secretary duties.

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐲 𝟏 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
TechCommNZ and our members mean so much to us, and we really want to leave the organisation in safe hands. Having a people-focused network like ours is more important than ever, especially in this changing landscape. If you know someone you think would be great to help lead TechCommNZ, encourage them to get in touch with us – they don’t have to be a current member. Email: [email protected]

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash