14 to 18 September 2026
Led by Steve Jurkovich, Chief Executive, Kiwibank, the 2026 New Zealand Executive Study Tour will bring together a senior delegation of business, government and industry leaders for five days of immersive learning across Dublin, Cork and Belfast.
The programme is designed to explore how a small, globally connected economy has built strength through innovation, investment, talent, technology, productivity and public-private collaboration. Across the week, delegates will engage directly with leaders from government agencies, global technology companies, financial institutions, universities, high-growth businesses and innovation ecosystems, examining practical lessons that can be applied to New Zealand’s own economic growth and transformation agenda.
The tour includes executive briefings and visits with organisations including IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the Central Bank of Ireland, Fenergo, Accenture, AWS, Google Cloud, Stripe, Microsoft, Skillnet Ireland, University College Cork, Invest Northern Ireland, Ulster Bank, Napier AI and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre. The programme also explores regional productivity in Cork, innovation and resilience in Belfast, AI and digital transformation, future skills, investment attraction, advanced manufacturing, fintech and the role of collaboration between government, industry and education.
The delegation itself includes senior leaders from Kiwibank, Microsoft, Auckland Council, Beca, Amazon Web Services, Xero, Accenture, One NZ, Forsyth Barr, AgriTechNZ, Enterprise Ireland and the New Zealand diplomatic and trade network.
Dates and timing
Official programme: Monday 14 September to Friday 18 September 2026.
There is also an arrival and welcome period over Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, with accommodation at Hampton by Hilton Dublin City Centre and a group dinner on Sunday evening.
