[GNUz] Kiwi PyCon Media Statement - "Conference brings programming language of the year to NZ"

[Tim Knapp]

NEW ZEALAND PYTHON USER GROUP
Media Statement          September 21, 2009
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"Conference brings programming language of the year to NZ"

What do Google, YouTube, Weta Digital and the New Zealand Government
share in common? They all rely on the 2009 Programming Language of the
Year[1] - Python, for their daily operations. To promote Python's use in
New Zealand the NZ Python User Group (NZPUG) is holding the first Kiwi
PyCon conference in Christchurch at the Canterbury Innovation Incubator
on November 7th and 8th.

The event will include talks highlighting how Python has been used in
web and desktop applications, in the field of science and maths, in
gaming and animation, and in various other fields. The programme will
also include interactive sessions with the audience and opportunities
for delegates to give short presentations regarding ways they have
benefited from Python.

Python is used in New Zealand by reputable companies such as Weta
Digital, the company behind Lord of the Rings and King Kong, and is also
used extensively by the New Zealand Government, by academic institutions
throughout the country and many other commercial organisations.

“We've got a great lineup of talks prepared and we've also arranged for
a couple of very talented and engaging keynote speakers for the
conference” said Tim Knapp, the Director of the event, “so we really
do encourage all members of the IT community in New Zealand to come
along, including management, to find out how Python can be used in their
organisations”.

The event is supported by reputable organisations Canonical, Catalyst
IT, Weta Digital, the Python Software Foundation, Unfold Limited and
Tait Electronics. Other supporting organisations include Encode Limited,
powerHouse, PretaWeb, VortexDNA and the Plone Foundation.

150 delegates are expected from across New Zealand and Australia and
registration for the conference is now open with limited numbers. For
more information visit nz.pycon.org.

-------------------------------Ends-------------------------------

For media or conference enquiries please contact:
Tim Knapp, NZ Python User Group Vice President and Event Director
Phone: 021 156 6405
Email: kiwipycon at nzpug.org
Website: nz.pycon.org

[1] http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/10451