The team behind your AI transformation.
Christchurch-based. New Zealand-focused. Helping businesses work smarter with AI.
Hi, I’m Blake Harkness.
I’m a Christchurch-based AI engineer who trains New Zealand businesses to use AI themselves - and helps them adopt, build, and scale AI solutions. With a background in mechatronic engineering and a passion for practical AI, I founded Harkness AI to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and real business outcomes.
Unlike traditional consultants, we don’t hand you a report and walk away. We stay hands-on from strategy through to a working solution - embedded in your team as your fractional AI engineering partner. See how that works in practice on our AI consulting for NZ businesses page.
Harkness AI has worked with over 50 businesses across New Zealand and Australia on AI solutions, building more than 60 automations across consulting, training, and development engagements. Blake Harkness has published over 150 educational AI videos and has over 2 years of hands-on AI engineering experience.
Harkness AI at a glance
- Founded
- 2025, by Blake Harkness
- Headquarters
- Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
- Serves
- Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington, NZ-wide and Australia (remote)
- Clients
- 50+ businesses across New Zealand and Australia
- Google rating
- 5.0 average across Google reviews
- Automations built
- 60+
- Services
- AI consulting and strategy, team training and workshops, custom AI development, fractional AI engineering, Claude setup
- Advisory roles
- AI Forum NZ AEC Working Group (webinar series lead); Engineering NZ AI Advisory Group
- Memberships
- AI Forum New Zealand, Business Canterbury
- Community
- Founder of Young Kiwis in AI (300+ members, founded January 2026)
The Rest of the Team
Alexander Russell
AI EngineerFull-stack development and automated workflows. Alex builds production-ready AI systems and integrations, delivering robust solutions from frontend to backend.
Zavier Taylor
Junior AI EngineerSpecialising in n8n and workflow automation. Zavier designs and builds automated workflows that streamline business processes and deliver efficiency gains.
Xinyun (Cici) Yan
Marketing & Content CreatorCici runs Harkness AI’s marketing and content, from Blake’s AI Briefing newsletter and LinkedIn to short-form video and the Young Kiwis in AI brand.
What We Stand For
Practical Over Theoretical
We focus on AI solutions that deliver real business outcomes, not just impressive demos.
New Zealand First
We understand the NZ business landscape and build solutions that work for Kiwi companies.
Transparent & Honest
We tell you what AI can and cannot do for your business. No hype, no overselling.
Continuous Learning
AI moves fast. We stay at the forefront so our clients always get the best solutions available.
Advisory & Community Roles
AI Forum New Zealand
AEC Working Group - webinar series leadContributor to the Living Whitepaper and organiser of the AEC webinar series on AI in Architecture, Engineering & Construction.
Engineering New Zealand
AI Advisory Group MemberAdvising on AI integration within the engineering profession across NZ.
Young Kiwis in AI
FounderA nationwide community of 300+ young New Zealanders in AI, founded January 2026, with monthly meetups and a national conference in 2027.
Harkness AI is a proud member of
Partner
Organising & speaking at AI events across New Zealand
M2 AI Summit - Christchurch
Claude MCP Event - Christchurch
Graduating into AI - Hamilton
Young Kiwis in AI - Auckland
150+ AI Educational Videos
AI & Engineering - ChristchurchLet’s find where AI fits in your business.
Book a free strategy call and we’ll map out the highest-impact opportunities for your team.
Book a Strategy CallLast updated 16 September 2026 - added Harkness AI memberships (AI Forum NZ, Business Canterbury)
What people say
We brought Blake in to run an AI workshop for our team, and it was excellent. He struck a great balance between explaining concepts clearly and keeping things practical, encouraged questions and made the whole session feel very engaging. Highly recommend if you're looking to upskill your team on AI in a way that actually sticks.
Blake ran a couple of sessions for my team. He was fantastic; he made it really simple for the whole team to understand, regardless of their previous AI experience.
