AI solutions for NZ businesses
Train the team, set up the tools, build what is missing. We do whichever of those your business actually needs, and nothing it does not.
- 5.0on Google
- 50+businesses helped
Train, set up, build: only what you need
Most of what AI can fix in a business comes down to four things: training your team, setting up a tool like Claude on your systems, building a custom connector, or building bespoke software. We do all four for NZ businesses, starting with a free call and a written scope.
Start where the problem is, not where the sales pitch is
Most clients start on the first or second rung. Some never need the third.
- Train the team
A hands-on workshop on your own tasks, so everyone uses AI properly.
AI workshops - Set up the tools
Claude connected to your email, files and systems, with skills for the jobs you repeat.
Claude setup - Build what is missing
Custom connectors, chatbots and platforms when nothing off the shelf fits.
Custom AI - Embed an engineer
A Harkness AI engineer inside your team for an ongoing list of builds.
Embedded AI engineer
Training, setup and six custom connectors in under four weeks
Wellness ecommerce · ChristchurchShakti Mat: 6+ custom connectors, one Claude across six stores
Shakti Mat, a Christchurch wellness brand in six markets, now asks one Claude chat across its stores and systems, after we built 6+ custom read-only connectors in under four weeks.
- 0
- bugs in the team's connector feedback log
- <4 wks
- from accepted proposal to org-wide rollout
- 6
- storefronts compared in a single Claude answer
Blake gets it - prompt, professional, knows his stuff. He took us through the easy set ups and built custom connectors and processors for our more niche requirements. Quick, fun and already changing the way we work.
What clients say about the work
Blake brought a solid technology & AI perspective to our engagement at BMC. He clearly knows his space and was easy to work with, the conversations he sparked were useful in helping us get clearer on what we actually needed from a systems / AI standpoint.
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Thanks again.
Shaun CrowleyChief Financial Officer at BMCBlake is an outstanding collaborator. He is exceptionally well-suited to work with businesses of any size - whether small startups or large organisations.
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Blake has a unique ability to identify core challenges and transform them into effective solutions.
Will (Viriamu) FlemingCampfire StudiosWe engaged Harkness AI to build an internal AI-driven quality assurance platform, and Alex has been excellent to work with throughout.
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He picked up a fairly niche operational problem quickly, turned it into a workable technical design, and delivered in steady increments rather than disappearing for weeks at a time. Communication was clear and honest, including when something turned out harder than first scoped. The platform is now in testing with our team and doing what we asked of it. Easy to recommend if you want practical AI implementation rather than theory.
Caleb BoydIT Manager, McKenzie & WillisFrom first call to something your team uses
- Free call
30 minutes on the problem, not a pitch.
- Written scope
What we build, what it costs, what is out.
- Train and set up
Your team using it on real work.
- Build the gaps
Only where the tools fall short.
- Handover
Tools that work, with clear instructions for your team.
A person decides
NZ businesses we have built for
What people ask us
Where should a small business start with AI?
With one annoying, repeatable job and the people who do it. A workshop or a Claude setup on that job proves the value in weeks. Custom builds make sense once you know exactly what the off-the-shelf tools cannot do.
Do you only work with Claude?
No. Claude is what we set up most often because it connects well to the tools NZ businesses run, but workshops cover habits that carry across tools, and custom builds use whatever fits the job.
Who does the work?
Blake Harkness leads scoping and training. Builds are delivered by the Harkness AI engineering team, with Blake overseeing each engagement.
Do you work outside Christchurch?
Yes. We are based in Christchurch and work with businesses across New Zealand and Australia, on site or online. Travel outside Christchurch is quoted as its own line.
How much do AI solutions cost in NZ?
It depends on which of the four you need and how big your team is. Training and setup are small, fixed-price jobs; custom builds are scoped per project. You get a fixed price in writing after a free call.
Not sure which rung you need?
That is what the free call is for. Tell us the problem and we will tell you the smallest thing that fixes it.
Last updated 6 October 2026