This Auckland Startup Week, join ADHD New Zealand for an unforgettable evening beneath a universe of stars as we celebrate neurodiversity, startups, connection and community. This is a gala where personality is the dress code. Proudly supported by Outset Ventures. 

Step into a night where colour replaces black tie, every guest shines in their own way, and every ticket helps change lives. Guest speakers include Anika Moa (Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri), Mat Rowe (founding partner at Outset and Sonja de Friez incoming chair at ADHD New Zealand. 

Enjoy bubbles and chef-curated canapés on arrival, before sitting down to a beautifully crafted three-course dinner. Throughout the evening, you'll have the chance to bid on incredible experiences, artworks, holidays and luxury packages in our silent auction, before the excitement builds with a live auction led by internationally acclaimed auctioneer Julia Rust.

Most importantly, your ticket directly supports ADHD New Zealand. More than 280,000 New Zealanders live with ADHD, yet the organisation receives no government funding. Every support group, parenting programme, education workshop, youth activity and advocacy initiative exists because people like you choose to invest in this community.

With just a small team of three part-time staff serving more than 50,000 people across Aotearoa, every dollar raised makes a genuine difference.

Whether you have ADHD, love someone who does, or simply believe everyone deserves to be understood and supported, this is your chance to be part of something extraordinary.

Come dressed in colour. Leave knowing you've helped create a brighter future for thousands of New Zealanders.

Book your tickets today using our online form, and join us for a night that sparkles with purpose.

Event Details

Thursday 15 October, 6.30 pm - 10.30 pm 

Venue: The Pullman, Cnr Waterloo Quadrant & Princes Street, 1010 Auckland 

Tickets: Single ticket $299 (including GST); book a table of 8 seats $2,312 (GST inclusive).

For more information on the event and sponsorship opportunities, visit our Colour Tie Gala Fundraiser page. 

Guest Speakers

Anika Moa (Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri)
Anika is one of New Zealand’s best-known musicians, broadcasters and performers with a career that spans songwriting, children’s music, television presenting and live entertainment.

She burst into the spotlight with her debut album Thinking Room in 2001, which reached No. 1 on the NZ charts and went double-platinum. In the decades since, she’s released a string of acclaimed studio albums, won multiple New Zealand Music Awards (including Best Female Solo Artist and Songwriter of the Year), and built a reputation for smart, authentic pop-folk with a strong connection to her roots.

In recent years, Anika has expanded her creative reach, working in radio and hosting the popular preschool series Toi Time and increasing her focus on acting. Known for her off-the-cuff humour and effortless rapport with audiences she’s also a popular MC, live entertainer, and - with close to 200K followers across all platforms - a sought-after name for brand collaborations on social media.

Anika's ability to engage audiences is unmatched - be it singing on stage, leading a panel, hosting a broadcast, or performing for tamariki - her relaxed authenticity, and undeniable command of the performance space puts audiences of all ages at ease.

Mat Rowe, Founding Partner at Outset
Mat is the Founding Partner of Outset Ventures, New Zealand’s deep-technology venture platform, built to help turn breakthrough science and engineering into globally significant companies. He has shaped Outset from its origins into a 6,000 m² Auckland campus and investment platform supporting founders across New Zealand and internationally.

With more than 25 years’ experience across science, engineering, company building and venture investment, Mat works closely with founders and the Outset team to build the capability, networks and capital needed to scale deep technology globally. He serves on the board of Reactory, ADHD NZ and is a member of the Auckland Mayor’s Tech and Innovation Alliance.

Sonja de Friez, Incoming Chair at ADHD New Zealand 
Sonja de Friez is the incoming Chair of ADHD New Zealand. A strategic leader who has spent her career helping purpose-driven health, public-sector and iwi organisations be heard, funded and trusted - currently with Whakarongorau Aotearoa, the National Telehealth Service. Her governance experience spans mental health, children's wellbeing and community organisations, and before that she spent over a decade as a current affairs reporter and documentary maker. Outside of work she's a parent, potter, and pilates enthusiast - in her spare time she reviews books on Radio New Zealand's Nine to Noon programme. Sonja comes to ADHD NZ as a governor and an advocate - and as someone with a personal and whānau connection to the community it serves.