printer icon
NZTech

NZTech Update – Techweek kick-off, IoT research and skills shortage

Hi Readers

It has been a busy week for the entire NZTech team, starting last Monday with the Techweek kick-off for event hosts in Auckland. With around 200 events scheduled across New Zealand during Techweek, it is essential they run smoothly.

On Tuesday morning we caught up with the GCIO team in Wellington regarding the cloud marketplace and next year’s D5 event in New Zealand. This was followed by SFIA training, to gain a better understanding of the “Skills Framework for the Information Age”. This is necessary so both industry and government have a common language when it comes to skills shortages as part of the framework for the Digital Skills Forum.

During Tuesday afternoon I chaired the quarterly meeting of economic development agencies to help align their regional tech strategies, followed by progress meetings on the upcoming National Digital Skills Survey and the NZ tech story project.

I spent most of Wednesday at the Ministry of Education as part of the Digital Technologies Curricula Implementation Reference Group working with the Ministry, the teachers/principals associations, and a raft of experts on accelerating the implementation of digital technologies. Although it will be part of the curricula from year 1 in 2018, Minister Nikki Kaye who was in attendance said it has to happen faster. On Wednesday evening I joined the FinTechNZ core working group as we prepare for a FinTech delegation from the UK and Australia this week. Meanwhile, in Wellington we hosted the Wellington Techweek kick-off event.

On Thursday morning, I chaired the first meeting of the core working group for the establishment of the IoT Alliance which will formally launch on 31 March. This was followed by the monthly meeting of the Digital Skills Forum where we are responsible for the development of the digital skills survey. By Thursday afternoon, it was time for the NZTech Board meeting and in the evening we hosted an NZTech Connect event in Auckland and the Christchurch Techweek kick-off.

This week, it’s not quite as hectic but we continue to work on the many cool projects we have underway to help make New Zealand more prosperous thanks to tech.

Have a great week.
All the best,
Graeme

Five new events!

What’s on…

Buy tickets now!

CONNECT

Register now for FinTechNZ Connect events in Wellington 29 March, Christchurch 4 April and Auckland 18 April. Hear the Kiwi FinTech success story from LatiPay’s, Leigh Flounders at the Wellington and Christchurch dates.

Win with NZTech Women! We have more free tickets to Project17 Building and Scaling a Culture of Innovation with work futurist Dominic Price in Auckland on 4 April. A double pass is up for grabs, first email received, wins!

Join Canterbury Tech on 4 April to hear Digital Transformation: The Naked Bus Story with Hamish Nuttall. He will explain how his start-up, tapped into key trends in business innovation.

PROMOTE

Register your interest for the Industrial Internet of Things Conference in Auckland 27-28 June. This event is for decision makers within the utilities, transport, manufacturing and agricultural sectors interested in how to maximise the benefits of IIoT.

Don’t forget; if you are on the lookout for pre-screened tech talent, check out LookSee Wellington, bringing 100 candidates to the capital this May. This initiative is supported by NZTech and there is no cost for employers, unless a hire is made.

The next Blockchain Gathering ‘What makes Blockchain useful?’ is 22 March in Auckland. Then join BANZ for their Future Insights Blockchain Breakfast on 30 March, also in Auckland.

ADVANCE

Hear from some of the UK’s most innovative FinTech companies. FinTechNZ invites you to join a visiting United Kingdom delegation for a demo and pitch lunch on 24 March in Auckland. Followed by an evening networking reception.

Celebrate the launch of the New Zealand IoT Alliance, accelerating a connected New Zealand. With the support of NZTech, the NZ IoT Alliance is being launched in Auckland on 31 March by the Hon Simon Bridges. Read about our IoT research that is underway.

Entries close soon for the CIO Awards 2017. Attend the CIO Summit in Auckland on 14 June. For a 10% discount to the summit or a TechTeam Pass (to bring your whole team) use the promo code: MKK0WG

Want to know more?  Sign up for the NZTech weekly update, it’s free and will take less than a minute!

NZTech We connect, promote and advance the New Zealand Technology ecosystem to help the tech sector and the economy grow.