NZTech Update – Snow, sun and endless queues!

Hi Readers,

Last weekend I took the family to Whakapapa for a play in the snow and we struck a bluebird day! It was stunning, with blue skies and views to Mt Taranaki and beyond. What we didn’t strike lucky was the lengthy queues of people buying day passes. While there is plenty of technology on the mountain, it is still seriously lacking. Waiting in a queue for an hour and a half to buy a ski pass is incredibly disappointing. Through the use of digital mobile technology and payment systems utilising smartphones a more efficient user experience could easily be provided, for kiwis and tourists alike. It’s everyday experiences like this that remind me how important our vision is to create a prosperous nation underpinned by technology.

Last week, I also had the pleasure of meeting Tradle‘s David Diepbrink. Tradle is a global digital identity platform on Blockchain or KYC (know your customer). So, what exactly does this mean? It’s a total game changer for the digital storage of passports, drivers licenses and company documents, enabling you to easily share your details with governments and banks. Watch this space!

Meanwhile, I’m already looking forward to the Digital Nations conference in February, 2018. I can’t wait to share with you details of the international leaders and influencers who will be visiting New Zealand. There will be plenty of discussion on building digital nations by 2030, including the future of education, employment, health and finance. If you are interested in sponsorship of this exceptional event, please contact Nick Elias.

Following the recent release of Decoding Diversity, NZTech Women has a renewed focus of attracting more young women to tech. What I love most about this guide is the user friendly content with specific actions on how to attract and keep women in tech. Ahead of our next Developing Diversity event (invites coming soon), I would also like to encourage everyone to attend. We will explore diversity management strategies, closing the gender gap, flexible work practices and more. At our last event, we had a stellar turn out, but less than a dozen males. This isn’t a women only zone, so I would encourage men to attend. Learning how to empower women, isn’t solely the domain of women either. We need to work together to create diverse and inclusive workplaces.

Andrea Hancox
Member & Government Relations
NZTech

Register before 25 August and save!

Coming next month

Job applications closing soon

CONNECT

Join Tech Marketers for breakfast on 21 August in Auckland to discuss how marketing needs a new operating system, combining people, process and technology to transform customer experiences.

Wellington ICT Graduate School hosts a hui on 11 September for Maori and Pasifika studying or working in tech. The korero will focus on the reasons for choosing tech as a career and their experiences. Email to attend.

BANZ’s next Future Insights executive breakfast is 23 August in Auckland. This month features the state of the current domestic and international Blockchain market, future trends and discussion.

PROMOTE

Come along and listen as the political debate on New Zealand’s Digital Futures continues in Wellington on 30 August. Discussion will focus on the 12 goals in our 2017 Tech Manifesto.

The NZBio Annual Conference 2017 is scheduled for 12-13 October in Wellington. This year’s theme; Global Megatrends will explore opportunities evolving in biotech.

Hear about the LookSee Tech Talent Pool headed to Christchurch. Learn how to hire international pre-screened talent at this information session on 31 August.

ADVANCE

Register now for our NZTech Advance Security Summit on 25 October in Wellington. Join WITSA’s 21st World Congress for IT, Fulfilling the promise of the Digital Age 10-13 September in Taipei, Taiwan.

The Ministry of Education is hosting over 45 workshops throughout New Zealand to explain the new digital tech curriculum, including demos of what kids might do. Find your date and register.

Notable closing dates; Spatial Excellence Awards nominations close 25 August. Submissions on the Digital Technology Curriculum close 31 August.

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