NZTech Update – Simplifying Government procurement

I hope you had a great Easter.  I managed to squeeze in plenty of fun with the family including time at the beach, mountain biking, BBQs and about 100 Easter eggs!

I was preparing this week’s update yesterday and decided to include a note from the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) about the opportunity for firms to participate in the beta phase of the New Zealand Government Marketplace for Cloud Services.  The Marketplace is designed to simplify how the Government buys ICT and lower the barriers for suppliers to provide cloud services.  If you would like to promote your services as part of the beta test, check out the opportunity on GETS.

While working on this, I noticed that the Government has awarded the development of the actual Marketplace to a Serbian company, Bal Lab.  While I support careful spending of tax payer’s money and ensuring the best possible solution is selected by the Government, it feels like an unusual choice.

Given this major tech project has gone to an offshore firm, I decided to check on the balance between local and international suppliers.  The Government publish a breakdown of ICT suppliers on the ICT.govt.nz site.  I was surprised to learn that 76% of DIA all-of-government contracts are held by local firms and 60% of spending is going to local firms.  This is a good balance.  While we need international IP entering the country, we also need to support the economic development opportunity from the growth of local tech firms.

As a member of the D7 (the seven most digital governments) we are a building a global reputation as a centre for GovTech excellence.  NZTech is currently collaborating with the Government and leading participants in GovTech to help develop a centre of gravity for GovTechNZ to help connect, promote and advance GovTech opportunities in New Zealand, around the world.  Watch this space.

Enjoy the short week and lastly, congratulations to all the NZTech members who were announced as finalists last week for this year’s Hi-Tech Awards.  Good luck!

Ngā mihi
Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech

Tickets now available

Early bird registrations

Waikato Showcase

CONNECT

Join NZSA on 10 April in Auckland for Brace for Impact – proactive cybersecurity.  Canterbury Tech next meets on 12 April.

New Zealand is becoming a global centre for Blockchain says FinTechNZ’s James Brown.  The next InsurTech meetup is 5 April in Auckland.

Attend Auckland University’s Executive Education  Leading with Data Driven Strategy on 10 May and Digital Marketing Strategy on 11-12 June.

PROMOTE

Congratulations to the 2018 Hi-Tech Awards finalists, announced last week.  Save the dates for the Alumni event 24 May and the Gala Dinner 25 May.

Applications for the Vodafone Xone Accelerator close 15 April.  Also New Horizons for Women Trust: Hine Kahukura Awards. The Payments NZ Fintech Innovation Challenge is accepting entries till 20 April.

It’s not too late to be involved in Techweek’18.  Final event submissions close 13 April.  Check out the headline events;  10 Billion Mouths, The Fourth Revolution or Creative Realities.

ADVANCE

If you would like to participate in Intelligent Transport Scenario workshops on 13 and 20 April in Auckland, please contact Andrew Jackson.

Is New Zealand ready for AI? Listen to RNZ’s Insight documentary here. Also, check out this timely contribution to the AI conversation, how local businesses can adopt new AI technologies now.  Read more.

CERT’s latest quarterly report has been released with reported losses of $3.4m; more than double the previous quarter.  A growing interest in cryptocurrencies is also contributing to an increase in scams.

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