NZTech Inform – Celebrating tech innovation

Kia ora Readers

Last week, I caught up with the NZ Hi-Tech Awards team as we work to integrate the awards as part of the Tech Alliance. The Hi-Tech Awards have been going for many years identifying, recognising and showcasing our best local tech firms. Both finalists and winners have been able to leverage the recognition to help their businesses grow, so I can’t recommend highly enough the opportunity to get involved. There are only two weeks until entries close on 4 March. Check out the categories, submit your entry and take a punt! There is also an opportunity for multi-nationals to be involved by showcasing their contribution to the New Zealand tech sector.

Also last week, Techweek19 (20-26 May) opened for event submissions. This year we have signed regional partnerships to ensure there are events celebrating tech and innovation, to inspire the next generation and opportunities to showcase the best in tech, right throughout the country. If you would like to know more, here’s the three things to think about when planning a Techweek event.

Today, I am travelling to Melbourne to join the large Kiwi delegation at the evokeAG agritech event. Agritech New Zealand is collaborating with Callaghan Innovation, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and other NZ Inc agencies to help accelerate the growth of our rapidly growing agritech sector. In addition, the delegation is also visiting a range of farms, potential customers, research facilities and meeting investors. This feels like the early stages of something important and pivotal for the New Zealand economy.

Also this week, the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee meetings regarding the R&D Tax Credit Bill are underway. While it is generally well thought through and should work well for many tech firms, there is still significant fine tuning being requested with regard to software development and pre-profit firms. Submissions from the New Zealand Software Association (NZSA), NZRise and software firms all highlight areas for tweaking to better align with the realities of software development businesses. The good news is that the Government is listening and trying to work to find the best solution.

Have a fun and productive week.

Ngā mihi

Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech

CONNECT

Create connections in the AI and FinTech ecosystems. Join us on Thursday in Auckland and 27 February in Christchurch.

Register to attend the TechMarketers 2019 Conference on 28 February in Auckland. Email to receive your NZTech discount code.

How does corporate social responsibility make a difference in business?  Join the American Chamber of Commerce on 13 March in Auckland to learn more.

PROMOTE

AI Forum’s Ben Reid and Agritech New Zealand’s Peter Wren-Hilton are presenting at MobileTECH 2019, 3-4 April in Rotorua.

Here’s six reasons why you should enter the 2019 Hi-Tech Awards Entries close 4 March. Finalists announced on 27 March. The Gala Dinner is 24 May in Auckland, during Techweek19.

What does the future of New Zealand’s public sector look like?  Register to attend the Future Government Summit, 26-27 February and help create a roadmap for the future. 

ADVANCE

Register for the New Zealand Digital Skills Hui on 27 March in Wellington. The focus is on driving policy, programmes and investment. Read more.

Consultation on the Copyright Act Review is open until 5 April. Join the public workshops on 21 or 22 February in Auckland or 1 March in Wellington and have your say.

Attend the #NZAerospaceChallenge2019 launch on 8 March in Christchurch. Lightning Lab Tourismand the Edmund Hillary Fellowship are now accepting applications.

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