Technology Policy Platforms

The policies promoted by NZTech on behalf of our members in the lead up to the 2014 NZ government elections.

Vision

To make New Zealand the world’s most connected nation.

Rationale

To increase the prosperity and well-being of all New Zealanders we must make strategic use of technology. We need to support our technology exporters and educate our students in technology to global leading standards to become the world’s most connected nation. New Zealanders will obtain value from government through efficient interaction, diversify our economy by boosting exports of lightweight, high value products, and give our primary, secondary and tertiary students a chance to succeed in a rapidly changing and ultra connected world.

Specific Policies

Creation of a Ministry of Technology

• Create the position of Chief Technology Advisor reporting directly to the Prime Minister to provide advice on the strategic use of technology across government and throughout society.
• Improve implementation and use of Technology across government agencies by creating a whole of government vision for from the ‘top down,’ articulated and supported by the Prime Minister and across all portfolios.
• Collaborate with the New Zealand Technology industry to ensure government IT projects succeed, including appointing directors with a technology background to agency governance boards.

Infrastructure

• Create a Public Private Partnership to build an international cable to the USA to ensure autonomy and ownership of a vital strategic asset to a major trading partner.

eGovernment

• Implement the strategic view of Technology outlined in Better Public Services Result Areas 9 & 10 to provide cost effective, easy and efficient interaction with citizens and through a collaborative industry and government framework.
• Right size government by providing efficient and effective services to citizens through digital means wherever possible.
• Provide value for money for taxpayers by using technology to reduce the cost of interacting with government and consolidation of data repositories.
• Support New Zealand Industry by preferring New Zealand based suppliers, recognizing that our exporters rely on being able to say “We have sold this to our own government agencies” or “our proof point is our customer base in our home market.”
• Attract & Appoint experienced technology sector leaders to public sector senior management & governance teams to ensure technology is used strategically and implemented effectively.

Education

• Provide technology training to teachers so they teach based on an understanding of technology and how it enhances their students’ learning across all subjects.
• Provide standardized requirements for devices and software for students at all levels of education and across all subjects to enable more effective and efficient transfer of educational materials and delivery systems.
• Understand that connectivity needs to be supported with devices and software for students to make use of the connectivity investment, and for teachers to embrace the use of technology in their teaching programs across all subjects and levels.
• Make information technology learning as integral as Maths, English or Science rather than an elective option taken by only a few students.
• Provide tagged funding to tertiary institutes for industry aligned programs to help fill the growing 10,000 person gap in the technology sector workforce to ensure a strong economy and tech capable workforce for the future.

Immigration and Employment

• Negotiate Visas for New Zealand entrepreneurs with our major trading partners thus making it easier for New Zealand business people to work off shore for extended periods of time to establish their exporting businesses.
• Provide Technology Visas to qualified tech immigrants for a short to medium term solution to the 10,000 person shortage in the New Zealand technology industry.
• Advertise our shortage and attract highly skilled and experienced technology industry immigrants to help fill the 10,000 person gap through the special Technology Visa program.
• Provide Technology Investor Visas to expand the source of capital available for technology entrepreneurs and relax foreign direct investment (FDI) requirements for individuals investing in high growth tech companies.

International Trade

• Recognise technology exports as ideal for a small, distant country like New Zealand, being high value, scalable, and lightweight.
• Provide a regulatory and taxation environment that fosters technology R&D and exports to diversify and de-risk the New Zealand economy.

Interlinked and Connected Policy Framework

These policies are interlinked and connected.

• With a good technology education curriculum, New Zealand students will catch up with and surpass other countries with leading education systems.
• With good tertiary training, our technology industry will be able to fill vacant positions and grow our economy through successful technology-centric businesses.
• With a government that is committed to working closely with our local industry and leaders, we can build intellectual property in New Zealand and maintain it within New Zealand for our future prosperity.
• With people who can create new products and services in the technology sector we can increase exports, and ultimately the wealth and well-being of our country.

Created and endorsed by the board, management team and membership of the New Zealand Technology Industry Association, June 2014.