NEWS & ARTICLES
17
Apr
Apr
Te Papa Tongarewa museum’s first chief digital officer Melissa Firth, who built a digital team almost from scratch, has been named among the top 100 CIOs in New Zealand for 2018.
16
Apr
Apr
An increasing number of ground-breaking New Zealand tech designers are collaborating with the wider business world to produce one of the fastest growing segments of tech.
16
Apr
Apr
12
Apr
Apr
NZ, get ready for the AI tidal wave
Georgia Taylor 0 comments AI Forum, Media Release
Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to deliver economic growth and productivity improvements but will impact some people’s jobs according to new research that is being pulled together for a leading national report to be released on May 2.
11
Apr
Apr
NZ highly regarded for global tech talent
Georgia Taylor 0 comments FinTech, Media Release
Tech is the fastest growing and third biggest industry sector in New Zealand contributing more than $6.3 billion in annual exports and now other countries are chasing the cream of our tech crop.
NZTech board member and winner of last year’s New Zealand CEO of the Year Award, Leigh Flounders has been hand-picked by Dubai’s big bank Emirates NBD to take over as senior vice president, head of digital strategy.
10
Apr
Apr
Kiwi company selected in women-only Australian tech accelerator
Georgia Taylor 0 comments FinTech, Media Release, TechWomen
A New Zealand start-up company, RIP Global, is among eight companies to be selected for the next women-only Springboard Enterprises Australia (SBE) accelerator programme.
SBE Australia, a not-for-profit with the first female-only startup accelerator in Australia, says the founders, lead successful businesses in industries including healthtech, agritech, real estate, wellness and fashion.
09
Apr
Apr
Tech will have profound impact on NZ agriculture
Georgia Taylor 0 comments Media Release, NZ IoT Alliance
The New Zealand IoT (internet of things) Alliance believes cutting-edge technologies will have a profound impact on helping improve New Zealand’s agricultural productivity.
Alliance executive director Kriv Naicker says a major study into the potential benefits of IoT last year found that better use of IoT across agriculture could provide more than $570 million for the economy.
09
Apr
Apr
This week I have decided to stay in Auckland as there is plenty to be done, with only a few weeks until Techweek.
On Tuesday, I am on a panel at the HGM Thought Leader event. This event for HGM customers, it will focus on how well equipped we are to take advantage of rapidly emerging technologies and compete on the world stage. In February, very similar discussions emerged at the Digital Nations Summit and, as typical, in our very Kiwi way we questioned ourselves. On the first day, we considered other countries as the tech leaders. However, at the start of day two Ian Taylor took to the stage to remind us how well New Zealand and New Zealanders do on the world stage when it comes to technology. Watch his 5 minute presentation if you want a quick reminder of how good we are at this stuff.
If you missed the event or want to see part of it again, there is so much good content on the Digital Nation Summit website. Check out the videos and photos. A full write up is underway capturing all of the highlights, actions, recommendations, tweets and insights of the event. This should be available in May.
On Wednesday, I am spending time with NZTech Board member and a man of many good ideas, Robett Hollis. Check out his Linkedin Daily, a social business show released daily, Monday to Friday, discussing all things media, tech and more. Robett knows the power of social media and I will learn plenty from him.
Have an awesome week
Ng? mihi
Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech
CONNECT
Join Canterbury Tech on 10 April to discuss design thinking. Register for Emerging Tech in Health, during Techweek, 22 May in Christchurch.
Sign up as a ShadowTech mentor; 21 May in Wellington, 22 May in Christchurch, 23 May in Auckland, 25 May in Palmerston North, 7 June in Hamilton and 26 June in Dunedin.
PROMOTE
Check out the 2018 Hi-Tech Awards finalists and the judging panel. This year the awards shine a spotlight on diversity. Register for the Alumni event on 24 May and the Gala Dinner on 25 May, both in Christchurch.
AmCham are hosting breakfast with North American Heads of Mission on 25 May in Auckland. Entries are also open for the 2018 AmCham DHL Express Success and Innovation Awards.
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. Don’t forget to invite overseas contacts to the Innovation Tour too.
ADVANCE
IT Professionals NZ and NZQA invite you to provide feedback on draft cybersecurity and software testing qualifications proposed to be added to the suite of current computing and IT qualifications.
The AI Forum’s Ben Reid spoke to RNZ about real life uses of AI. If you missed #AIDay2018, watch the opening video here. For more on automation and AI, read the TechLeaders Executive briefing paper, Preparing for Digital Disruption at Work, here.
Applications closing on 15 April: Vodafone Xone Accelerator and New Horizons for Women Trust: Hine Kahukura Awards. Applications closing 20 April: Payments NZ Fintech Innovation Challenge and the Edmund Hillary Fellowship.
Want to know more? Sign up for the NZTech weekly update, it’s free and will take less than a minute!
04
Apr
Apr
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!
Ng? mihi
Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech
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.
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!
26
Mar
Mar
