Auckland – February 22, 2016
A major government and tech industry summit to be held at Te Papa in Wellington tomorrow will look at how government and the tech sector can work together to deliver better outcomes.
According to the government’s Sector Reports more than 100,000 people are employed across the technology sector, with annual growth rates exceeding any other sector. The summit will look at partnerships, commercial strategies, and understanding new technology trends and how they can be applied to deliver better government.
The key summit has been organised by NZTech and its chief executive Graeme Muller says that better use of technology by government has the added benefit of supporting the growth of New Zealand tech businesses, the fastest growing export sector in New Zealand and now our third largest export sector behind agriculture and tourism.
“Helping New Zealand businesses grow through better use of technology while helping tech companies successfully export and grow internationally is important and the governments approach to technology is paramount. About 40 percent of all the money spent in New Zealand on ICT technology is spent by the government amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars,” Muller says.
The summit in Wellington tomorrow is about enabling agencies to share innovative ways of using tech to drive better public services. And to discuss successful partnerships and collaboration across agencies with the tech sector.
“Creating a vibrant future with Government is a core strategic focus area for NZTech as it is critical for the future prosperity of New Zealand. As the pre-eminent voice for the technology sector, NZTech has established a strong working relationship with government and its business agencies.
“Our challenge requires a holistic approach ranging from improving the immigration of talent into the country, through to longer term actions to improve the education of Kiwi kids to increase the number of people entering the tech sector in the future.
“The summit will include executives from most government departments, a number of local governments, health boards and NGO’s. Senior public sector leaders, including chief executives, chief information officers, chief financial officers and service delivery executives will also attend. Deputy Prime Minister Bill English will open the summit.
“Leaders from the New Zealand tech sector and the government will discuss and share success strategies for successful deployments of technology, of innovative uses of technology and of cross department collaboration to improve people’s experiences.”
Key note presentations will include the chief executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, David Smol; Deputy Commissioner of Transformation at Inland Revenue, Greg James; and the Australian chief technology officer, John Sheridan.
NZTech represents more than 270 tech companies throughout New Zealand from startups and local tech firms to multinationals across ICT and high tech manufacturing.
For further information contact New Zealand Technology Industry Association chief executive Graeme Muller on 021 02520767 or Make Lemonade media specialist Kip Brook on 0275 030188
Photo: NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller
