Technology leaders are again warning New Zealand risks squandering its digital and economic potential if political leaders continue to reset the nation’s technological direction every three years.
The Tech Users Association set out a strategic direction at this week’s summit, which needs investment, and long-term cross-party alignment.
“What’s urgently needed is certainty, coordination, and commitment across political lines to deliver a joined-up national strategy,” TUANZ chief executive Craig Young said.
Digital services contributed about $17 billion in annual exports, with potential to generate $76b through artificial intelligence and other technologies.
However, the outlook was seen as severely constrained by fragmented, short-term political cycles and piecemeal party policies.
TUANZ board member Haley Mortimer said three strategic themes included empowering people, building resilience, and earning trust through innovation.
However, Mortimer highlighted significant equity gaps across the country, with about one in 10 households lacking internet access.
Other concerns were increasing digital security risks as New Zealanders were already losing $200 million a year to online scams, while 35 percent of small businesses also suffered from insufficient cyber resilience.
“While New Zealand will never be the largest tech market in the world, we can become one of the most trusted places in the world to innovate,” Mortimer said.
“Human oversight, data sovereignty, and digital inclusion must be designed into our systems so that technology supports better decisions without removing human accountability.”
Young said technology was a driver of productivity, but needed a long-term view at the highest level of government.
He said there was some agreement on taking a long-term view on infrastructure.
“What we haven’t seen is something put in the in the ground that says we’re going to put some money into technology,” Young said.
“What we want to see is the understanding that it’s an enabler of economic growth and productivity. We have to make the most of using every trick we have, and using every enabling technology that we can to boost our productivity.”