New strategy marks next step in Aotearoa’s digital journey

Tamaki Makaurau - A strategy which sets out New Zealand’s vision and plan for harnessing the potential of the digital economy has been unveiled today.

Te rautaki matihiko mō Aotearoa digital strategy will be New Zealand’s trusty roadmap, as the country navigates an increasingly digital world.

The digital strategy revolves around three key pillars: mahi tika – trust, mahi tahi – inclusion and mahi ake – growth.

Last year government engaged with a wide range of groups, including NZTech, during public consultation, to help refine the final strategy.

The strategy includes targets to have fewer cyber incidents than comparable countries, high-speed internet available to all New Zealanders and to have the digital and ICT sector on track to becoming the country’s leading export earner.

It will continue to evolve with technology, adapting to include new issues and opportunities as they arrive.

The digital technologies sector has shown it can contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth. Between 2015 and 2020, the sector grew 77 percent faster than the overall economy. In 2020 alone, it contributed $7.4 billion to the economy.

Technology has helped glue communities back together throughout the depths of covid restrictions.

The digital history of Aotearoa New Zealand is fairly recent. The first computer in New Zealand was introduced to the Treasury in 1960 to process the payroll of approximately 32,000 public servants.

Fast forward 60 years and computers, software and digital data are woven into the fabric of our daily lives, so much so that they fade into the background.

Change continues to happen at a rapid pace. The potential economic benefits across Aotearoa of digital and data-driven technologies are huge.