Manatū Taonga Releases Draft Report On Culture In A Digital Age
Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage has released a draft Long-term Insights Briefing - a futures-thinking report - on culture in the digital age.
A Long-term Insights Briefing (LTIB) provides analysis and information about medium and long-term trends, risks, and opportunities that may affect New Zealand.
The topic for this LTIB is: Culture in the Digital Age: How will technology change the way New Zealanders create, share and protect their stories in 2040 and beyond?
"Our draft LTIB looks into how AI and other digital technologies will reshape creative expression, content distribution and cultural preservation," says Secretary for Culture and Heritage Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae.
"By 2040, our cultural sectors will be deeply intertwined with artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. These advancements offer unprecedented opportunities for new and exciting ways of creating, sharing, and protecting our stories. On the other hand, they can also introduce significant ethical, legal, cultural and governance challenges that we should address thoughtfully and collaboratively.
"We want to open up the discussion and invite the public to give us their thoughts on what this digital future will look like for Aotearoa, and what we need to think about now," says Leauanae.
The public can also enter an art competition to design the cover of the final report.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Spinoff
6 hours ago
- The Spinoff
Why Homo sapiens are Auckland Zoo's priority species
Auckland Zoo is involved in dozens of conservation projects, but one species is paramount – us. Naomii Seah visits the Zoo to find out why. On a mild winter's night, by the light of the full moon, a group of Auckland Zoo staff and mana whenua pick their way carefully through the thick native bush. Beneath their boots, the damp undergrowth gives off a rich, earthy aroma of rotting bark and leaf litter. Spying a marker tied to an ancient pōhutakawa, a member of the group pauses, and gingerly holds a clear container to the craggy bark. From it a brown, unassuming insect peeks out then scurries onto the trunk. It's about an inch long. While it's hard to imagine, this young wētāpunga will one day be as big as a mouse. These expeditions have been running for over a decade across eight pest-free islands in the Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Islands as part of Auckland Zoo's wētāpunga breed-and-release programme. It's just one of the Zoo's many conservation initiatives. As the Zoo sees it though, the most important creatures on this trip aren't just the hundreds of tiny wētāpunga about to be released – it's the people. Kevin Buley is the director of Auckland Zoo. 'The fundamental purpose of the Zoo is to reconnect people with the environment, with wildlife and with themselves – what it means to be human, and part of the environment, not apart from it,' he says. Since 2018, Kevin has led the Zoo through huge changes, both physically and philosophically, driven in part by the impacts of the pandemic. 'Covid was like the moment the scales dropped from our eyes, and we saw how the Zoo could fundamentally improve the wellbeing of people that visited us.' Dozens, if not hundreds of papers have now shown a connection between time spent in nature and improved wellbeing. But with increasing urbanisation – over 80% of New Zealanders now live in urban areas – the disconnect between communities and te taiao (the natural world) is only growing. As an organisation, the Zoo sees itself as a vital conduit between Auckland communities and the environment. This realisation, Kevin says, necessitated a significant change to the kaupapa of the Zoo. Namely, the Zoo wanted to reposition itself as distinctively of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and strengthen its relationship with Te Ao Māori. The Zoo has been working alongside iwi Māori to weave indigenous concepts through the zoo experience and into its wider programming. Incorporating Te Ao Māori is one way the Zoo hopes to continue building a more holistic approach to wildlife conservation. This holistic approach speaks to what Kevin sees as the ultimate purpose of a zoo – to help build a future where the classic 'just-in-time' sticking-plaster approach to conservation work is no longer required. What would that future look like though? As Kevin sees it, it's a future where we have successfully renegotiated our relationship with the natural environment and are living sustainably as part of it. It's a future where we no longer have to fight an endless battle against biodiversity loss and species extinction. Think, he says, of communities, corporates and governments all putting the health of te taiao first in their decision-making. 'If our ultimate goal is to help people tune back into nature, to have humans as a species living at one with the planet, then first we've got to support people's wellbeing. We can't ask people to recycle, to use sustainable palm oil, to eat sustainable fish if their day-to-day wellbeing is not in a great place,' says Kevin. The evolving role of zoos is something Dr. Sarah Thomas, head of conservation advocacy and engagement at Auckland Zoo, spends a lot of time thinking about. 'How do we change how we think about being a zoo to being a community-serving cultural organisation? Raising up and giving equal credit to the way we serve our communities is just as important as our conservation fieldwork.' Post-Covid, Sarah noticed how alienated communities felt from each other and the environment. In many ways, she says, we are still dealing with the impacts of Covid's social isolation and economic fallout. In this atmosphere, Sarah and the Zoo recognised the need to walk alongside the community. The team started a programme which gifted thousands of tickets to community groups. This removed the financial barrier and opened the Zoo up to them as a place for repair, recovery and respite. 'The passion that I have is [trying to understand] how we can serve our communities to feel good and function well, so we have a society that's thriving here in Aotearoa,' Sarah says. 'We know that there's a lot of lonely people in Auckland. All the stats are there to say people are struggling, whether that's post-Covid or just in the current environmental, societal state. So, for me, having the Zoo as te pā hono – a place of connection, is like a beacon of hope.' By looking after wellbeing, and addressing community needs, the team hopes to enable a greater, long-term change in how we take care of ourselves and our environment. Part of that means being an accessible gateway to wildlife and te taiao. Many people may never visit the African savannah, the Southeast Asian rainforest or even Auckland's predator-free offshore islands. But that shouldn't preclude communities from feeling connections to those places. In Te Ao Māori, the wētāpunga is known as the god of ugly things. It's a reputation that's contributed to the wētāpunga being maligned and overlooked. Just over a decade ago, the last remaining population was isolated to Te Hauturu-o-Toi (Little Barrier Island). Now though, through Auckland Zoo's programme, which was built on previous work by DOC and Butterfly Creek, wētāpunga populations have been established on eight additional islands. It's been so successful that Richard Gibson, Auckland Zoo's head of animal care and conservation, says the programme will wrap up soon. 'We're going to be ending the wētāpunga programme very soon because we've done it. We've transformed that animal's risk of extinction.' It's feat that's extremely rare in conservation circles, where efforts can go on for decades just to conserve a few precious individuals. But for Richard and the rest of the team at the Zoo, this remarkable success is only the beginning. 'What we've done for the wētāpunga is given them a fighting chance for the next 100 to 200 years, but that's nothing in evolutionary terms.' It's a hard reality that all conservationists must grapple with. Human intervention at the brink of extinction can only do so much. So how do we build a future where endangered species can reestablish themselves and truly thrive? 'One could argue that the true value of the wētāpunga breed and release programme is in its advocacy, education and awareness role,' says Richard. 'It doesn't matter how hard we try to save a species or a group of species, we're only able to do it in a very short timeframe. Their long-term persistence relies on us changing our relationship with the planet.' Currently, the world is grappling with its sixth mass extinction. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the current species extinction rate is estimated to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than natural rates due to the impacts of human activity. Dozens of species are going extinct every day, and up to 50 percent of all species face extinction by 2050. In the face of this challenge, nothing less than a radical paradigm shift will make a real difference. Regardless, the ripple effects of the wētāpunga programme have been far reaching. Over the past decade, it has attracted media coverage from both national and international outlets like Al Jazeera. This coverage has helped raise the profile of the wētāpunga. Breed-and-release expeditions, meanwhile, have directly engaged the wider community, from children to iwi groups and volunteers. These missions have generated new appreciation for the wētāpunga and inspired future invertebrate champions. Long after these Zoo bred wētāpunga die and become part of the forest floor themselves, these messages will continue to resonate, says Richard. 'Auckland Zoo is all about conservation, yes, but we see Homo sapiens – our staff, visitors, volunteers and wider communities – as vital to the present and future health of this planet.' Kevin agrees and says: 'We sometimes hear people say that in a perfect world we wouldn't need zoos. But I disagree. In order for there to be a perfect world, we need good zoos that continue to nurture and support that human connection to nature, to wildlife and to each other.'
Techday NZ
7 hours ago
- Techday NZ
Open banking in New Zealand advances with NZD $13.77m spent
Payments NZ has released a report outlining six years of progress in open banking, highlighting industry delivery, collaboration and partnerships across New Zealand's open data ecosystem. The report, titled "Shaping Open Banking Together", reviews efforts and outcomes achieved by the sector since the establishment of the API Centre in 2019. Key metrics include the release of 25 open banking API standards, adoption by four major banks covering over 80% of customer accounts, and the engagement of more than 1,100 users in an API sandbox environment resulting in the development of 235 unique applications and over 13.7 million test calls. API standards and usage Since its inception, the API Centre has delivered six versions of API standards, with widespread implementation in the banking sector. Major financial institutions now support key open banking standards, facilitating secure and seamless access to banking services for a large proportion of New Zealanders. The API sandbox, supported by Glueware, has played a significant role in fostering innovation, with hundreds of community contributors involved in shaping the ecosystem. Community engagement has increased markedly, from just five contributors in 2019 to over 500 in the current year, and more than 11,000 working group hours have been logged by participants. Inclusive governance model The API Centre has adopted a governance model developed through industry collaboration. Over a dozen versions of the API Centre Terms and Conditions have been refined in consultation with banks, fintech firms, regulators and other stakeholders. This approach is described as being based on trust, inclusion and co-design. Collaboration has also extended to work with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on the Consumer Data Right (CPD) framework. Looking to the future, Payments NZ states that this inclusive and partnership-driven approach will continue as the industry transitions towards a regulated open banking environment. "We've built a world-class foundation for open banking in New Zealand – not through mandate, but through collective mahi. This report is a chance to pause, reflect, and acknowledge what we've achieved together," says Phil Cass, Manager of Payments NZ's API Centre. Financial investment and efficiency Payments NZ highlights that the open banking ecosystem has been established at a considerably lower cost compared with international efforts. The total investment over six years amounts to NZD $13.77 million, which represents approximately 5% of Australia's expenditure and 4% of that in the UK for similar sector initiatives. Phil Cass stated, "We now have upgraded, future-ready API standards being implemented by the major banks, new products hitting the market, and a strong platform for innovation. It's been a true partnership approach, and the outcomes speak for themselves." Cass noted that New Zealand's approach has allowed for progress without the need for regulatory compulsion, saying, "Our approach in Aotearoa is unique – open banking here has been shaped by cooperation, not compliance." He continued, "We've seen the cost of regulation in the UK and Australia, and in Aotearoa we have delivered a fully functioning ecosystem at a fraction of the cost." "We're carrying forward the same spirit of industry-led partnership and progress as we transition to a regulated environment for open banking." Data sovereignty and future focus The recent release also marked the launch of Ngā Tohu Ārahi, the new Data Handling Guidelines created in partnership with Nicholson Consulting. These guidelines are grounded in the principles of Māori Data Sovereignty and have implications for the design and management of data systems in the banking sector. Cass explained, "These guidelines are about more than compliance – they reflect our collective responsibility to design data systems with integrity and care." Preparations are underway for the formal designation of banks under New Zealand's CPD Act, expected in December 2025. Payments NZ believes the foundations laid through the API Centre will continue to support secure, innovative and inclusive banking solutions. "This is just the beginning," says Cass. "The next chapter of open banking will be even more impactful – and we're ready."
Techday NZ
a day ago
- Techday NZ
One New Zealand invests NZD $100 million, wins top network award
One New Zealand has been recognised as the "Best in Test" mobile network for the fourth consecutive year following independent benchmarking by umlaut. Umlaut, a global mobile network testing specialist owned by Accenture, conducted detailed assessments of mobile operators across urban, regional, and rural regions. The evaluation combined on-the-ground drive testing with six months of crowd-sourced data from April and May 2025, providing a comprehensive review of New Zealand's mobile network performance. In the 2025 umlaut benchmark, One New Zealand achieved an overall score of 852 out of a possible 1000 (85.2%), ahead of Spark with 787 points and 2Degrees with 789 points. The testing criteria gave particular emphasis to real-life performance indicators including voice call quality, data speeds, and network reliability. Testing results According to the umlaut assessment, One New Zealand led in three core categories. These included voice services, which were measured by factors such as call setup time, continuity of data connectivity during calls, and overall voice quality. The company also ranked highest for data services, which examined web browsing performance, file download speeds, and the experience of streaming YouTube videos. Finally, One New Zealand was noted as the most reliable mobile network in New Zealand, leading on successful voice and data connections as well as call quality. Thaigan Govender, General Manager Mobile Access Networks at One New Zealand, outlined the reasons behind the network's continued recognition: Our fourth consecutive win is the result of smart, data-driven investment decisions that directly reflect how and where New Zealanders use our network and connectivity services. Govender detailed the level of investment and infrastructure development over the past year, noting, "Over the past full year, we've invested over NZD $100 million into our mobile network alone, building or upgrading almost 300 cell sites to 4G and 5G across metro, urban and regional areas, plus working with the Rural Connectivity Group. These improvements materially improve coverage and performance in the places Kiwis live, work, and travel." He continued, "We're stoked to be recognised as best in test for a fourth year running and are motivated to keep improving even further, using real-world data to deliver the best mobile experience in Aotearoa for One NZ customers and wholesale partners." Ongoing development One New Zealand has indicated further developments for the year ahead. Govender said, "We'll keep working to improve the network for our customers – whether that's through coverage and resilience innovation with the recently launched One NZ Satellite or through retiring legacy networks and re-using spectrum as we have planned with our 3G switch off from the end of the year – you can expect things to keep getting better as a One NZ customer." Umlaut's benchmarking methodology is recognised for incorporating a robust set of criteria, drawing on a mixture of controlled test data and metrics collected from real users. The benchmarks assess networks based not only on speed but also on reliability and quality of service in a variety of real-world conditions. The network's performance improvements over the past year are attributed by One New Zealand to substantial network investment. These included significant upgrades and new builds across different parts of the country, with a focus on upgrading cell sites to support the latest 4G and 5G technologies, and collaboration with initiatives aimed at expanding rural coverage. The latest umlaut testing affirms One New Zealand's position as the highest-performing national mobile network during the most recent evaluation period.
