Latest news with #TUANZ
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
New technology with commentator Bill Bennett
Bill has been at the TUANZ conference in Hamilton where they've been discussing why 100% of New Zealanders aren't connected. Bill also asks what happened to the much touted Metaverse and looks into ransomewear attacks on 3 top UK retailers. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Techday NZ
02-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
New Zealand urged to boost digital strategy & address tech gaps
The Technology Users Association of New Zealand has published its Digital Priorities 2025 report, outlining current challenges and opportunities in the country's digital sector. The report details calls by digital leaders for increased government involvement and partnership with industry to address a range of digital issues, with a focus on strategic action to enhance economic output and productivity. There is an emphasis on the need to balance regulatory frameworks to allow private sector growth alongside more impactful government participation. Now in its fifth year, the report incorporates findings from interviews with 36 Chief Information Officers and Chief Technology Officers from a variety of organisations across New Zealand. It identifies six immediate priorities necessary for maintaining the country's digital competitiveness and ensuring technological inclusivity. Craig Young, Chief Executive Officer of the Technology Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ), commented on the importance of the findings: "This year's report paints a clear picture of the pressing issues facing Aotearoa New Zealand's digital future. We are at a critical juncture where we must address escalating cybersecurity threats, bridge the widening tech talent gap, and ensure digital inclusion for all New Zealanders." Young added: "It's also vital that we accelerate technology adoption and harness data effectively while navigating Gen AI. We need the Government to step up in the right places, and we acknowledge this requires support from industry to drive meaningful change together." The report notes that while New Zealand demonstrates strength in areas such as e-commerce legislation and online banking, it currently lags behind international benchmarks for technology infrastructure and adoption. Technology leaders expressed concern that the country is at risk of falling further behind, giving New Zealand an average score of 6 out of 10 for the uptake of new technologies. Cybersecurity risks ranked highest among the priorities for immediate action. Kieran Byrne, Chief Technology Officer at One New Zealand, said: "While One NZ has an expert internal team, and a specialist partner in DEFEND supporting our collective customers, like most CTOs and CIOs cybersecurity is always top of mind in terms of risks that need to be managed. The threat landscape is evolving so quickly, and the industry needs to work closely with partners and government agencies to ensure telecommunications infrastructure remains highly resilient, and our economy and people remain protected from these cyber threats." Other identified priorities include bridging the digital skills gap within the workforce, advancing digital inclusion efforts, accelerating technology adoption, harnessing data for improved decision-making, and carefully navigating the risks and opportunities associated with generative artificial intelligence. The report further highlights New Zealand's lower global ranking in technological infrastructure as an area that requires additional investment and closer public sector collaboration. In particular, digitising government systems is seen as key for enhancing public service delivery and supporting broader digital transformation. Liz Gosling, Co-Chair of TechLeaders, outlined the collective vision: "Our collective ambition is for Aotearoa New Zealand to be a world-leading, trusted and successful digital nation. To achieve this, we must address the issues raised in this report with urgency. We need to bridge the digital divide, invest in our people, and foster a culture of innovation." The report's recommendations include prioritising security by design, enhancing collaboration on cybersecurity, investing in local talent and STEM education, improving technology infrastructure, making technology more affordable, promoting digital literacy, and implementing governance and standards for responsible use of artificial intelligence. Other recommendations focus on establishing clear national policies for data use, incentivising technology adoption in small and medium enterprises, and advancing a unified national digital strategy. Craig Young summarised: "Digital technologies are critical to New Zealand's success, we need to ensure that Aotearoa is well positioned to benefit and not be left behind due to slow or inefficient technology adoption. This includes the right sort of regulatory invention, and a focus on government support not necessarily legislative action."
Otago Daily Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
NZ lacking ‘digital ambition'
Tech leaders slam govt New Zealand lacks the digital ambition required to keep pace with advances in technology taking place around the world, according to an industry report. "We don't have a digital ambition," the Technology Users Association (TUANZ)'s annual Digital Priorities report said. It said there was a strong perception among tech sector leaders the government lacked a co-ordinated and strategic approach to digital transformation, which had resulted in a slowdown in innovation and investment. "The overwhelming sentiment? Disappointment and a sense of invisibility," the report said. "A common view is that government restructuring and shifting priorities have sidelined digital technology — seen by many as a missed opportunity." The report highlights deficiencies across nearly all key tech sector indicators and the country's stagnant, middle-of-the-pack ranking on the global stage, despite digital technology being a major driver of economic growth for New Zealand. "As the government enters its second full year, digital leaders express disappointment and a sense of invisibility, struggling to pinpoint specific government initiatives in the digital technology space." The report said the lack of legislation or regulation beyond the Privacy Act remained a major concern for digital leaders. "Our low and stagnant rankings for cybersecurity and privacy protection underscore the need for urgent action to strengthen our capabilities in these critical areas," it said. TUANZ chief executive Craig Young said the government and industry needed to work together to address escalating cybersecurity threats, bridge the widening tech talent gap and ensure digital inclusion for all New Zealanders. Most scathing were leaders' comments around the tech talent gap, which they said was becoming increasingly difficult to bridge. "The fact that this country has to rely on IT workers coming in from overseas when there's people in this country in low-decile [communities] who don't earn enough money, I think, is absolutely disgusting," Fliway Group chief information officer Kevin Rowland said. Key recommendations • Prioritising security by design and enhancing collaboration to address cybersecurity risks. • Investing in local talent, promoting Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and partnering to close skill gaps. • Improving infrastructure, making technology affordable and promoting digital literacy for digital inclusion. • Implementing robust governance and standards for responsible AI use. • Developing a national digital strategy and incentivising technology adoption for small and medium enterprises. • Establishing clear policies for data use and enhancing data security. By Nona Pelletier
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
‘We Don't Have A Digital Ambition' – Tech Leaders On Lack Of National Plan
'The overwhelming sentiment? Disappointment and a sense of invisibility,' a report says., Senior Business Reporter New Zealand lacks the digital ambition required to keep pace with advances in technology taking place around the world, according to an industry report. 'We don't have a digital ambition,' the Technology Users Association (TUANZ)'s annual Digital Priorities report said. It said there was a strong perception among tech sector leaders the government lacked a coordinated and strategic approach to digital transformation, which had seen a slowdown in innovation and investment. 'The overwhelming sentiment? Disappointment and a sense of invisibility,' the report said. 'A common view is that government restructuring and shifting priorities have sidelined digital technology – seen by many as a missed opportunity.' The report highlights deficiencies across nearly all *key tech sector indicators, with a stagnant, middle of the pack ranking on the global stage, despite being a major driver of economic growth for New Zealand. 'As the government enters its second full year, digital leaders express disappointment and a sense of invisibility, struggling to pinpoint specific government initiatives in the digital technology space.' The report said the lack of legislation or regulation beyond the Privacy Act remained a major concern for digital leaders. 'Our low and stagnant rankings for cybersecurity and privacy protection underscore the need for urgent action to strengthen our capabilities in these critical areas.' TUANZ chief executive Craig Young said the government and industry needed to work together to address escalating cybersecurity threats, bridge the widening tech talent gap, and ensure digital inclusion for all New Zealanders. 'We need the government to step up in the right places, and we acknowledge this requires support from industry to drive meaningful change together,' Young said. Most scathing were leaders' comments around the tech talent gap which was becoming increasingly difficult to bridge. 'The fact that this country has to rely on IT workers coming in from overseas when there's people in this country in low decile [communities] who don't earn enough money, I think, is absolutely disgusting,' Fliway Group chief information officer Kevin Rowland said. *Key recommendations from the report: Prioritising security by design and enhancing collaboration to address cybersecurity risks. Investing in local talent, promoting STEM education and partnering to close skill gaps. Improving infrastructure, making technology affordable and promoting digital literacy for digital inclusion. Implementing robust governance and standards for responsible AI use. Developing a national digital strategy and incentivising technology adoption for small and medium enterprises. Establishing clear policies for data use and enhancing data security.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
‘We Don't Have A Digital Ambition' – Tech Leaders On Lack Of National Plan
'The overwhelming sentiment? Disappointment and a sense of invisibility,' a report says., Senior Business Reporter New Zealand lacks the digital ambition required to keep pace with advances in technology taking place around the world, according to an industry report. 'We don't have a digital ambition,' the Technology Users Association (TUANZ)'s annual Digital Priorities report said. It said there was a strong perception among tech sector leaders the government lacked a coordinated and strategic approach to digital transformation, which had seen a slowdown in innovation and investment. 'The overwhelming sentiment? Disappointment and a sense of invisibility,' the report said. 'A common view is that government restructuring and shifting priorities have sidelined digital technology – seen by many as a missed opportunity.' The report highlights deficiencies across nearly all *key tech sector indicators, with a stagnant, middle of the pack ranking on the global stage, despite being a major driver of economic growth for New Zealand. 'As the government enters its second full year, digital leaders express disappointment and a sense of invisibility, struggling to pinpoint specific government initiatives in the digital technology space.' The report said the lack of legislation or regulation beyond the Privacy Act remained a major concern for digital leaders. 'Our low and stagnant rankings for cybersecurity and privacy protection underscore the need for urgent action to strengthen our capabilities in these critical areas.' TUANZ chief executive Craig Young said the government and industry needed to work together to address escalating cybersecurity threats, bridge the widening tech talent gap, and ensure digital inclusion for all New Zealanders. 'We need the government to step up in the right places, and we acknowledge this requires support from industry to drive meaningful change together,' Young said. Most scathing were leaders' comments around the tech talent gap which was becoming increasingly difficult to bridge. 'The fact that this country has to rely on IT workers coming in from overseas when there's people in this country in low decile [communities] who don't earn enough money, I think, is absolutely disgusting,' Fliway Group chief information officer Kevin Rowland said. *Key recommendations from the report: Prioritising security by design and enhancing collaboration to address cybersecurity risks. Investing in local talent, promoting STEM education and partnering to close skill gaps. Improving infrastructure, making technology affordable and promoting digital literacy for digital inclusion. Implementing robust governance and standards for responsible AI use. Developing a national digital strategy and incentivising technology adoption for small and medium enterprises.
