NZTech Inform – digital free days

During the past year, as digital transformation continues, we have focused on the digital skills needed by the tech sector and other parts of the economy. These are the skills needed to create using digital technologies and the largest workstream in the Digital Technologies Industry Transformation Plan (ITP) focusses on this. Last week, it was very interesting to see research from Amazon Web Services (AWS) calculating that one million kiwis need digital upskilling. 
 
I chatted with Mike Hosking on Newstalk about how this growing need isn’t limited to the tech sector alone and needs a combination of good education and training approaches as well as excellent immigration policy.
 
Last week, I also had the privilege of attending a meeting with the CEO’s of a dozen of New Zealand’s largest digital exporters, like Xero, Vista, Seequent and Datacom, with Minister Clark to discuss the progress with the 600 border exceptions for tech workers and the proposed changes to immigration rules in the coming months to help attract high skilled workers. The feedback was that the border exception process was fast and efficient. There are still several hundred places available, so if you are trying to attract international talent, apply here. From July the new Accredited Employer Work Visa should also be easy to apply for, as long as the role meets a wage threshold.
 
Meanwhile, open finance is tipped to become the standard for empowering consumers, according to FinTechNZ’s Open Finance Aotearoa Research Report launching this Wednesday.
 
Over the next three days, I am attending school camp with my 12 year old daughter. I was pleased to hear that digital devices are banned for the entire trip! While I’m all for technology, it’s great to experience a digital free world, especially for today’s kids. Bring on the rock climbing, adventuring and night walks to hear kiwis.

Ngā mihi,

Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech

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