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NZTech Update – Culture tech and the launch of NZ IoT Alliance
Tena koe Readers
As a first-time contributor to NZ Tech’s weekly updates and by way of introduction, I’ve recently joined the NZTech board to help build a supporting head of steam under New Zealand’s creative technologists and the local tech companies focused on culture and creative industries opportunities.
A PwC report for creative industries’ alliance WeCreate.org established that New Zealand’s creative industries directly contributed $1.64b to GDP in 2015. In 2016, our games industry alone grew 13% and generated $89m in annual revenue (92% export-driven). With New Zealand’s strengths in creative industries and a rapidly growing tech sector – culture tech and creative tech present an attractive opportunity for innovators in this sector.
Te Papa’s contribution in this area is through Mahuki, which ran its first programme in 2016 to considerable acclaim. Mahuki is an innovation accelerator programme focused on global opportunities in the culture sector (and related sectors including games, learning and creative industries). With 75,000 museums around the world and over 1 billion annual visitors, the potential value of the international cultural sector to New Zealand-based entrepreneurs and innovators is significant.
Mahuki is located in a purpose-built facility in New Zealand’s national museum and is a space where entrepreneurialism, technology and culture collide to create innovative solutions that enrich galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAM) and other creative or cultural organisations. It’s part of a growing trend of cultural institutions partnering with industry and entrepreneurs to fast track innovation and adapt to a dynamic digital world.
Applications for the 2017 Mahuki programme launch today, with the Mahuki team travelling around New Zealand to promote the programme. Last week, the team presented in Auckland to an engaged crowd of entrepreneurs, investors and the GLAM sector. This week, they’re heading to Palmerston North, Whanganui, New Plymouth, Taupo, Napier, Christchurch and Dunedin. If you’re in any of these regions, do pop in.
In May, as part of NZTech’s TechWeek 2017, in addition to a Mahuki Tech Tour, an ArtsTech Speed Dating event by Stratedgy in Wellington seeks to address a global lag in the application of science and technology to traditional branches of the performing arts, particularly ballet, orchestra, opera.
So there you go, something a little left of centre for New Zealands’s tech industry!
He kon? mai.
Melissa Firth
NZTech board
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Coming next month!
Meet the finalistsCONNECT
FinTechNZ is hosting a Connect event in Christchurch tomorrow and Auckland on 18 April. A great opportunity to make valuable connections. Follow FinTechNZ and join FinTech discussions on LinkedIn.
Digital Transformation: The Naked Bus Story. Also mark your diary for their Summit on 14 September. NZSA’s next networking event is April 11 in Auckland.
Join IBM this week as they celebrate their move to Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter. Check out their free housewarming events, including developer meet-ups and group fitness classes.
PROMOTE
Auckland District Health Board and Staples VR have been developing VR experiences to reduce child patient anxiety levels. The project aims to improve the overall hospital experience and reduce the need for medication to manage anxiety.
Last week, Eagle Technology launched the Esri Program for Schools in New Zealand. ArcGIS Online lets students and teachers explore and analyse data using maps. ‘Geoinquries’ have been adapted for the New Zealand curriculum.
Watch the brand new Techweek’17 promo video and share it on social media. Join us as we put our most innovative tech thinkers to work finding local answers to global questions at more than 100 events nationwide at #twnz17.
ADVANCE
ICYMI read our GovTech briefing paper and recommendations from the Leader’s Forum at the NZTech Advance Government & Technology Summit. Early bird registrations are now open for our EdTech Summit in June.
On Friday, the Hon Simon Bridges launched the NZ IoT Alliance. The Alliance is one of several new initiatives included in the new Building a Digital Nation report, which Minister Bridges released at the Alliance launch event.
FinTechNZ‘s Mitchell Pham says a recent visit by a UK FinTech delegation has paved the way for increases in financial innovation and technology development business between the two countries. Read more.
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