A digital future for small businesses in New Zealand
When the Digital Council for Aotearoa New Zealand sent a letter to Ministers in June, advising government on ways to tackle the medium to long term technology and data issues facing the country, we had New Zealand’s small business sector in mind.
Post pandemic advice
For example, in our advice to Ministers, we noted that businesses desperately needed support to broaden their digital skills, they needed better access to New Zealand e-commerce platforms to export and sell their products, and we flagged the need to see digital infrastructure projects as priorities for investment as part of New Zealand’s COVID-19 recovery.
In our advice, we also urged Ministers to harness the innovation and entrepreneurship within the business sector as we emerge from lock down and start to plan for the future.
Giving New Zealanders from a wide range of backgrounds, representing a wide number of perspectives, tangible ways to join the tech workforce was also among our recommendations.
What has been heartening is to see some positive progress begin to take shape. As a Council, we would like to acknowledge this work.
Things are now changing
At the government level, we have seen the set up of regional skills leadership groups to address workforce needs and an announcement to invest $50 million for enhanced regional digital connectivity.
New Zealand signed its first trade agreement focused on issues solely relating to the digital economy.
The Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) with Chile and Singapore facilitates trade by encouraging paperless trading, e-invoicing and payments, and streamlined customs procedures for parcels.
Events like Ko Māui Hangarau, a Māori Tech and Innovation Summit for rangatahi Māori, are taking place to help rangatahi see the future opportunities in the tech industry.
Backed by the Ministry of Education, the event is designed to capture the hearts and minds of rangatahi who have an interest in digital innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.
Events like Vision Week, a web summit, explored issues like the Māori economy, the Future of Work and the impact of the pandemic on our most vulnerable. Kono CE Rachel Taulelei’s interview for Vision Week was a good example.
And we are all reading stories on topics such as how new tools like Miro, Microsoft Teams and Zoom are helping us all work remotely or how Auckland-based start-up Soul Machines won worldwide interest and attracted millions in venture funding for its digital human technology.
New Zealand joins the global partnership on AI
On behalf of the Council, I would also like to make special mention of New Zealand’s recent inclusion in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence.
It is a new international initiative (launched on 15 June) that we believe will have positive spin-offs for SMEs — and for societies as a whole.
Why? Because its primary goal is to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI policy, resulting in what, I hope, will be a range of practical and ethical applications of AI.
For example, plans are in the pipeline to commission research and develop projects around four broad themes, including:
- responsible AI
- data governance
- the future of work
- innovation and commercialisation.
It also aims to help develop AI grounded in human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and economic growth, while working with partners across industry, civil society, governments, and academia.
To date, its founding members include New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Good start for Aotearoa New Zealand
These are all great starts. As a Council, we will continue to watch developments and talk to stakeholders in the business sector about these initiatives and others as they are announced to understand what they mean for the economy and the SME sector.