Source: Radio New Zealand
Tech New Zealand chief executive Graeme Muller says “New Zealanders deserve a clear, ambitious vision that captures opportunities while managing risk”. NZ Tech
The $24 billion technology sector has published a manifesto warning New Zealand’s future prosperity is being threatened by a lack of cohesive policies to support growth.
“Our productivity is lagging, our talent is departing, and our infrastructure deficit is growing,” Tech New Zealand chief executive Graeme Muller said.
He said there were some policy setting nuances which would ensure New Zealand’s fast-growing tech businesses would grow faster in New Zealand.
“We would move from exporting $17 billion a year of technology, and move it up to $25 – $30 billion a year, and make it the largest exporter within a decade. Easily,” he said.
“With those growing companies, you’re attracting good talent, you’re keeping the money in the country. You’re creating products and services that can be deployed for New Zealand.”
He said the sector was calling on policymakers to put aside political differences and commit to a long-term, bipartisan strategy to secure the country’s economic future.
“New Zealanders deserve a clear, ambitious vision that captures opportunities while managing risk. That requires long-term thinking with genuine cross-party collaboration,” Muller said.
The Tech & Innovation Manifesto 2026 was developed in collaboration with 20 tech sector organisations, representing agritech, AI, biotech, blockchain, education, fintech and other industries.
The manifesto sets out four cornerstones for growth
- World-class local digital infrastructure
- Abundant and affordable clean energy
- A consistent, attractive investment and talent ecosystem
- Strong global connections and export excellence
“Smarter use of technology will lift productivity, drive sustainable growth and create high-value jobs,” Muller said.
Policy proposals to support growth
- Provide every adult New Zealander with access to free, globally-benchmarked training in practical AI skills like they do in the UK.
- Direct the NZ Super Fund to allocate more late-stage capital into local tech firms, helping them to retain head offices and staff in New Zealand as our biggest tech firms go global.
- Increase investment in cybersecurity to combat the $1.6b lost to cybercrime annually.
- Accelerate deployment of renewable energy and use this to attract energy-intensive industries – such as data centres, supercomputing and advanced food processing – powered by clean energy to drive low-carbon exports.
- Invest in digital inclusion initiatives to ensure all New Zealanders can access, adopt and benefit from public digital infrastructure.
- Establish a streamlined pathway for precision-bred, gene-edited plants and animals, distinct from existing genetically modified organism (GMO) rules to safely lift our primary sector exports.
“The benefit of tech is it’s an enabler, as well as an industry,” Muller said.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
