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DeepThink’s view on government’s role for rebuilding a better NZ
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Planning/Implementing a combined econmic and health response to covid
- Analysis of NZ to establish which sectors have the highest potential for returns (technology).
- Using the levers of Government which allow businesses in high return sectors to thrive while improving productivity, wages, and minimising adverse effects on the environment.
Jason Paris, chief executive of Vodafone NZ
The infrastructure Aotearoa has got right so far is digital
With the Covid-19 economic rebuild on everyone’s minds, Aotearoa should double down on its world-class digital infrastructure and focus even more on digital adoption to thrive.
Historically, governments have tended to focus most of their collective investment on 20th Century physical infrastructure. Yet we have digital communications networks that are the envy of most countries
We have the opportunity to be the most digitally enabled country in the world, using digital technology to unlock a more productive and sustainable economy, and ensure that our most disadvantaged communities have the same opportunities to access world-class connectivity as the most advantaged communities.
I believe digital technologies represent New Zealand’s best chance at thriving in the new normal. While borders are closed, international trade continues via online channels. Collectively, we’ve turned to video conferencing to replace in-person meetings, conferences, and trade shows. And it’s been pretty seamless in terms of the technology side of things.
Now, we can harness this technology to grow collectively as a nation. A Number 8 fencing wire mentality may have produced numerous Kiwi success stories in years gone by, but it is our digital future we need to embrace. This means prioritising STEAM subjects, encouraging our kids and recently-unemployed workers into new technologically focused roles wherever possible. Training or retraining digital skills.
I’d also like to see a government that works hard to prioritise and stimulate the tech sector at a time when it is one of our greatest opportunities to repair the deep gouges in our economy created by Covid-19. An ambitious Government could do this by ensuring a level playing field and creating an environment that encourages both competition and ongoing investment.
The reality is, even though New Zealand has world-class digital infrastructure, some of our regulation does not reflect the reality of competition between global, over-the-top tech companies, converged content and communications companies, local infrastructure wholesalers, and retailers. Asymmetric regulation risks hindering opportunities for Aotearoa at a time when we need incentives and the certainty to continue to invest, upskill and reskill more people and develop new innovative solutions.
Our 5G network and Internet of Things capabilities represent one of the biggest opportunities of our times – so we need other companies and our universities to invest to develop future applications that can be sold at scale to global businesses or consumers, to capitalise on our collective digital infrastructure assets. And we need government support for the acceleration of these technologies, for example by requiring local governments to embrace smart city technology.
New Zealand needs to invest, grow and build our way out of the Covid-19 economic crisis. And our digital infrastructure allows a new generation of inventors to create jobs and stimulate industry.
Unlike some of the other dire infrastructure situations across the country – be it roads, rail or water – we have the platform that is affordable for most, costing just a little more than a Big Mac combo for a month’s pre pay mobile access. While affordability is a whole area in itself – with digital inclusion coming into focus to ensure all Kiwis have the access, skills, motivation and capacity to access the internet and internet-based services – we have the physical networks ready and in place.
So I’d like to see the Government continue to progress its digital inclusion agenda as a matter of priority in the next term, and encourage all parts of the industry to work together to ensure fibre broadband input costs are affordable – because we don’t want to get into a situation where more Kiwis need to make the choice to buy bread or broadband. As a developed nation, our citizens should be able to access both.
If we recognise and build on the potential of a tech-focused future strategy, utilising our awesome digital infrastructure, Aotearoa will thrive
- Hey Jacinda and Grant, this is what a policy/plan looks like..
- National’s NZ Tech 2030 Plan includes:
- Establishing a Minister for Technology.
- Offering 1000 tertiary scholarships per year targeted at students from low decile schools to undertake science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) degrees.
- Establishing a STEM-focused partnership school and restoring funding for specialist ICT graduate schools.
- Introducing a fast-track technology skills visa.
- Investing $1 billion in technology infrastructure upgrades with the aim of achieving 100 Mbps uncapped internet speeds for everyone using Ultra-Fast Broadband.
- Establishing three targeted investment funds for tech start-ups worth $200 million each, with the cost split evenly between Government and the private sector.
- Developing the world’s most tech-friendly regulation.
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Labour’s ‘Shovel Ready’ criteria for spending billions needs to be discarded immediately
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Analysis to identify NZ’s competitive advantages in high return, low impact industries, then using the levers of Government to support and grow those industries needs to start now (it should be an ongoing process for all political parties).
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National’s policies shows they have an ongoing process for analysis and policy creation.
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Anyone seen a coherent Labour Party Policy or plan for rebuilding NZ’s economy?
Labour’s Plan: Keep paying the promotional consultants to come up with slogans and sound bites (double Judy?), keep rolling Adern out to make inconsequential announcements (increase sick days), keep borrowing and spending to fool the people that everything is OK. It is Labour supporters who will bear the brunt of Labour’s nonsensical spending of our money when the debt has to be paid back!
Anyone else wonder what would have been with Bill English and Stephen Joyce at the helm? Bill English has a wonderful social conscious mixed with an ability to formulate practical solutions to solve social ills. Stephen Joyce has a brilliant and proven business mind. Two people who rose to prominence based on their ability – wouldn’t that make a nice change in today’s environemnt!
Mike Hosking makes the following comments using US media examples, I suspect his criticism is aimed at the NZ media. Until the NZ media does its job properly, the current Labour caucus will continue to get away with very poor results at a huge cost to taxpayers.
The simple reality is that, all over the world, a lot of strange unusual often dishonest material is passed off as fact or policy or promises at the highest of levels.
The media, especially the main stream media who still openly purport to be fair and balanced, have a duty to report it. So this new approach of editing as we go will do them then yet more damage in a world where their reputations range from questionable to outright trashed.
Another irony of course is their ongoing insistence on neutrality when no such thing exists. They are not fair or balanced or remotely neutral, the crime being they pretend they are.
So let’s have some rules, shall we?
To inform, not editorialise, to be impartial in a way that actually shows you are, as opposed to the circus being offered up currently.