TUANZ welcomes new board members

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On Thursday, September 12 the Tech Users Association of New Zealand, (TUANZ) welcomed new board members at its Annual General Meeting held in Auckland during the Tech Users Summit 2024.

Congratulations to Kari Jones, Garth Spencer and Andrew Cushen on their election to the board. They join existing board members Tristan Ilich, Zoe Udy, Caitlin Metz, Annaliese Atina, Matthew Harrison, Paul Littlefair, Sid Kumar and David Matheson.

Special thanks to outgoing board members Kaity Mitchell, Vaughan Baker and Andy Edwards.

“I want to express my gratitude to our Board members for their continued dedication and strong leadership. A heartfelt thank you also to our members, whose support empowers us to be the voice for all users of digital technology across Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Craig Young, CEO of TUANZ.

TUANZ continues to support the Digital Boost Alliance, an initiative that supports the uptake of digital tools for small businesses, communities, and individuals. Through collaboration, our members are helping drive digital acceleration in Aotearoa.

TUANZ’s events programme continues to grow with its flagship conferences, Tech Users Summit 2024 and the Rural Connectivity Symposium 2024, seeing record attendance numbers since their inception. Throughout New Zealand, the TUANZ Future Leaders in Technology (FLINT) teams host regular events to connect and empower those who aspire to be the leaders of New Zealand’s digital future.  

This year TUANZ is delighted to launch the Arotahi Spotlight series, celebrating and supporting the inclusion of Māori and Pasifika in technology careers. Arotahi means to focus, and TUANZ is working with our members to highlight the stories and achievements of our member organisations working to foster digital skills and opportunities for Māori and Pasifika. 

Learn more about TUANZ and explore our current work programme here: www.tuanz.org.nz 

Full board profiles here: TUANZ Board – TUANZ

View the TUANZ annual report here

For further comment or interview, please contact Craig Young, CEO, TUANZ Phone: 021 488 188  Email: craig.young@tuanz.org.nz  

TUANZ launches Arotahi Spotlight series

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Welcome to the TUANZ Arotahi Spotlight series, celebrating and supporting the inclusion of Māori and Pasifika in technology careers. Arotahi means to focus, and over the next four months, we do just that by highlighting the stories and achievements of TUANZ member organisations working to foster digital skills and opportunities for Māori and Pasifika. We’re delighted to feature Beca as our first Arotahi member spotlight.

Beca founded Te Ahi Tūtata in 2022, a Māori business team that strengthens relationships with Māori clients and educates Beca’s New Zealand staff about te ao Māori. In 2023, Beca launched the Māhuri leadership programme for Māori staff, supported by Te Puni Kōkiri. Software Engineer Dallas Watene (Ngāti Maniapoto) participated in 2023, and Digital Consultant Punahamoa Walker (Whakatōhea) completed the course in 2024.

Learn more on our website here >> Arotahi Spotlight Series 2024 – TUANZ

Influence the future of TUANZ

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One of the opportunities that members of TUANZ have is to put their name forward for election to the Board. Being part of the Board gives you the opportunity to influence the future work of the organisation and how TUANZ impacts the direction of the digital technology landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand.

We are now seeking nominations for the Board and encourage you to carefully consider nominating yourself or someone else to this role who can make a difference and help us to make sure New Zealand makes the most of the digitally connected world. More information about the Board member roles and responsibilities can be found here. 


This year, there are six seats available on the TUANZ Board. Board members serve for two years. To join the Board, you or your organisation must be a fully paid-up TUANZ member. If unsure about your membership status, please contact us at accounts@tuanz.org.nz.

While any member may be nominated, we especially encourage members with the following skills or experience to consider nomination:

  • Risk & financial management
  • Security or data protection
  • Leading large corporate IT teams
  • Members who work within non-technology and telecommunications companies.

Nominations can be made using this form no later than 5pm, Wednesday 7 August.

Online Voting & Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will be held at the Tech Users Summit on Thursday, September 12, 2024. Voting will be online before the AGM, and results will be announced at the meeting. Details and registration information will be sent out soon. All TUANZ members are encouraged to attend either in person or online.

Timeline

  • Now: Call for Nominations for Board representatives issued to Members
  • 7 August: Deadline for nominations to be received
  • 14 August: List of nominees to be issued to voting members and electronic voting commences.
  • 28 August:  Electronic voting close
  • 29 August:  Any proposed notices, motions or remits to be advised to TUANZ.
  • 12 September: Annual Meeting, results of online voting announced.


Notices and Remits

If you have any remits, motions or other items that you would like raised at the AGM, please send these through to alysha@tuanz.org.nz by 5pm Thursday 29 August 2024.

Media Release: Digital competitive slipping: NZ tech leaders raise concerns about cyber

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June 18, 2024

Press Release – TUANZ

New Zealand’s digital leaders are facing a technological tipping point, with generative artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity emerging as key priorities for 2024, according to a new report by TUANZ.

However, in 2023, New Zealand’s ranking in the Portulans Network Readiness Index (NRI) fell by four positions, from 19th to 23rd.

This reflects some of the concerns raised by CIOs and technology leaders, including AI talent concentration, digital skills, and high-tech and medium-high-tech manufacturing.

The fourth annual ‘TUANZ Aotearoa’s Digital Priorities in 2024’ report, supported by One New Zealand, highlights some key digital trends and concerns.

Craig Young, TUANZ chief executive officer, says the rise of AI alongside strengthening cybersecurity and digital equity were some of the key themes outlined by tech leaders.

“Over the last few years, we’ve seen digital leaders trying balance technological evolution with supporting business as usual. It’s evident our world – and the technology we rely on – is developing at an ever-increasing pace,” says Young.

“In order to stay ahead of the curve, Aotearoa New Zealand’s business and technology leaders need to be flexible, adaptable and resilient to unexpected challenges and disruptions.

“To do this, we require innovative thinking, in partnership with government, to create an environment that supports the progressive regulation of emerging tech and data privacy, particularly as AI is fast-approaching and is likely to impact jobs across the motu.

“The recent Budget was particularly lacking in any new technology focus areas, which feels like a missed opportunity as New Zealand looks to improve lagging productivity through high-tech solutions.”

The TUANZ Digital Priorities Report was compiled following interviews with 36 technology leaders from around Aotearoa.

Tony Baird, Chief Technology Officer at One New Zealand, said Kiwi businesses were quick to adapt to using new technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, and wants to see this continue.

“The adoption of cloud technology has helped pave the way to emerging opportunities for AI as a tool to help augment and support human workers, freeing them up to focus on higher value tasks,” says Baird.

“When it comes to these tools, it’s essential we learn how to utilise them to our advantage to streamline business processes while navigating the challenges around data privacy and ethics policies to protect consumers.

“The tech leaders highlighted both the risks and opportunities facing Kiwi businesses, to ensure we emerge from the current economic challenges stronger on the global stage.”

Other key priorities highlighted in the report include building resilience in a changing world, embracing cloud and off-site technology, addressing constrained resources, and promoting digital equity to ensure no one is left behind in the digital transformation.

The “Aotearoa’s Digital Priorities in 2024” report is available for download on the TUANZ website at www.tuanz.org.nz .

Auckland After5 – AI and the future of telecoms

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Over the next decade we expect to see an acceleration of major cross-industry trends such as electrification, the green revolution, resilient supply chains and automation. A mobile-first world, powered by AI and cloud, will enable these transformations.

Ericsson is excited to collaborate with TUANZ to bring the latest insights on the role of AI in telecommunications networks and how it is transforming the telecommunications landscape. In this session, Ericsson will cover the following topics:

  • An update on AI in the telecommunications industry
  • AI opportunity and business potential
  • The role of AI in programmable 5G networks
  • AI use-cases for telecommunications
  • Global examples
  • The future with AI

Date: Tuesday 23 July
Time: From 5pm
Location: QT Hotel, 4 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland CBD, Auckland

REGISTER HERE

Seeking TUANZ Board Nominations 2023

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One of the opportunities that members of TUANZ have is to put their name forward for election to the Board.  Being part of the Board gives you the opportunity to influence the future work of the organisation and how TUANZ impacts the direction of the digital technology landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand.

We are now seeking nominations for the Board and encourage you to carefully consider nominating yourself or someone else to this role who can make a difference and help us to make sure New Zealand makes the most of the digitally connected world. More information about the Board member roles and responsibilities can be found here.

There are six seats available this year on the TUANZ Board in this rotation. If elected, Board members serve for a term of two years.

Board Nominations

The following Board members were elected in September 2022 and have another year to serve:

  • Andy Edwards
  • Caitlin Metz
  • Kaity Mitchell
  • Vaughan Baker

The following Board members’ terms expire at the upcoming AGM:

  • Jenna Woolley
  • Matthew Harrison
  • Maxine Elliott
  • Tristan IIich (Current Chair)
  • Wendy McGowan
  • Zoe Udy

While any member may be nominated, based on the current representatives on the Board we especially encourage members with the following skills or experience to consider nomination :

  • Risk & Financial Management
  • Experience in security or data protection
  • Experience in leading large corporate IT teams
  • Members who work within non-technology and telecommunications companies

Nominations must be received by 5pm Tuesday 22 August 2023. Nominations should be made using this form.

You or your organisation must be a fully paid-up member of TUANZ to join the Board, so if you are in doubt about your standing with the organisation, please contact us at accounts@tuanz.org.nz to check and/or arrange payment.

Online Voting

Voting will take place online in advance of the AGM and the results will be announced at the meeting.

Notices and Remits

If you have any remits, motions or other items that you would like raised at the AGM, please send these through to agm@tuanz.org.nz by 5pm Tuesday 12 September 2022.

 

Timeline

  • Now: Call for Nominations for Board representatives issued to Members
  • 22 August: Deadline for nominations to be received
  • 29 August: List of nominees to be issued to voting members and electronic voting commences
  • 12 September: Any proposed notices, motions or remits to be advised to TUANZ
  • 26 September: Annual Meeting, results of online voting announced.

 

Annual General Meeting

The TUANZ Annual General Meeting will be held online on Tuesday 26th September 2023. Details and registration information will be sent out soon.

All TUANZ members are encouraged to attend the AGM.

Tech Users Day 2022 Communique

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Tech Users Day 2022 was a day of inspiring speakers, networking, table and panel discussions, challenging our vision of New Zealand being in the top 10 digital ready nations by 2030.  What will it look like and how do we get there? How do we gain momentum in transformation and ensure no one is left out or left behind? 

We have put together a communique, including an overview of the day’s key themes and takeaways, plus thoughts on where to next. Topics discussed include:

  • Te Rautaki Matihiko mō Aotearoa – The Digital Strategy for Aotearoa
  • A new era of digital connectivity
  • Growing for our digital future
  • Balancing sustainability and growth in our digital future
  • Empowering everyone’s participation
  • The power of connection
  • The importance of authentic relationships at local levels
  • Doing what’s right for our digital future
  • Nurturing our resilience and online safety

Thanks to everyone who was involved in making Tech Users Day 2022 a success. We look forward to next year’s event.

View the report here

TUANZ Media Release : TUANZ Welcomes Kiwis home but not the return of roaming charges

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TUANZ MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 2nd March 2022

 

With the news that Kiwi’s can now return home to Aotearoa from Australia with no home isolation from Wednesday evening, and the ability of Kiwi’s to travel to Australia, people can now look forward to once again flying across the Tasman to see family, friends and do business.

 

However, there is a cost to this that many will have forgotten over the last two years – that of International Mobile Roaming Charges even when visiting our closest neighbours. TUANZ is calling on the operators on both sides of the Tasman to do away with this unnecessary charge as travellers start to arrive in their respective countries. This would be in the spirit of the announcements as far back as 2013 by the Prime Minister’s of both countries to empower regulators to ensure roaming prices were regulated.

 

“Operators over the last two years have learnt to live without this revenue from everyday travellers and so any re-start of roaming will simply be unnecessary. Why not take the opportunity now to agree to not reinstate the charges between our two countries, further reducing the cost of travel across the ditch,” says Craig Young, CEO of TUANZ.

 

Young went on to say “while we recognise that roaming charges beyond ‘Australasia’ would be more problematic to remove, this change between two neighbours should be simple to fix. It would provide a boost to helping Kiwi’s reconnect, and support businesses, including tourism and hospitality.”

 

Young estimates that Kiwis have saved a collective $180million over the last two years. Telcos in New Zealand receive an estimated $114million from these charges for Kiwi’s and incoming tourists in a regular year. (These numbers are based on the Commerce Commission survey of retail telcos for the 2019 financial year and related to all overseas roaming, not just Australia).

 

“We have learnt the importance of remaining connected through the COVID-19 pandemic, and taking the opportunity to reduce roaming charges to zero across the Tasman would be a big step to helping us all remain in touch, even now that we can travel.”

A few tips for consumers when travelling:

 

  • Check the details of your current mobile plan and remind yourself of what charges apply when travelling

  • Utilise over the top messaging services rather than text messaging

  • Set up your voicemail asking for messages rather than phone calls

  • When out of the country, utilise secure wifi networks such as friends, families and workplaces to connect rather than overseas mobile networks

  • If travelling for some time, consider using a local prepaid service rather than roaming

 
Ends

10th November 2021: Submission on the Towards a Digital Strategy for Aotearoa – Discussion Document

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On the 10th November 2021 we provided our feedback on the Government’s discussion document on “Towards a Digital Strategy for Aotearoa”.

The basis of our submission was the Digital Priorities for Aotearoa Report and the communique issued as part of the recent Techusers Day held in August 2021.   Our main point was that to lift our nation to the level of leading globally, the Digital Strategy for Aotearoa needs to be ambitious, challenging and a stretch. It needs to have audacious goals which are targeted and a call to action.  And while we think the vision and goals in the discussion document “Towards a Digital Strategy for Aotearoa” is a good start, it does not embody the ambition this strategy needs to realise the benefits for Aotearoa New Zealand.

We also made the point that the whole of business (economy) must be involved in developing and delivering on a holistic digital strategy. The discussion document alludes to this, however, there is no specific action to support the wider business environment or obligation placed on the wider economy. These businesses are not SMEs but are large users of digital services and we would like to see recognition of the importance of the wider business community – both in terms of how Government will support their digital transformation, but also how larger businesses will play their part in securing our digital future.

You can read our brief submission here.

MEDIA RELEASE : TUANZ LAUNCHES SITE WITH SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND INFORMATION REGARDING 5G

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17th April 2020

TUANZ (Technology Users Association of NZ) has for over 30 years been committed to helping users understand new communications technologies and the benefits that these bring for both companies and consumers.

To ensure that members as well as the general public have an independent source of easy to understand information, TUANZ has launched a new resource about the next evolution of mobile communications, known as 5G, on their website.  Here users can find simple explanations of the technology along with links to further detailed information, as well as being able to download a simple fact sheet.  

“We also know that there is a significant amount of misinformation on social media on what 5G is and the unverified health risks associated with this new technology” said Craig Young, CEO of TUANZ.  “ Our new site provides brief and simple explanations of why this risk is overstated and provides links to credible scientific information that debunks any theories.”

Young also has a message to those who consider that the current actions of damaging mobile towers is an acceptable form of protest. “There is absolutely no scientific evidence that 5G, or any mobile network, has in any way contributed to the current Covid-19 pandemic.  In fact, damaging equipment at this time only serves to disrupt those communities, families and whanau who are in isolation in need of being connected for their health and wellbeing, and in particular disrupts and causes harm for children who are now in the new school term, learning from home.”

The information can be found on the TUANZ website from a link on the homepage or at https://tuanz.org.nz/articles-research/5g/. The association is committed to updating the site with new information as it becomes available.