News, views and analysis from the A/NZ tech sector
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Hi there,
It’s Fieldays week in New Zealand and with the sector in good heart the mood is buoyant (as long as you're not in the market for a new ute, but that's another story).
The recent E Tipu Boma Agri Summit also had agritech firmly in the spotlight – highlighting emerging opportunities for local providers, even while TIN data suggests recent funding rounds haven't been going their way (versus fin- and health-tech for example).
It’s a big opportunity for both New Zealand and Australia, but the tech sector is possibly guilty of overstating its prominence. Latest figures show just 11 percent of the 200 largest New Zealand tech companies are agritech firms, generating $1.4 billion in revenue last year (with 43 percent of that from domestic activity). In contrast, the Australian Agritech Association has its eyes on $20 billion+ of tech exports.
But as with any sector, there are winners and losers.
Meanwhile, NZTech is putting figures against the anecdotal difficulty of getting tech workers through New Zealand’s closed borders. We spoke to CEO Graeme Muller and several other industry insiders to explore the issues on tech skills shortages. (And if you'd like your voice heard then complete the Critical Worker Border Exemption survey now).
Enjoy the read,
Heather Wright
Editor
editor@istart.co.nz
In this issue
Agritech’s next big move
Byebye drones, blockchain, hello carbon measurement…
“We’re seeing lots of companies pivoting to provide carbon measurement and incentivisation technologies.”
When AI goes wrong: The AIID reveals all
Lessons in what not to do with AI…
“Avoiding repeated AI failures requires making past failures known.”
Ministry of Justice ups compliance with SAP
Verdict: Full compliance, smoother pay runs and reduced admin…
“There are further strategic opportunities for the Ministry to pick up on when we’re ready.”
The talent shortage: Scarcity, stinginess, or confusion?
Are closed borders a scapegoat for deeper issues…
The government is trying to create a digital boost but they have turned off the tap of the people who are actually going to provide the service.
Winning at data
And getting your organisation onboard…
“Data without a decision is merely a distraction.”
AppWrap: Tech news from around the web
R&D collaboration between SMEs and universities and research institutions has real payoffs for SMEs.
Kiwi startup Exsurgo is using EEG to manage pain. The new twist on old technology will help patients retrain their brains to manage pain.
Forget Mars Rover, Kiwi company Lens Outdoor has launched Lens Rover, a trailer complete with image recognition technology to provide localised traffic data for proposed new billboard locations.
Interruptions and meeting overload are derailing software engineering. A report shows increasing meetings lowered chances of progressing goals.
Upcoming events
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> CIO Summit 2021 | Aug 31 - Sept 01 | Auckland
> 2022 NZ Cyber Security Summit | Feb 15-16, 2022 | Wellington
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