New Zealand spends about $6 billion annually on domestic IT requirements, industry lobby group NZICT says.

The government absorbs around 40% of that, while the corporate sector takes up the remaining 60%. NZICT chief executive Brett O’Riley said technology was one of New Zealand’s fastest growing industries. Mr O’Riley said this was reflected in the recent Deloitte Technology Fast 500 report, where 51 New Zealand companies were included.

Read the full NBR Article

Concerns raised about potential lock-out of Kiwi ICT suppliers.

NZICT’s near-term ICT priorities plan for New Zealand has received praise from representatives of the New Zealand user community following its release on Monday.

However, some local ICT suppliers are concerned about the plan and the direction of the new industry lobby.

 Read the full Computerworld Article

The chairman of the NZICT Group, Cisco managing director Geoff Lawrie, pushed members to demonstrate the value ICT can deliver at the vendor group’s end of year meeting on Friday 4 December.

Read the full Computerworld Article

Communications Minister Steven Joyce has given a guarded welcome to dozens of recommendations set out by NZICT.

Read the full article  published by Dominion Post 14/12/2009

NZICT, the group that represents vendors in the ICT industry, has today released a paper on the near future digital priorities for public and private sectors. read more »

The purpose of this paper is to set out the Near Future Digital Priorities for New Zealand identified by NZICT Group from consultation with its members, Communities of Interest and key stakeholders including Government agencies.

NZICT consists of nearly 80 members representing companies and organisations involved in the provision of software, hardware, services, networks, education and training.  They are involved with five core strategic work streams with the goal of improving New Zealand’s competitiveness for the betterment of all New Zealanders. The strategic work areas are Education & Skills, Innovation, Public Sector Productivity, Small Business Productivity, and Industry Value & Profile.

This paper focuses on these core work streams as a platform from which to launch the country’s near future digital priorities.

Read the full paper:

Near Future Digital Priorities paper - December 2009 (PDF format)

Futureintech needs ICT professionals to promote careers by talking with students and their teachers about a job in ICT. 

read more »

3 News interview with Kevin Ackhurst, NZICT Board Member and Managing Director of Microsoft New Zealand talks about the New Zealand ICT Industry Skills Shortage.

Watch the interview on 3 News

11 Sept 09   NZICT Group today welcomed the rural broadband coverage targets announced by the Hon Steven Joyce, Minister for Communications and Information Technology.

read more »

August 10 2009 - NZICT Group and Auckland ICT have joined forces to create a new “Community of Interest”, focussed on developing better industry collaboration.

The New Zealand Information and Communication Technologies Group Inc (NZICT) and Auckland ICT Inc (previously known as Auckland ICT Cluster) have signed a charter to work together to enhance New Zealand’s competitiveness for the benefit of all New Zealanders and the growth of the ICT industry.

Signatories, NZICT’s Brett O’Riley and Auckland ICT’s Brian Moxey, welcomed the new relationship, saying it was to the advantage of both organisations and the industry to take a cohesive approach and encourage collaboration, including the pooling of resources and expertise.

“NZICT is critically interested in developing early stage companies in the ICT market and enhancing the vibrant collaborative environment that Auckland ICT has established, out of which productivity and foreign exchange benefits will accrue,” said Brett O’Riley.

“We have developed the Community of Interest engagement structure to enable established industry organisations to work together, without compromising their respective constitutional independence or goals.”

The NZICT Community of Interest will identify areas of common opportunity with a view to developing a shared work programme. Individual members of each organisation will meet regularly, and the Auckland ICT and its members will have input into NZICT industry policy platforms including: education and skills; innovation; private and public sector productivity; and industry value and relevance.  

Brian Moxey said, “The two organisations working together is both logical and beneficial.  Our concentration on the Auckland region melds well in to NZICT’s national focus and allows the flow of information, knowledge and views.”

A common theme for NZICT and Auckland ICT is exploring constraints on growth for industry participants, including capital markets, labour supply, international distribution capability and opportunities for like minded companies to collaborate.  The Community of Interest will also be the basis for developing opportunities for joint sponsorship and promotion.

The charter allows each organisation to contribute to the common cause without compromising its own constitutional objectives, said Mr O’Riley and Mr Moxey.

ends

Background information

Auckland ICT was formed in 2003 as a cluster for SME companies in the Auckland Region.  Members come from the software, electronics and education sectors. There is also a range of specialist service providers. It has grown to over 70 member companies.

The principal aim of Auckland ICT is to facilitate and promote business growth. Many of its members are involved in exporting. 

Auckland ICT encourages its members to share their experiences and members do business with each other.  The monthly networking meetings provide a forum for networking and learning. Visit www.aucklandict.org.nz for more information.

NZCT was formed in December 2008 and comprises more than 60 leading New Zealand ICT company members. It provides a single voice on issues facing the industry as a whole. It focuses on advocacy, raising the industry profile in terms of its economic delivery, and on the current skills shortage. Visit www.ict.org.nz for more information.

For further information please contact:

Auckland ICT, Brian Moxey

ph 021 841464, brian.moxey@Siliconavenue.com

NZICT, Brett O’Riley

ph 021 02709021, brett.oriley@ict.org.nz