Digital Council for Aotearoa New Zealand #weeknotes (12)
Kia ora koutou — we are the Digital Council for Aotearoa New Zealand. We are looking forward to sharing our mahi (work) here with you. In keeping with the #weeknotes approach, we want to be transparent about our work. Plus, we are looking for input from people from all walks of life to inform our advice to the New Zealand Government on harnessing the potential of digital and data to make Aotearoa New Zealand a great place for all.
Kia ora koutou
Stakeholder engagement with the telco sector
Last week, we met with representatives from the telecommunications sector.
We were reminded about the positive progress that has been made with significant investment in the roll-out of ultra-fast fibre and the strong awareness and work underway to address the connectivity issues that remain.
We also heard that the biggest priorities for the sector are:
- addressing the digital divide
- affordable connectivity
- improved digital skills.
We heard about the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of communities that need more support and backing.
Next few months to focus on our major research project
The meetings we have held over the last few months continue to build our understanding of the issues that have emerged or intensified in the wake of COVID-19.
To date, we have spoken to hundreds of individuals and sector representatives who are now part of the Council’s extended whānau and who are forming, what we call, our Digital Council Alliance.
Over the next few months our focus will shift to further explore our major research project for the year, which looks at trust in automated decision making.
We look forward to keeping everyone updated on the Council’s major research programme.
See you at Techweek 2020!
In the meantime, we’re excited to announce the Digital Council for Aotearoa New Zealand will be part of a Techweek 2020 TV panel discussion on Friday 31 July at 2pm-3pm.
Our free session is called: The future of digital and data driven technology in New Zealand. What do we want it to look like; who should benefit; and why should we care?
In our virtual panel session we look forward to discussing these issues and more.
Other sessions we’re attending (in our various roles and as representatives of the Digital Council) include:
- Tuesday 28 July — join our Council chair Mitchell Pham on at an EMA-hosted Techweek event called: Rebuilding New Zealand’s economy digitally.
- Thursday 30 July — join the Digital Council’s Rachel Kelly on a Techweek TV panel discussion called: Chorus look at innovation and connectivity in times of change.
About our work: Council members come together monthly to make key decisions and progress our work programme. Between formal meetings, members focus on various work streams. Colin Gavaghan and Marianne Elliott lead our research work, Kendall Flutey and Roger Dennis our ad-hoc work, and Rachel Kelly and Nikora Ngaropo lead our comms, while our chair, Mitchell Pham, holds responsibility for stakeholder engagement.
