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Representatives had a pivotal meeting with New Zealand’s Minister of Finance, Hon Nicola Willis, to showcase the latest New Zealand Tech Metrics and emphasize the significance of technology in shaping the future of Aotearoa.
The metrics show that each new tech job creates 4.8 additional jobs and a 4% tech sector growth adds NZ$ 2.7 billion to GDP. In 2023, the tech sector’s GDP hit NZ$ 23 billion, surpassing the primary sector’s NZ$ 16.4 billion.
The discussion also highlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence in New Zealand. According to recent research conducted by the AI Forum, AI is driving productivity gains with minimal job displacement. The study found that 67% of respondents are utilising AI technologies, particularly Generative AI, and most have reported improvements in worker efficiency and positive financial impacts.
The research underscores the growing role of AI in enhancing productivity while maintaining job security. Moving forward, the AI Forum will continue to track AI’s evolving impact, providing policymakers and business leaders with critical insights to guide decisions on AI investment, regulation, and integration.
In preparation for the Aotearoa AI Summit, the AI Forum has established the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Working Group. This group aims to accelerate AI adoption within the AEC sector, which contributes over NZ$ 17.6 billion, or 6.3%, to New Zealand’s GDP. The AEC sector faces several challenges, including improving productivity and adapting infrastructure to climate change, and AI has the potential to address these issues effectively.
Maria Mingallon, Chair of the AI Forum’s AEC Working Group, highlighted the group’s commitment to leveraging AI for productivity enhancements, safety improvements, and fostering innovation. The creation of this working group follows the AI Blueprint for Aotearoa workshops held earlier this year, which identified the need for a specialised AI Forum initiative with ambitious goals.
The tech sector’s contribution extends beyond GDP to significant export achievements, with tech exports reaching NZ$ 10.7 billion last year. This underscores the importance of the See Tomorrow First collaboration between NZTech, NZTE, and NZ Story. The initiative provides valuable insights for New Zealand’s tech exporters, emphasizing that two-thirds of tech decision-makers use the country of origin as a key indicator of trust and capability.
Aotearoa’s strong reputation for trustworthiness and sustainability can bolster relationships in international markets. Competitive pricing, localised expertise, and robust tech support are critical factors for attracting international buyers. The second wave of research will provide more insights, shared in a free NZTE webinar on October 2.
New Zealand is advancing its AI capabilities with two major initiatives led by Science, Innovation, and Technology Minister Judith Collins. The AI Activator program aims to support businesses by providing resources such as AI research access, technical assistance, and funding options to boost AI adoption and enhance competitiveness, with an anticipated $76 billion contribution to the GDP by 2038.
Additionally, the GovGPT pilot, an AI-powered chatbot developed with Callaghan Innovation and Whāriki Maori Business Network, will streamline access to government services by offering accurate, multilingual support and integrating advanced technologies for improved user interaction.
These efforts are part of New Zealand’s broader strategy to integrate AI into various sectors and enhance both economic growth and public service delivery. The Ministry of Social Development is also modernising its social media investigations with AI-driven analytics to improve data accuracy and transparency.
The establishment of the AI Forum’s AEC Working Group presents a significant opportunity for industry professionals to contribute their expertise and drive innovation within the sector. This initiative reflects a broader commitment to harnessing AI to address key challenges and advance the AEC industry in New Zealand.
