It was great to see our new Minister for Technology, Hon Penny Simmonds, leaning into the growth opportunities Auckland’s tech sector can deliver for the whole country. Last week, leaders from Mayor Wayne Brown’s Auckland Tech and Innovation Alliance came together to welcome the Minister and share a practical snapshot of what was happening (and what was needed) across the sector.
Why does this matter for all of us? Because more than half of New Zealand’s tech workforce is based in Auckland (62,504 people). Almost half of all tech businesses are here (10,538 firms). Together they contributed $10.4b to Auckland and New Zealand’s economy and generated $5.6b in export revenue.
A few standout insights from the discussion: Mayor Wayne Brown shared his vision for a more connected tech ecosystem and why the Alliance mattered as a way to strengthen global connections and keep business opportunity, capital and top talent flowing into Auckland to support further growth. Marcus Driller (Fisher & Paykel Healthcare) spoke about doubling down on Auckland, including an expanded campus to support their next phase of growth. Jolie Hodson (Spark) reinforced the crucial role the government played in coordinating the infrastructure that underpinned a thriving digital economy, from data centres (an export opportunity in their own right) to international connectivity via cables, satellites and next-gen communications. And critically, ensuring tech growth brought all Aucklanders along.
Simon Bridges (Auckland Business Chamber) put it plainly: we needed to hurry up and get on with it. Other regions knew they were good at kiwifruit or farming, Auckland needed to back itself as being world-class at tech. Bridget Unsworth (Angel Association) noted that New Zealand tech continued to attract strong investment, with early-stage firms raising $754m last year (up 61% year-on-year) and that a few smart policy tweaks (think employee stock options, tax settings and visas) could help keep more of that value and talent here in New Zealand.
It was also a great opportunity to share insights from our Tech & Innovation Manifesto, including the practical steps we’re calling for to lift productivity, grow high-value jobs, and strengthen Aotearoa New Zealand’s digital resilience.
Techweek26 programme is live!
This year, The Art of the Possible is our invitation to Aotearoa to shift focus from what we needed yesterday, to what we want for the future. Techweek26 turns imagination into execution: ideas you can trust, actions you can take, and outcomes that make a difference. Because the future isn’t something that happens to us, it’s something we create. With events nationwide, the programme features workshops, panels, and demonstrations showcasing how Kiwi innovation is shaping a brighter, tech-enabled tomorrow.
Join us at the Techweek26 Launch
We’re kicking off Techweek26 with our principal sponsor, Deloitte and an inspiring showcase of Kiwi innovation — bringing together the tech ecosystem, media, and government leaders to signal what’s possible when we build the future together. The day starts with an opening address from the new Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Hon Penny Simmonds, founder/CEO stories on turning the ‘impossible’ into reality, networking and informal kōrero to start the week.
View programme →
Event highlights: Agritech Unleashed
Last week we kicked off our 2026 Agritech Unleashed series in Auckland — bringing the sector together for a practical conversation on what it takes to accelerate real scale from New Zealand. We dug into how to raise capital without breaking the business, and heard real-world insights from founders and leaders who’ve done it.
Register now for TUANZ’s Connecting Aotearoa Summit on 13 May in Wellington. Save the date for Cyber Smart Week 2026 running 5-11 October and sign up as a supporter.
Ngā mihi nui,
Graeme Muller
CEO, Tech New Zealand
Read full newsletter here: Auckland backs itself and the Minister is listening!