Submission by NZTech to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)
NZTech has lodged its submission on New Zealand’s Productivity in a Changing World – Long-term Insights Briefing (LTIB), welcoming the opportunity to contribute to long-term strategies that enhance national productivity and economic resilience. The submission supports the direction of the briefing while highlighting the critical role of digital technologies, consistent long-term planning, and international connectedness in driving sustainable growth.
Key Position
NZTech supports the focus on fostering high-productivity, innovation-led sectors that align with global sustainability goals. The organisation emphasises that sustained productivity improvements require long-term strategic consistency, beyond political cycles, and a clear national vision that integrates technology, skills, and infrastructure development.
Key Recommendations
The submission highlights five priority areas for improvement:
- Long-term Planning and Policy Consistency – Establish a cross-party commitment to enduring economic strategies that enable continuity across infrastructure, education, and investment initiatives.
- Vision-Led Framework – Introduce a unifying national vision (similar to Singapore’s Economy 2030) that guides productivity strategy and mitigates short-term policymaking.
- Data and Digital Infrastructure – Recognise digital infrastructure — including data centres and renewable-powered connectivity — as essential to enabling productivity and attracting investment.
- Global Integration and Digital Trade – Expand digital cooperation within Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to include AI governance, data corridors, and digital standards, strengthening New Zealand’s economic ties across the Asia-Pacific.
- Technology Uptake and AI Adoption – Introduce targeted incentives, grants, and education programmes to accelerate AI and digital adoption among SMEs, following proven international models in Singapore, Ireland, and Finland.
The Bigger Picture
As New Zealand’s united voice for technology, NZTech represents more than 2,500 member organisations across startups, corporates, multinationals, education, and government — employing over 10 percent of the national workforce. The tech sector contributes around $24 billion to GDP and is New Zealand’s third-largest export sector, with software exports growing at more than 20 percent annually.
Accelerating productivity growth through technology adoption, digital trade integration, and infrastructure investment will strengthen New Zealand’s international competitiveness, attract foreign investment, and create high-value jobs aligned with a sustainable, future-focused economy.
Moving Forward
NZTech’s submission reinforces its commitment to working with government and industry to shape a clear, long-term vision for Aotearoa’s economic transformation. By embedding digital technology at the heart of productivity policy, New Zealand can ensure enduring prosperity in a rapidly changing global landscape.
