Aotearoa is at a crossroads and technology is the way forward. Tech exports are growing five times faster than the economy. Our sector contributes $24 billion to GDP, employs more than 119,000 people, and exports $11.4 billion annually. The opportunity is real and it’s growing.
But realising the full potential of that opportunity requires more than the market alone can deliver. It requires long-term investment in the right foundations and a commitment to change that outlasts election cycles.
Today, Tech New Zealand together with our 16 communities and more than 2,000 members is releasing the 2026 Manifesto: How technology can create a better tomorrow for Aotearoa. It is a bipartisan plan to build a more productive, secure, and globally competitive Aotearoa, built on four critical foundations:
- Digital infrastructure — the data networks, digital identity, open data, cybersecurity, and sovereign AI that make our digital economy function
- Investment & talent — the settings that give businesses and people the confidence to grow here, not offshore
- Clean energy advantage — turning our 80%+ renewable electricity into a global competitive edge
- Exports & global growth — building niche clusters where New Zealand can achieve world-leading status
This manifesto belongs to all of us. It reflects the voices of our communities, from AgriTech New Zealand to the AI Forum, and all domains of tech, from FinTech to BioTech and it speaks directly to the government as a trusted partner in building the Aotearoa we want.
