Digital sector
This page provides information on government-supported strategies and initiatives designed to grow New Zealand’s digital sector.
On this page
Working with the digital sector
The Digital Economy team works on sector-wide initiatives in partnership with 4 organisations:
- NZ Technology Industry Association(external link)
- TUANZ(external link)
- NZRise(external link)
- ITP Professionals NZ(external link)
Specific projects
We have other specific project activities under way with, for example:
- WeCreate(external link)
- Foundation for Arable Research(external link)
- NZ IoT Alliance (Internet of Things)(external link)
- NZ Game Developers Association(external link)
- FinTechNZ(external link)
- Precision Agriculture Association New Zealand
Government initiatives for the digital sector
The report below shows a graphical representation of the major digital initiatives in New Zealand and what stage they are at in their development and/or delivery.
It also lists which agencies are responsible for growth in New Zealand’s digital sector.
Government ICT initiatives relevant to growing New Zealand’s digital sector, Jan 2016 [PDF, 129 KB]
Digital Nation Domain Plan
Our ability to understand and respond to the impacts of digital transformation will depend on the availability of timely, accurate, fit-for-purpose data.
MBIE’s Digital Economy Team in collaboration with Stats NZ has produced the Digital Nation Domain Plan.
The plan will help us improve the way information on our digital industries is collected and co-ordinated across the data system. It will also help us better understand the way digital technologies are impacting the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of New Zealanders.
It looks at what we should measure, and how. It sets some strategic priorities for data relating to the digital domain and outlines four key areas for action:
- Digital inclusion
- Defining and valuing the digital sector
- Digital security
- Digital technologies and their impact.
The Domain Plan Process has been a highly consultative one both with government and with industry stakeholders. We are looking at adopting a measurement system that is sufficiently robust to withstand technological, economic and social changes that we may not be able to fully anticipate.
Digital Nation Domain Plan 2019 [PDF 1.3MB]
NZTE focus on ICT firms
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) has a strategy to focus on early-stage ICT companies.
Find out more about investment opportunities on the NZTE website(external link)
Incubators and innovation hubs
Callaghan Innovation funds Lightning Lab, an intensive 4-month business accelerator programme for up to 10 teams of digital entrepreneurs.
Callaghan Innovation website — Accelerators(external link)
The Government also supports Christchurch’s Enterprise Precinct Innovation Hub (EPIC) and the GreenHouse, an innovation hub to support early-stage ICT and digital businesses located in the Christchurch innovation precinct.
Epic Innovation website(external link)
Innovation in the ICT sector
The Government has committed to raising New Zealand's research and development (R&D) expenditure to 2% of GDP over 10 years. To reach this target, businesses will be supported through an R&D tax incentive.