National Party mulls think tank led by new technology chief
The National Party has reversed its stance on appointing a powerful new tech supremo to guide the country’s technological future.
The country now appears set to get a ‘‘chief technology officer’’ (CTO) whatever the outcome of this week’s election, after the change of heart.
National’s economic development and communications spokesman, Simon Bridges, said the Government ‘‘is considering the establishment of a chief technology officer-led think tank’’.
‘‘The future form of this is still to be determined,’’ he said.
An unlikely coalition that includes the Labour Party, Xero founder Rod Drury, Green Party donor Seeby Woodhouse and a ‘‘strategic insights panel’’ backed by consultants KPMG and ASB have been among those championing the establishment of a powerful national CTO role.
Drury said the chosen person could build on the country’s successes in the tech sector and guide future investments.
Finance Minister Steven Joyce had appeared to squash the idea in a Twitter exchange with Drury in 2014, questioning why the sector needed ‘‘another taxpayer-funded busybody telling industry how to develop’’.
Bridges did not elaborate on what the role would entail under a National government.
Labour Party communications spokeswoman Clare Curran said appointing a CTO had been its policy in the 2014 as well as the current election.
National’s was a ‘‘curious lastminute turnaround’’ given it had been implacably opposed for six years, she said.
Under Labour, the CTO job would be ‘‘a very senior role, akin to the chief science officer, reporting directly to the Prime Minister and Cabinet,’’ she said.
Their primary job would be to create a ‘‘digital road map’’ for New Zealand, but they would not just be a cheerleader.
Drury said a CTO could help the country build on its existing strengths in fields such business computing, augmented reality and renewable energy, and co-ordinate strategy between the public and private sectors.
There were ‘‘big issues’’ industry would like to work with government on, like infrastructure, he said. ‘‘Do we have enough international connectivity? What is our strategy for mobile communications – do we go 5G? …
‘‘I’d love to see industry get together with governments and say: ‘These are four or five big things we need to do.’’’
He agreed it should go beyond an evangelical role, but neither did he see it as interventionist, he said.
‘‘It is important there is someone who works between the public and private sector.’’
The Xero boss indicated he would not be putting his hand up for the role for now. ‘‘I’m am too busy with my own job – maybe in 10 years,’’ he said.