Matariki Update: Action 5.7

Work Area 5 - Promote greater innovation, productivity and agility 

Action 5.7 - Promote greater business agility and connectivity through better use of digital technology.

Hawke’s Bay is a burgeoning ‘tech hub’ and progress being made on Action 5.7 of the region’s economic development strategy supports this direction. 

Project Lead Paul Collits, an Economic Development Project Manager with Napier City Council, says a project team has now been formed. The group will be taking more community and private sector representatives on board in the future, and will be actively engaging with Maori organisations and communities long-term. 

However, a draft ten-point plan that has been developed must first be finalised; this will form the basis of the work to be completed. Its vision is to ensure access, affordability and capability across businesses and communities, to drive innovation and to be a magnet for tech start-ups and digitally connected businesses. 

“We hope to have a fully developed and costed strategy and action plan by mid 2018. Meanwhile we are currently researching best practice in regional digital strategies and will have a workshop in November to test ideas.” 

“From a business perspective we will be focusing on both the tech sector and on digital strategies for non-tech businesses, but with a social inclusion strategy almost completed and destined to become part of Matariki – HBREDS, our focus will be on both business and community capacity, access and affordability.” 

Other initiatives linked to Action 5.7 are Actions 2.9 (to explore, design and deliver a future-focused programme, including digital enablement and internet-based technologies to develop a resilient population) and 4.3 (to accelerate the deployment of Ultra Fast broadband throughout the region, in particular to rural communities and marae).

27 September 2017

Back to Media Releases