Download Weekly: NZ CTO search continues

None of the more than 60 people who applied to become New Zealand's first chief technology officer managed to convince the appointment panel. Communications minister Clare Curran says the government will now widen its search. It's a statement some have interpreted as meaning it will now look overseas for a candidate.

Curran says its important to have the right person in the role to help government oversee how digital technology can be harnessed to benefit all New Zealanders.

She says: “While the candidates we looked at have an impressive range of skills and backgrounds, I am not confident that we have found the right person yet.

High level of expertise

“As I’ve said previously, this is a role for someone who has a high level of expertise in the digital technology industry, who is passionate about the issues, who carries the influence needed to stimulate public discussion. It’s also a position for someone who wants to work with government and other stakeholders to deliver and support meaningful change.”

The minister originally hoped to have someone in place in time for the Digital 5 Ministerial Summit. This is a prestigious international talking shop on digital economy issues that is due to take place in New Zealand next week.

While the cabinet paper announcing the establishment of a CTO mentioned the option of an interim appointment filling the role, there is no indication this will happen.

When applications for the position opened at the end of last year Curran said: “I see the chief technology officer working on issues such as improving digital equality, protecting citizens’ rights online, and building a connected nation, alongside the Digital Economy and Digital Inclusion Advisory Group and the other advisory groups that I have already signalled I will be establishing.”

One of the challenges with finding the right person is the brief is wide. Few people who may have enough technical expertise and respect in their own technical field are likely to have the same recognition in other areas.

Spark calls for less double-digging

Spark says it wants to work with utility companies, telcos and other authorities to co-operate on infrastructure projects. The idea is that the same street doesn't need to be dug up twice in a short period of time.

To get the ball rolling Spark has published its build plans for the next five years, something that in the past has been confidential. Rob Berrill, Spark general manager of physical infrastructure, says this will mean less disruption and will mean the various parties can share costs.

Umbrellar to host local Azure cloud

Domain name and web-hosting specialist Umbrella has moved into the cloud services business. The company says it has three data centres in New Zealand and one in Australia. Umbrella says it will work with Microsoft to offer that company's Azure cloud services and will add Azure Stack and Microsoft 365 in coming weeks.

Spark, Vodafone offer free calls to Samoa, Tonga

Spark and Vodafone both waived charges for calls made to Samoa and Tonga in the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Gita. In each case the companies said they will credit landline and mobile calls as well as SMS text messages.

In a media release Vodafone consumer director Matt Williams says: “We’d recommend texting for the time being as this is a lighter load for networks to manage”.

Vodafone charitable Foundation has also set up a Red Cross Pacific Disaster Fund. Donors can text to send money. This is said to be one of the fastest ways to get much-need aid to the region.

TaaS merry-go-round rolls on

The Department of Internal Affairs has awarded Vodafone more services on the government’s Telecommunications as a Service panel. The company has been on the panel since 2015 but has now added managed security services and a new fixed connectivity service called Sector Variant to its offerings.

Meanwhile Vivid Solutions has also been awarded panel status. The company is a private video-conferencing network for the healthcare sector which evolved from Starship Hospital's need to communicate face-to-face with young patients.

The TaaS panel is administered by the government chief digital officer at the Department of Internal Affairs. It is used by over 240 agencies.

Reannz hires engagement officer

Crown-owned Reannz, The Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand, has hired Professor John Bancroft as its engagement manager for science and technology collaboration. Bancroft joins Reannz from AUT University where he was industry engagement manager and the director of Interact, a NZ$45 million project for creating, developing and using real-time big data and artificial intelligence.

Hawaiki lands in Northland

Hawaiki says it has landed the New Zealand branch of its submarine cable at Mangawhai Heads in Northland. The site is one of five, others will be at Oregon and Hawaii in the US, American Samoa and Sydney, Australia. Work on the 15,000 km transpacific link is now well underway with the network expected to be ready for service by the middle of the year.