Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. Photo: NZ Herald / Michael Craig
Auckland Council has announced a strategic alliance with the tech sector in hopes of becoming New Zealand's "premier tech city".
Mayor Wayne Brown said on Tuesday the Auckland Innovation and Technology Alliance will help the public and private sector align their efforts and boost the city's influence and reputation.
Brown hoped Auckland could set itself apart from California's Silicon Valley.
"Silicon Valley has concentrated huge technological skills to produce mostly trivia and entertainment," he said in a statement. "I've told industry leaders today that I want our tech brains to produce meaningful, profitable applications that lift our city and country's already great advantages in food tech, medtech, biotech and fintech."
The opportunities available within the tech sector could not be ignored, he said.
"Auckland's stagnant growth here will not be easy to change; productivity has been persistently low for a long time, and I'm aware others have tried and failed to fix this. But our recent recession and opportunities in waiting in this sector mean there's too much to lose to leave it as is."
He wanted to cement Auckland as New Zealand's technology centre.
"Right now, growth is more city to city than country to country. Auckland - being New Zealand's tech city and economic powerhouse of the country - is the key to unlocking nationwide growth."
Brown also called for the government to establish an 'Advanced Technology Institute' in Auckland to guide local start-up companies so they wouldn't "die on the vine".
"There is great opportunity for central government in this. Kiwis make good deals, and we've done well overseas. Let's open Auckland up so our kids don't have to leave New Zealand to take advantage of growth elsewhere."
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