Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
What Could Amazon’s Web Services Investment Mean For New Zealanders?
Opinion – Kerry Grass
As a New Zealander operating a tech-business and having good knowledge of the issues that plague New Zealand’s financial services industry and government administrative functions, I am going to propose this NZ$7.5 billion investment from Amazon Web Services (AWS) could be a game-changer for New Zealand’s government to step into the digital world and reap the rewards of operating with far greater efficiency.
Digitalisation has not yet hit New Zealand’s economy or businesses. Most businesses, including government agencies, are still using spreadsheets for risk analysis.
Though spreadsheets certainly have their benefits and most likely always will, being able to digitise every administrative function will not only reduce business operational costs but it will also improve operational efficiency.
This is what New Zealand governments have not yet fully understood as a benefit of technology. A computer can do in a minute what 100 people could not do within an hour.
The government of New Zealand operates with archaic systems and relies heavily on human resourcing for simple administrative functions. Consequently, this is one of the primary reasons why New Zealand falls backwards in many areas of government efficiency.
Given that New Zealanders have a reputation for innovation, often referred to as ‘the number 8-wire mentality’, it is surprising that in the technology space the country operates at a world level that is far behind.
AWS Means Cloud Services
Whereas technology was once a high-cost to governments due to expensive hardware and maintenance, Cloud services means no hardware and maintenance is covered with a subscription fee.
Cloud means low cost, fast and getting things done with little human resourcing.
This means precious human knowledge and skills can be used in other areas that technology cannot perform.
Pushing paper for public servants should already be a thing of the past.
With Amazon’s investment of Cloud Based-Web Services in NZ, I can see that finally, NZ is moving in the right direction.
UN Department of Global Communications: United Nations Proposes New Global Dashboard To Measure Progress Beyond GDP
Banking Ombudsman Scheme: Fraud Check Delays Well Worth The Inconvenience, Says Banking Ombudsman
Asia Pacific AML: NZ’s Financial Crime Gap - Beyond The 'Number 8 Wire' Mentality
Westpac New Zealand: Kiwi Households Adapting Despite Widespread Cost Pressure Concerns, Westpac Survey Shows
University of Auckland: Kids’ Screen Use Linked To Long-Term Deficits In Self-Control And Attention
University of Auckland: Research To Address Equity In STEM For Māori, Pacific And Female Students
