2022 Hi-Tech Awards Speech

Te hei mauri ora

E nga mana, e nga reo, e rau rangatiri ma

Ko Rangitoto te maunga te rū nei taku ngākau

Ko Waitemata te awa e mahea nei aku māharahara

Ko tangata tiriti ahau

Ko David Downs toku ingoa

E mihi ana ki ngā tohu o nehe, o Whanganui-a-tara e noho nei au,

No reira - Ki a tātou - Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā ra tatou katoa

I’m David Downs, chairman of the Hi-Tech Trust. We are a group of volunteers who have the honour of carrying on the tradition of holding these awards for now 27 years

Welcome to all of you, especially

• My fellow trustees, past and present
• Our judges
• Our remote audience
• Our Flying Kiwi
• Many knights and dames of the realm
• His worship the Mayor Andy Foster
• Her excellency Iona Thomas, the new High Commissioner for the UK
• The honourable Judith Collins
• Minister David Clark
• The Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern. Great that you could make it, particularly given you have to head off early to babysit your sister’s kids, so she can be here at the awards!

And of course you, the tech sector, turned out in all your finery, with your sometimes quite quirky interpretation of the phrase ‘Black Tie’

Huge event – record number of entries. With 1100 the biggest awards celebration we’ve had in Wellington

Want to mentioned Dennis Chapman, one of our Flying kiwi – been to every awards but not able to be here tonight.?He donated his table.

Great to see everyone turn out to celebrate the successes of so many, and the contribution the Technology sector makes to the NZ economy.

It’s clear the tech industry is going from strength to strength – across many aspects: software tech, hardware, SAAS, deep tech – all areas doing well.

In many ways the pandemic has accelerated the growth of the sector, levelling the playing field for New Zealand businesses to be able to connect with the world – when we are now just a zoom call away – not even the mythical two movies and a sleep – we can access anyone in the world.

It doesn’t come easy – each tidy statistic about growth is actually a shorthand for the many stories of people working hard and smart to grow their ideas. Tech workers, Founders, investors, industry groups, universities, mentors, board members, media, politicians and government agencies – the collective work of individuals leads to success for the sector.

It’s that collection of stories we are here to honour tonight – not just the winners and finalists, but every late night you’ve each spent, every pitch deck, every customer contract – every late invoice

The process of growing tech companies not just to benefit you and your stakeholders, but also the good that your tech will offer the world. Your purpose.

Over the last year there has been a lot of activity across the sector to define what it means to be a tech company from New Zealand. Does it matter?

Reviewing the finalists for tonight’s event we see a real pattern – these are companies and people who care

Companies where growth is there, sure, and success, sure – but something else – this idea that tech is a force for good. That tech is an enabler of a better future.

That’s where this invitation comes from – see tomorrow first. Not only a nod to our time zone but also our intent – that NZ technology helps improve tomorrow.

Tech for human health, tech that improves the environment, tech that helps with climate impact, tech that helps social issues

Does it matter? People don’t buy tech because of where its from? No not always, but they do buy because of trust and because they align with the values. That’s what having a combined story does – creates an alignment of value, talks about how we see the world.

On your table you’ll see these lapel pins – a small symbol from New Zealand.

I hope you’ll wear them proudly and take a selfie with them on, put it on the socials. #htanz

The tech story is a long-term plan to show NZ as a country that cares, and one that is good for the world. You’re already demonstrating that with the work you all do.

?I’d like to say a few thanks – to our judges, the local and the international judges – with record entries comes marathon judging sessions

To our event partners Swaytech, especially the inimitable Bob, to Caroline, Jack and Loren Taylor Events.

To our sponsors & supporters – the cliché of course is that we couldn’t do this without them, but there is a reason for saying that, because it’s true. In particular our sponsors

Our longest standing sponsor PwC, Callaghan Innovation, Consult Recruitment, Duncan Cotterill, Endace, IBM, Kiwibank, NZTE, Pacific Edge, Punakaiki Fund, Soul Machines, Tait Communications, Tataki Auckland Unlimited, Visa and Xero.

And all our supporters

And I want to recognise our MCs, Michelle Dickinson and Julia Arnott-Neenee. It shouldn’t be remarkable, and perhaps it isn’t anymore, but I will anyway. Ngā wahine toa.

Congrats to Michelle on her pregnancy. Good news for us too, given she is having twins, we get basically 4 for the price of 2.

Not just excellent MCs but examples to others. As Julia told me once - you can’t be what you can’t see.

Over the past two years we at the HTT slogged away to set up a foundation – a charity

Funding diversity and solving the skills gaps.

Its hard slog raising money for a charity – thanks to those who have contributed across the sector. Invite more

We’ve taken tangible steps – now 12 scholarships (3 of them are here tonight). Teaching Matauranga māori in schools. We partnered with Take2 to teach coding in prison and one of the graduates is here tonight.

Speaking of schools – I’m pleased to welcome St Andrews College Students – Received an Outstanding Award (one of only 3 awarded) in the International Mathematical Model Competition. 50 teams took part globally

This talent is the future of our industry – we need to invest in it.

We need to see a better tomorrow where all parts of New Zealand can be part of the growth and enjoy the successes.

It starts small – showing a different view. Funding a single person. If you’re keen to help, let any of the Hi-Tech Trustees know.

And lastly, let me finish with a whakataukī which sums up this room, and the ecosystem that is the technology sector of NZ, and the opportunity we all have to make the sector even more successful, diverse and inclusive

Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu

Adorn the bird with feathers and it will fly.

Nō reira – tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.