With the considerable success to date of the, award winning, Manaiakalani digital education programme, it is time to scale delivery and to reflect on implementation successes and challenges.

Over 2017, the Innovation Partnership has supported in the development of a case study which tells the story of their digital education journey.

The story will be delivered in both print and visual media and made accessible to all people interested in this innovative programme.

The visual media began final editing in January 2018 and will be available for viewing shortly.

If you wish to learn more, or support this Manaiakalani’s valuable work please contact the Chief Executive at .

Dr Amanda Lynn, of Mandolin Associates,  analysed international and local perspectives to identify Critical Issues and Emerging Issues in the New Zealand Digital Economy, 2017.

An executive summary has been prepared and can be viewed here:

Workshops are in development by Mandolin Associates, to support awareness-raising, and opportunities for feedback.

A copy of the full report can be downloaded here:

Sapere (August, 2017) recently released a study on the Socio-Economic Benefits of Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) for New Zealand consumers.  The report was sponsored by .  Sapere (2017) estimate that in 2024, with 85% uptake of UFB, New Zealand consumers will reap (at today’s pricing) between NZ$1.29 billion to NZ$2.2 billion in benefits. This is in addition to business benefits.  Review Dr Lynn’s Summary and Reflections on the report .  Or review the full report here:  

In late March, 2017, AlphaBeta Advisory published their study of the societal, business and consumer impacts resulting from Google’s participation in New Zealand.  Read a on this interesting report by Dr Lynn of the Innovation Partnership.  Or enjoy the full report:  

 undertook an initial scoping project focusing on New Zealand businesses and cyber security.  Digital Journey engaged with significant contributors to cyber safety in Government and with the Private Sector.

In addition, Digital Journey undertook an initial environmental scan of technological responses

Stage one of this project was presented to the Partnership Forum for feedback in 2017, and the scoping report is available for review.  Please note that the recommendations are made by Digital Journey and no assumption is made that they are endorsed by the organisations consulted:

Stage two is now complete and Digital Journey’s final recommendations for next steps can be viewed on their PowerPoint presentation:

Contact Mr Richard Holstein at  if you would like to follow up with them on any of these recommendations.

Early in 2017 the New Zealand Government launched the report Building a Digital Nation (March, 2017).  Read the on this document by Dr Lynn, or access the full report .  Further comparative information on New Zealand as a digital nation can be found in the AlphaBeta report , which the Partnership assisted with early in 2017.

The inaugural Innovation Partnership Fellowship, Digital Education, Ms Lindsay Baxter, was selected on the basis of her outstanding academic record, integration into the education environment, commitment to life long learning, and insightful project focus.

Ms Baxter’s project focused on e-learning in the Wānanga Tertiary Sector and was launched at the Innovation Partnership Forum on 6 March 2018.  The summary document detailing the key findings of this work can be reviewed here:

Policy professional Ms Catherine Soper conducted a comparative study of Government approaches to digital inclusion and reflected on how the work of other nations can inform policy and strategy in New Zealand.  Ms Soper’s work was launched on the 24th of April 2017 and included recommendations for actions that promote greater digital inclusion in New Zealand.  Please review the Summary Document:  .  A copy of the full report is available, on request.

Dr Lynn was a at the conference. This event focused on the question:  “Are we ready for automation?”  There was a comprehensive  with Dr Lynn speaking in the morning, and facilitating a panel discussion during the evening session.  The focus was on the creation and application of digitization and automation in (and from) the rural (land, water, climate) economy. A core focus was arable farming. , with both national and international perspectives covered.  See Dr Lynn’s summary discussion ““.

The Innovation Partnership has .  Our children will be educated to succeed in a digital world, our economy supported by digital innovation, and our government digitally capable and accessible.  By transforming our approach to business, education and government New Zealand can take advantage of the internet and create a prosperous and sustainable future for all.

The Innovation Partnership commissioned to explore the impact of data driven innovation in New Zealand.  found that data driven innovation presents a multi billion dollar opportunity for New Zealand; in particular, by using data to inform decision-making and to develop new products and services.

Data driven innovation has positive impacts for consumers, businesses and government.  The Innovation Partnership is committed to exploring how data can be used to help to promote innovation in New Zealand.

The Innovation Partnership has supported the creation of , an to help businesses unlock the potential of the internet.  Digital Journey assesses your online presence, identifies social and digital marketing opportunities, streamlines business plans and systems, and lastly improves project management and data accessibility with cloud computing.

Digital Journey supports businesses by easing their pathway to the integration of digital technologies.  To keep up to date with what’s happening visit the page at Digital Journeys, follow them on , and check out their cache of .

The Innovation Partnership is a proud supporter of an education programme achieving significant improvement in student achievement outcomes.

The Manaiakalani Programme is achieving improved educational results, and realising the potential for enhanced employment and life outcomes for students.

Manaiakalani allows students to access learning anywhere, anytime and at any pace. They support parents to buy a personal digital device for each learner and provide wireless internet access at home and school.

Manaiakalani enables teachers in their continuing pedagogical innovation, and works alongside to improve pedagogical approaches and monitor educational and life skills outcomes.

The Innovation Partnership commissioned to explore the value of internet services to New Zealand businesses.  showed that:

• Kiwi businesses (such as small to medium enterprises) could add $34 billion to the New Zealand economy if they made effective use of the Internet.
• Businesses that make effective use of Internet services are six per cent more productive than average businesses in their industry.
• Many New Zealand businesses are using online tools to find new customers, improve their data collection and customer service, and do their work in the cloud.
• Those using the internet effectively are 73 percent more productive than businesses that make little use of the Internet.

The study concluded that getting all New Zealand businesses to use the Internet to its full potential could add $34 billion to the economy in productivity and efficiency gains.

The Innovation Partnership partnered with University of Auckland in their development of the 23 Things for Teaching Programme.  23 Things was created:

• As a free online learning series to compensate for the lack of a compulsory digital technologies course in the initial teacher education curriculum;
• To provide a basis for appraising the ICT competencies of graduating teachers;
• Currently, the graduating teacher standards stipulate “demonstrate ICT competencies” without any description of what these competencies are; and,
• To ensure that University of Auckland pre-service teachers graduate with the skills needed for 21 st Century teaching and learning.

Please see the for updates. University of Auckland are now focusing on the ongoing development and expansion of 23 Things. Read the project feedback:  .  If you want further information, or would like to partner with University of Auckland on this initiative you can contact the project manager .

The Innovation Partnership supported a project in partnership with .  The project resulted in the development of a Beta online tool called ““.   This game-like questionnaire was designed to inform and engage young voters in relation to local government elections in New Zealand, and was trialed in three regions.  If you’d like to try the tool it is located .  Read the peer reviewed article , and if you are interested in further information you can contact the project leader, Karl Kane, .