New Zealand's Prime Minister, John Key, had been in close touch with the Internet giant Google representatives, in order to beef up the process of going digital, therefore enhancing the efficiency of public services - at the same time reducing the cost-structure, substantially.
Read more: New Zealand Government's Reliance on Google Cloud Based Services Has It's Critics
Prime Minister John Key has floated the idea of replacing bureaucrats with technology, citing Air New Zealand’s check-in kiosks as an example of how tech can boost efficiencies and productivity.
He also sees a big role for smartphones as a means for citizens to interact with government agencies.
The Commerce Commission has today released the last of three issues papers relating to the uptake of high speed broadband ahead of The Future with High Speed Broadband: Opportunities for New Zealand conference to be held on 20 and 21 February 2012 in Auckland.
This paper looks at the willingness of consumers and businesses to pay for high speed broadband, and potential content and applications.
Read more: NZ: Issue paper on high speed broadband demand-side study
But he conceded that it would require a huge investment by the Government. He confirmed previous reports that an IRD upgrade alone was expected to cost $1 billion plus.
"I think we've got a very good public service but we can't stand in the way of technology...and nor can we stand in the way of some of the advantages of having shared services," Key said.
Read more: Air NZ example for high-tech public service - Key
In part two of our Q and A interview with Orion Health CEO Ian McCrae, he talks to Sarah Putt about the government's role in creating a hi-tech economy and why he stays in New Zealand.