Coughlan says Wellington should aspire to world leading digital and smart city

Mayoral Candidate Jo Coughlan today launched her Digital city and IT policy following speaking at the NXRise ITx conference being held in the Capital.

"Wellington is at the forefront of IT and has the potential to be NZ’s first digital city," Coughlan said.

'We already have a number of well recognised entrepreneurial companies, both big and small, who operate in this space and we are great at using new technologies.

“The Council has already undertaken a number of initiatives to support and encourage the sector. In Wellington we have more than 400 start-up companies - the entrepreneurial community is alive and well and more than 56% of people are employed in knowledge intensive industries compared to 36% in the rest of New Zealand.

“As a sector vital to the city’s economy, career opportunities and vibrancy, while we have done much, we still need to do more.

As part of my Roadmap, as mayor I would look to progress the following initiatives

1. Set up a Wellington based “tech field days” to highlight and promote Wellington and New Zealand’s tech sector, in a similar way that the Mystery Creek fields days highlights agriculture capabilities to the world.

2. Promote the Capital as NZ’s first digital city and an internationally recognized testing ground for smart urban innovation.

3. Make Wellington a global centre for research on autonomous (driverless) vehicles

4. Set up an IT working group with the IT Sector to help inform and liaise with Council

5. Fair and balanced procurement processes – fine tune existing procurement policies to help ensure local companies get a fair go on Council work.

6. As part of a wider central government partnership, help promote the cities digital and IT businesses to central Government and work with the sector to lobby for more local content in central government procurement processes as well as positioning Wellington as a great place to undertake IT trials

Around the world government and local governments are working to make their cities smarter. That is use IT to manage the City’s assets while putting citizen engagement to the forefront. The idea is to make cities more livable and better places to do business.

50% of the world’s population live in cities and this will grow to an estimated 70% by 2050. According to experts this is a US $1.5 trillion market opportunity over the next ten years split over a number of sectors including healthcare, transport, building, infrastructure, education, governance, security and energy.

Coughlan said Wellington is well placed to pilot a range of technologies and emphasised our physical environment, along with our people; together with an emphasis on promotion and procurement.

"We are leading the way already in monitoring transport and pedestrian movement along with noise and pollution. Wellington's MOU with NEC signed in 2014 is a great example of the City working with a global company to trial new traffic counting technology.

Coughlan said our proximity to government sees us well placed to partner on these pilot projects. Government, local government and private sector partnerships will be key to success.

“Government spends several billion on IT. However procurement remains an issue. We need to ensure a level playing field for Wellington companies for winning government business.”

Coughlan also said combining technology with good feedback and input from citizens will shape our cities into the future.

Mobile apps, open data, crowd sourcing, virtual design, augmented reality all offer efficient and practical ways for citizens to engage with local governments to identify and offer solutions to problems. This is a new way of influencing and engaging in policy making, consenting and service provision.

Coughlan, who has led the City's Economic Development Strategy since 2011 said setting up a tech hub in the city has been key to helping many of the fledgling companies in these areas get a better start.

"Wellingtonians are good at innovation and collaboration gets results faster. At Collider, the city's tech Hub, more than 60 businesses are working on new ideas.

Government’s recent announcement of an ICT Grad School for Wellington is further confidence in the City's growing ICT industry.

Coughlan also highlighted the importance of attracting talent to the city.

"Smart cities need smart people.

"We must continue to invest in making Wellington safe, attractive, connected, resilient and sustainable. And a great place to live and have a happy and successful life.

"We know that many people working in Wellington are keen lifestylers. Mountain biking is the new golf. Let's embrace that and as well as create and maintain the best urban mountain biking experience in the world - let's ensure there's an infrastructure in the city, close to the workplace to support this. Bike kiosks with shower facilities, storage and maintenance on hand would make it easier for more to bike to work.

Coughlan also highlighted the importance of infrastructure.

“Connectivity is crucial. It has to be reliable and affordable. In a digital world we need 24 /7 access to wireless and broadband. Free wifi; Cashless technologies in all shops – pay wave and snapper; embracing new technologies like Uber and air bandb; are all signs of a digital city.

“I want to get Wellington ready for the next 100 years of growth so future generations can prosper.

“Positioning Wellington as an easy place to trial technologies and increasing our own potential as a digital city is a great opportunity for Wellingtonians.”

Ends.

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