New Zealand’s tech industry is expanding quickly and positioning itself to become a major player in the global technology sector. One particular area the country is actively exploring is blockchain technology and digital assets to promote innovation and economic advancement, According to a report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE), both a general understanding of blockchain’s potential in business and the technical skills such as coding and software development are necessary to advance blockchain in the country. However, the report also highlighted a lack of expertise in these areas, which could hinder blockchain adoption in the country.
To address the issue, the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs proposed expanding New Zealand’s skills shortages list to include skilled tech workers with expertise in blockchain technologies and digital assets. New Zealand’s straightforward immigration policies, including open visas and easier access to dependent visas, can assist in attracting and retaining top talent abroad. The country’s open visa provision allows individuals to stay in the country for 9 to 12 months without securing a job offer. The country’s open visa policies like the International Graduates Visa, Global Growth Tech Visa, and Digital Nomad Visa are aimed at attracting talented and skilled individuals from across the globe. The country is hoping that this can help address skill gaps and drive innovation in areas like blockchain within the tech sector.
Although New Zealand’s blockchain technology and adoption is still in its early stages, early adopters such as supply chain and logistics, the energy sector, finance, and crypto casinos have implemented blockchain technology successfully. ReadWrite’s Daniel Smyth explains that crypto casinos listed for players in New Zealand are licensed to operate internationally and are completely safe and secure. Therefore, crypto casinos in New Zealand are typically registered with offshore governments, however, Kiwi players can enjoy them from anywhere. The FMA regulates cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, cryptocurrency brokers, exchanges, wallet providers, and blockchain-based businesses in the country.
One of the key proposals from the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is to expand the skills shortage through targeted immigration policies to meet the growing demand. To address the skills shortage, the government and tech industry are encouraging more Kiwi students to pursue tech careers. Additionally, the New Zealand government’s Digital Strategy for Aotearoa (DSA) and the Digital Technologies Industry Transformation Plan (ITP) aim to address skills shortages through training and education in the digital tech sector, which includes blockchain technology and digital assets.
The DSA outlines focus areas to develop a digital identity trust framework, promote cyber security, and build digital skills and literacy. The ITP is a government-industry partnership aimed at accelerating the growth of the tech sector. The focus is on addressing the skills gap, promoting digital trade and exports, and improving the country’s digital infrastructure and data access. New Zealand’s government is striking the right balance by investing in local talent development to provide a path for skill advancement and attracting global talent through its straightforward immigration policies.