Speakers included Mayor Celia Wade Brown, Philippa Bowron, Head of Innovation, Wellington City Council and Tim Packer, Head of Smart City Solutions, NEC New Zealand Ltd.
Mayor Wade-Brown says Wellington is a very successful city already and fast becoming a Smart Capital.
“I am delighted with the CBD free wifi, the Tech Hub, and our NEC partnership,” she says. “Emerging technology for electric vehicles and home energy storage addresses new jobs, a cleaner environment, and lower carbon emissions.
“Tech people are also residents and we discussed proposals in the Annual Plan including the Urban Development Agency and Lyall Bay resilience,” she says.
The event is part of a series of Annual Plan consultation sessions run by Wellington City Council to increase understanding of the Annual Plan 2016/17 and Long-term Plan.
Head of Smart City Solutions, NEC New Zealand Ltd, Tim Packer says: “It’s great to see Collider open for business and buzzing with innovative and passionate Wellingtonians bringing smart business and investment to the capital. NEC is proud to support Wellington’s tech sector and will continue to contribute to local innovation.”
Chair of Council Economic Development and Arts Committee, Cr Jo Coughlan says Wellington’s Quality of Life helps to drive economic success.
"Wellington is becoming the natural home for a growing tech community. Wellington can claim $68,000 mean annual earnings per worker, compared to $54,000 for the average New Zealander. GDP Per Capita is almost $90,000, compared to the New Zealand average of under $50,000. Wellington employs over 87,000 people in knowledge-intensive industries, well over half of all jobs in the city. Wellington is a place where talent wants to live.”
This year, the Wellington City Annual Plan 2016/17 is building on the bold strategy we set in last year’s Long-term Plan 2015-25, investing $800 million in the City’s economy with an emphasis on sustainable growth – including our new Low Carbon Capital plan.
Join our team and Wellington City councillors for a special Sustainability Virtual Forum through our Council Facebook and Twitter channels, 27 April, 5pm-6.30pm.
You can also have your say until 29 April 2016 on our website.