Wellington-based innovation specialists Creative HQ relaunch their NZ GovTech Accelerator (formerly Lightning Lab GovTech) into the post-COVID world to support public sector projects as they deliver services for citizens. Programme Director Jonnie Haddon says, “throughout the pandemic, the New Zealand Government has shown how innovative it can be, proactively and creatively adapting to new challenges…

‘As a government we are not content with the status quo.’ – Minister Woods at the NZ Innovation Debate   The inaugural debate about the importance of innovation in moving New Zealand forward, was hosted by CHQ with spokespeople from the leading political parties.  The Minister of everything, Hon Dr Megan Woods, attended alongside Parmjeet…

Mike Taitoko from Takiwā was part of the 2018 NZ GovTech Accelerator working with MfE on a freshwater catchment mapping platform. We spoke to Mike to learn how that work has snowballed into the Regenerative Farming initiative, Calm the farm. Two thirds of Aotearoa’s freshwater systems are unswimmable and 75% of our native freshwater fish…

Kāinga Ora has secured a project team in the 2020 NZ GovTech Accelerator that will explore and conceptualise a platform to support a strong, thriving, inclusive and connected community centred around the Grey’s Ave development in Central Auckland. About building community at Grey’s Ave Grey’s Ave is taking a fresh approach to supportive housing by…

Applications for LabTechs are now open! LabTechs support both Org team and accelerator project teams to ensure successful outcomes for the teams. We are looking for people who take initiative, are team players, and find opportunities in everything.  Apply to be a GovTech LabTech for the 2020 Accelerator, by sending your CV to Programme Manager,…

With an average wing-span of over 3m, the Antipodean Albatross is one of the world’s most spectacular, but critically endangered birds. One of the main catalysts for their waning population is by-catch on commercial fishing vessels. Fisheries New Zealand has successfully tendered a company to develop the electronic automated reporting system (EARS) solution, which monitors…

Applications are open for individuals to join the NZ GovTech Accelerator 2020. GovTech provides an opportunity for individuals to join a team and work on some of the biggest challenges facing the public sector. We are looking for people who are adaptable, team players, open-minded, and want to co-design impactful solutions for central and local…

“Learning the GovTech design process and building my expertise in government digital services has helped equip me for success in my new role at MSD.”  A lot can happen in six months.  Holly Grover, an integral member of the DIA My Info My Way 2019 GovTech team, has since got a new role at the…

Arrive is a project formed through a private-public collaboration involving Wellington’s City and Regional councils, the Ministry of Transport, Centrality, and smart-mobility technology provider Iomob. Arrive is an open mobility marketplace for Wellington citizens to discover and compare the cost, duration, and environmental impact of different transport options as well as the ability to book…

Following the conclusion of Lightning Lab GovTech 2019 one of the cohort, Activate Innovation, have secured funding from the Digital Government Partnership Innovation Fund in partnership with New Zealand G2G Know-How at NZTE to develop their Innovation Barometer. We sat down with Sally Hett, Lightning Lab GovTech programme manager and Activate Innovation project lead to…

Do you remember wanting a particular toy when you were a kid? Maybe it was a Furby, or a Tamagotchi, or maybe a stick and hoop, depending on what generation you’re from. Everyone else had one and you were convinced that having one would make life so much better. Then, when you finally got that…

Ideation. It sounds like something that a philosopher would do in a dark room while pondering the mysteries of the universe. In reality, it is an activity that every person engages in almost every day without even realising it. When you’re weighing the options of what to have for dinner or considering which route will…

Projects worth pursuing never exist in isolation. If there’s someone who wants the solution that you’re creating, it stands to reason that there are people who will care about it along the way.  In the context of government, this can be a complex web of connections. There are questions of funding, usability, key objectives and…

The Lightning Lab GovTech programme is not for the faint of heart. Our cohort are taking a new approach to problem solving in the public sector. This requires the application of new way of working to big, complex public sector issues to create fit-for-purpose solutions. So how does this work in practice? The cohort was…

When starting a new enterprise, good questioning can make or break a venture. The questions that you choose to ask, or not ask, can stimulate further conversation or cause conversations to shut down. So what makes a good question and how can founders approach this crucial piece of learning?  Stuart Van Rij is Head Coach…

We are proud to announce Pete Hodgson as Patron of Lightning Lab GovTech. Pete is a true pioneer of innovation and it is a privilege to have him serve as a champion for the programme. As the current Chair of Callaghan Innovation and former Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Pete paved the way for…

This week is the first official week for our Lightning Lab GovTech 2019 cohort. While the projects kicked off on Monday, the real work started a week prior with bootcamp. As the name suggests, the bootcamp week is all about getting the teams up to speed on the tools and methodologies they will be applying…

The Local Government Conference is an annual event run by Local Government NZ to bring together members of local bodies from around the country to share ideas and get inspired to continue the great work they are doing for their towns, cities and regions. 2019’s theme was “Riding the localism wave: Putting communities in charge” which…

Youth Voice were part of the Lightning Lab GovTech Programme in 2018, working to bridge the divide between policy and youth to create more representative policies for New Zealand. Youth Voice was a project from the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Youth Development. Over seven months since Demo Day, we caught up…

In the past few weeks, the Wellbeing Budget has been at the centre of conversations and media both around the country and internationally. We asked Programme Director, Jonnie Haddon, to share his thoughts on the Wellbeing Budget – he highlighted the strengths of the Budget, what this means for the environment, and what will be…

As part of TechWeek 19, Creative HQ hosted people from across the public, private and community sectors for a discussion on how GovTech can encourage collaboration. Lightning Lab GovTech Programme Director, Jonnie Haddon, facilitated a panel discussion with Elena Higginson, Principal Advisor Digital Government at DIA; Peter Fletcher-Dobson, a sector leader in digital transformation and…

Lightning Lab GovTech 2019 individual applications are now open. Lightning Lab GovTech provides an opportunity for individuals, startups and companies, to work on some of the most impactful problems facing government today. We’re looking for people who want to make a difference to local and central governments, who are resilient, open-minded, willing and adaptable team…

The team from Greater Wellington Regional Council worked on community engagement in the first Lightning Lab GovTech programme in 2o18, with the aim to develop tools to help the Council better connect and engage with the 500,000 people that live within the extraordinary Wellington region.   Tell us about Mārama. Mārama is a formal consultation…

We caught up with Sally Hett, a member of the team at EARS (Electronic Automated Reporting System) – Safer Seas for Albatrosses, working to incorporate innovative tracking technology to prevent fishing vessels from accidentally catching albatrosses. EARS is one of the projects that came out of Lightning Lab Govtech 2018. The Department of Conservation, Ministry…

Spring emerged from the first Lightning Lab GovTech programme in 2o18, with the aim to build the financial capability and resilience of people, families and whānau which experience hardship by ensuring they have access to the required support ranging from preventive solutions to intensive interventions. Spring is the result of a project submission by the Ministry of…

We launched an open slack channel dedicated to NZ’s GovTech Community. We want to bring the GovTech whānau together in one place. This is going to be a place to start or contribute to important conversations, connect with peers, keep up to date with GovTech related news or events and ask for help when you need…

Individuals from all over New Zealand came together at Spark Central on Feb 27 to discuss pertinent issues in government and technology. Upon signup, attendees selected topics that they felt were most important to cover and Creative HQ prepared notes to help facilitate the discussion. At the start of the event, Lightning Lab GovTech director…

What a ride it has been! Lightning Lab GovTech has officially wrapped up, and it’s the perfect time to take a moment to think about our shared GovTech journey. Over the course of three months the program has started and concluded, and teams have been working hard to come up with solutions to the big…

New technologies are disrupting all industries and sectors, including the public sector. Governments around the world are now opening their eyes to the power that these technologies have to offer. New technologies have the ability to drastically improve the effectiveness of many government functions by speeding up internal processes, increasing productivity and opening up new…

Inaugural Lightning Lab GovTech Demo Day deemed a huge success New tech and entrepreneurial thinking is looking to save albatross from extinction, giving Kiwis a blockchain-based digital identity, and humanising the way agencies prevent and respond to family violence in Aotearoa. These were just a few of the problems being addressed by 12 teams from…

New Zealand’s main cities are under immense housing pressures. This Wellington City Council project aims to develop a solution that enables Wellingtonians to be well housed (both now and in the future) and that the complex task of housing supply issues is being addressed so that future generations can also enjoy the benefits of living…

By enabling further accessibility Wellington City can shape into more of an inclusive and easier space for everyone to live within. Improving this accessibility will allow more people to participate in all aspects of city life and New Zealand’s capital can continue to remain an attractive location to residents and visitors of any age and…

Together with Alina, Angus is one of our Business Development LabTechs. You can find him roaming around the office, helping the teams with his knowledge in policy and law. When he’s not busy with Lightning Lab GovTech, Angus is running Ignite Consultants – a student-run non-profit organisation aimed at generating a socially conscious future by empowering…

The Taiwan Water Corporation is developing a solution to an issue which affects every single city across the planet: water loss from urban distribution systems, due to leakage. By utilising modern technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning they are able to detect leakages within the water mains and effectively reduce…

Aotearoa has one of the highest rates of family violence in the world. Government and community services are seeking to work more closely to ensure that whānau experiencing violence are getting the help they need. The primary focus of the project is on integrated practices with the goal of delivering services that prevent further harm…

The Community Connect project is committed to eliminating the digital divide and is actively working on solutions to improve access to connectivity and technology to ensure all New Zealanders are able to engage in an increasingly digitally-enabled society. We are working to provide connectivity to those who need it – driven by communities and what…

Greater Wellington Regional Council takes care of the things that really matter, from freshwater quality and biodiversity to high-quality drinking water, flood protection and emergency management for much of the region, and running the public transport network. Much of the work they do has a long-term environmental and natural resource management focus and involves creating…

Digital identity is essential to establish a person’s digital rights and shape the digital economy in New Zealand. A priority for our local government is building a modern approach to digital identity which makes sure that a person is always in control of their data. The Department of Internal Affairs are working on this project…

Reuben is our all-rounder Marketing LabTech. You can find him around the Lightning Lab GovTech space taking sneaky photos of the teams in action, interviewing our guest speakers, or crafting the latest articles on all things GovTech.    QUICKFIRE ROUND: Power snack? Peanut M&Ms – it always gets me through some serious study/work sessions. Power tune? I am a…

Forrest is our legendary Web and UX LabTech. With a background in Front End Web Development and UX Design, Forrest is always ready to lend a hand when it comes to helping our teams bringing their vision to life digitally.   QUICKFIRE ROUND: Power snack? Trail mix. Power tune? Anything by the Foo Fighters or 1788-L depending on…

The Ministry of Social Development project is aiming to build the financial capability and resilience of people, families and whānau which experience hardship by ensuring they have access to the required support ranging from preventive solutions to intensive interventions. Ultimately, the project wants to help people out of these difficulties or prevent the situation of…

Recently we were lucky enough to have Clementine Baker and Laura Ansell from the Akina foundation in the Lightning Lab GovTech space to speak to our teams about impact. The Akina foundation is making a huge difference in the social enterprise sector by working towards building a supportive, sustainable and prosperous Aotearoa.   What does…

Blockchain is one of those hot tech words that we’re coming across more and more often. However, not many people actually know how this technology actually works and the range of applications it may have now and in the future. From cybersecurity to healthcare, government and financial services through to manufacturing and supply chain management,…

by Michael Dutton, Service Design Lead, Accenture   Imagine a paper-less world where every time you were asked to prove your identity – from applying for a bank loan to showing you were a licensed driver – was so easy that it just took a swipe and a couple of taps on your smartphone to…

  What are you working on?  We are working to activate people to increase albatross populations in order to prevent them from tracking to extinction. There are solutions currently available to stop these birds getting caught on hooks by the longline fishing fleets which means our challenge is to get these fishermen to apply currently…

Alina joined the Lightning Lab GovTech team as a Business Development Lab Tech. She’s our to-go-person for everything business related and she’s always ready to support the teams developing their projects an ideas. Keep reading to find out more about Alina!   QUICKFIRE ROUND Power snack? Dates with almond butter – yum!! Power tune? Really tough question! It…

The WREDA team came to Lightning Lab GovTech with one main goal: to employ digital solutions to add value to businesses in the Wellington Region. The team spent the first couple of weeks of the accelerator taking a closer look at the various challenges that companies face as they grow – we caught up with them to see…

We’re officially halfway through the Lightning Lab GovTech Accelerator, and we couldn’t think of a better way to mark the occasion than throwing a Halfway Hackathon to get our creative juices flowing. We brought the teams together for a 7-hour sprint with one goal in mind: to create a rough prototype for their project by…

The voices of young people need to be heard when government agencies are developing policies and services. However, engaging young people in these processes can be difficult. Agencies often lack effective and consistent methods for creating involvement and there is evidence young people are increasingly disengaged and disinterested in civic processes. This may be a…

Behind a great accelerator, there’s always a great team and it’s high time we introduce some of the faces that quietly work behind the scenes of Lightning Lab GovTech. Introducing: Josh, our talented graphic designer & motion graphics master.   What brought you to be a LabTech? Being able to work with a diverse team…

You often have a small window of opportunity to convey your message. Having a good idea is not enough, you need to be able to articulate your thoughts concisely, in a way that will capture your listener’s attention. At the end of the accelerator, the participating teams will stand up in front of a room full…

Effective negotiation can make or break a new venture; it can help you attract new customers or turn them away. Learning the Art of Negotiation is an invaluable asset for everyone looking to do business, and it can give funders and entrepreneurs the jump start they need to succeed. Stuart Van Rij, Head Coach for…

Lightning Lab GovTech is officially underway! We kicked off by taking the 12 participating teams through an intense one-week bootcamp. We condensed 12-weeks worth of accelerator learnings into a 5-day innovation sprint to get our teams up to speed on lean and agile methodologies, team building best practices, negotiation strategies and more. Here are our…

Randstad is a global leader in the HR and recruitment services industry, offering a wide range of solutions in the HR services space. Randstad has been supporting people and organisations in realising their true potential, helping find the best permanent and contracting talent across many industries. Human connection is at the heart of their business.…

Accenture solves their clients’ toughest challenges by providing high-level services in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. With partnerships that include three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500, and expertise across more than 40 industries,  Accenture is driving innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. We’ve caught up with one of Accenture’s Digital…

Lightning Lab GovTech is an opportunity to rapidly build, test, validate and experiment with new approaches and technologies to enable truly extraordinary government. The first edition of Lightning Lab GovTech has officially kicked off. From 60 projects, we’ve selected 12 projects to take part in a 3-months accelerator from August until November. If you missed…

The Accelerator Bootcamp will help teams prepare for the inaugural Lightning Lab GovTech, launching Monday 20th of August 2018. [Wellington, New Zealand, 13 August 2018] Creative HQ is bringing together teams made up of local, central, and international government agencies for the Lightning Lab GovTech program – a structured and methodology-based experimentation environment for breakthrough…

With only a few days left until Lightning Lab GovTech kicks off, we’ve met up with Programme Director, Jonnie Haddon, to get the lowdown on everything you need to know about the programme.   How did Lightning Lab GovTech come about and what was the inspiration behind it? Lightning Lab GovTech represents the perfect match…

Lightning Lab GovTech has officially launched. From 60 different projects teams we’ve selected 12 unique projects that are tackling complex situations.   PROJECT #1: DIGITAL IDENTITY DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Digital rights and inclusion, the digital economy and a digital strategy for NZ are all key government priorities. A foundational piece for all of these…

With only a few weeks left until applications close for individuals, it’s time to get up close and personal with the minds behind the 2018 Lightning Lab GovTech. We caught up with Jonnie and Steph (our Progamme Director and Programme Manager) for a cuppa and a chat about their power routine, what gets them out…