Tāngata Whaikaha in Tech
- Emma Godwin
Technology is now Aotearoa New Zealand’s second-biggest export and fastest-growing sector with productivity (measured through GDP per FTE) over 20% higher than the general economy. Historically, our local technology workforce has been mainly male, of European or Asian descent, and non-disabled (NZTech 2023). The remainder of the workforce has usually consisted of high-skilled migrant workers. This lack of local diversity undermines efforts to grow the industry and exposes it to shocks such as those caused by COVID-19. Tapping into our diverse populations can widen the talent pool, fill skill gaps and contribute to a more innovative, more mature and more resilient sector. NZTech has called this “the diversity opportunity” (2023).
Tāngata whaikaha have a role to play here, and not only by contributing to a better-equipped local workforce. Greater participation of tāngata whaikaha can lead to increased business success while improving economic outcomes for whaikaha households. Therefore, we need to ensure tāngata whaikaha can successfully
progress through study and into employment to attain those benefits.
This report explores experiences of tāngata whaikaha (disabled and neurodivergent people) in the Aotearoa tech sector and tech education. It asks: how can we better unlock the diverse talent in the tāngata whaikaha community through improvements in tech education, recruitment and the workplace?