One of the key roles of NZCS is to advocate on behalf of the computing and ICT profession, as well as the ICT sector overall.

NZCS takes this role extremely seriously, and the NZCS Executive works tirelessly to ensure the sector, politicians, government and the public at large are aware of the issues that effect our profession.

NZCS enjoys a very strong relationship with both Ministerial-level Government and Officials within the key Ministries, as well as the key influencers from both major political parties.

NZCS representatives regularly meet with Ministers from a range of portfolios to ensure they are aware of the issues that effect the ICT sector. The Society also works with senior officials within the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Education, Department of Labour, State Services Commission, TEC and many others.

NZCS provides both commentary and expert information on a large range of issues of significance to ICT and the ICT profession.

NZCS representatives are quoted regularly in most media, both sector-specific (such as Computerworld and IT Brief), as well as regularly commenting to and quoted in the mainstream media such as Radio NZ, The Dominion Post, The Herald, The Press and the Otago Daily Times.

NZCS sees it's role as the conduit between what we regard as the "three pillars" of the ICT sector - industry, academia and government.

The Society works as a catalyst and facilitator for these important sub-sectors to work together to address the many problems that the ICT sector faces.

One of the key messages NZCS works hard to get out in the public arena is that professionalism really matters.

Our members have proven experience and/or qualifications and formally agree to abide by a Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. It's important that they are recognised as such and differentiated from those that are less ethically minded.

New Zealand, as with many countries around the world, is currently in the grip of a huge shortage in skilled ICT Professionals. This has a very negative effect on the profession, the sector, and, in fact, the country as a whole.

By definition ICT is innovation, and resolving the skills and capability issues we face are absolutely pivotal if we are to accelerate the economic development of New Zealand. ICT provides a unique opportunity for a country such as ours (skilled, but distant from our trading partners), however we cannot grasp this opportunity until we resolve the skills shortage.

Consequently, NZCS is currently working very closely with industry, academia and government to develop a number of solutions to the ICT skills and capability issues.

This includes working to remove barriers in secondary and tertiary computing education, supporting our computing teachers and assisting with their professional development, facilitating other professionals transfer into ICT, dealing with retention issues, working on the professional development, support and growth of existing professionals, and dealing with immigration issues for ICT professionals.

The Society works very hard to advocate for ICT education at all levels.

As well as conducting regular assessments of things like NCEA Achievement Standards in secondary education, the Society is actually integral into actually addressing and assisting with the resolution of the outcomes of this research.

NZCS are also actively engaged in removing barriers to education throughout secondary, tertiary, and post-tertiary.

As well as professional capability, NZCS (through its wholly-owned subsidiary Computing New Zealand) works hard to address digital literacy in New Zealand.

Digital Literacy is a major issue in this country. If we are to achieve our objectives as a nation we need to ensure our people are fully connected to the rest of the world, and for a country as isolated as our, ICT and the Internet provides the means.

Through Computing NZ, NZCS have brought the highly regarded ICDL and e-Citizen end-user certifications to New Zealand and are working with many parties (schools, businesses, government, and other organisations such as Aotearoa People's Network) to roll this out throughout the country.

NZCS advocates on a large number of other areas of concern to the ICT profession and wider sector. Please Contact Us for more information about our advocacy activities.