RNZ's news stories

InternetNZ
Govt must step up to police social media - InternetNZ boss
A technology industry leader is urging the government not to shy away from policing social media platforms in New Zealand.

IT budget
$20m boost for digital technologies announced
The government is spending an extra $20m over four years on its plan to transform the digital technologies industry.

Manufacturing
High demand from electronics makers sparks computer chip shortage
A global shortage of computer chips is likely to persist for another 18 months, according to an Australasian manufacturing business.

Microsoft
GCSB urges key businesses to expect cyber attacks, protect supply chains
The GCSB is urging New Zealand's critical businesses to stay alert in the face of increasing cyber threats, which can put nationally significant infrastructure in danger.

Digital Transformation
AI company raises $105m to create people for 'digital' workforces
An Auckland based artificial intelligence company Soul Machines has raised $US70 million ($NZ105m) to meet growing demand for "digital people".

App
Economic development agency launches new app to pair employers with talent
Whanganui city's economic development agency wants to see locals swiping right on a new matchmaking app set up to pair Whanganui businesses with skilled workers.

Chatbots
'Robo-advice' a low-cost option for financial planning
Only two firms offer low-cost computer-generated financial advice, despite it being available for four years.

Gaming
Virtual reality game Wanderer puts New Zealand developers on world stage
A major console-maker has for the first time released a Kiwi-made virtual reality (VR) game.

Digital Transformation
NZ tech sector has what it takes to attract international investment - industry boss
The tech sector says it has what it takes to woo international investors, who have come courting.

Cybersecurity
Ability to access and share data may drive more cybercrime in 2022 - security firm
Enabling data to move more easily between organisations will undoubtedly lead to more crime, says a cybersecurity firm.

Surveillance
Review prompts police to halt plans to use facial recognition technology
Police are pressing pause for now on using facial recognition technology to identify people off live camera feeds, but will still use it on stored footage.

Glitch
'Such a mess' - IT teams work overnight to fix immigration glitch
Immigration advisers have described the first day of the country's new residence scheme as a shambles.

Cybersecurity
Waikato District Health Board cyberattack: Cancer hub out of action in chaotic aftermath
A cyber security breach that brought Waikato District Health Board to its knees took out one of the country's four regional cancer hubs, prompting the Cancer Control Agency to declare a national emergency to get patients with life-threatening cancer conditions moved to other hospitals.

Cybersecurity
Waikato DHB warned a cyberattack 'catastrophic for patient safety'
Waikato DHB was warned its IT security was severely compromised months before a massive ransomware attack that brought Waikato Hospital to its knees.

Weta Digital
Weta Digital sells technology division for $2.3b to US firm
Unity, which produces software for game developers and digital artists, has agreed to acquire the studio's tools, pipeline of work, technology and 275 staff.

Commerce Commission
Watchdog expects telecommunications retail service issues to be addressed
The Commerce Commission wants to see an improvement in the quality of retail services offered by the telecommunications industry.

Cybersecurity
Widespread internet outages affect users across NZ
Internet infrastructure provider Vocus has confirmed it was hit with a DDoS attack which took its internet down for about an hour today, affecting people across the country.

Telecommunications
Commerce Commission wants better outcomes for complaints about telecommunications industry
The Commerce Commission wants to see improvements to the telecommunications dispute resolution scheme (TDRS) in order to deliver better results for consumers and the industry.

Mobile technology
Complete connection: the 75-year evolution of the mobile phone
The first mobile phone call was made 75 years ago, in a car. How has technology changed since then and what does the future of communication technology look like?

Revenue
Datacom Group profit up 84%
Leading technology company Datacom Group has nearly doubled its profit on the back of a large revenue gain driven by increasing demand for digital services.

Ransomware
Kaseya VSA ransomware: Extent of impact yet to be seen, experts say
IT specialists are warning the full extent of the harm done in the latest big ransomware attack is yet to emerge.

Ransomware
CertNZ warns NZ users of Kaseya VSA to shut it down
CertNZ is warning New Zealand organisations using Kaseya VSA software to manage their IT infrastructure they may be at risk of an attack by a Russian-based ransomware.

Telecommunications
Morrison & Co join takeover of Australia's Telstra mobile towers
Wellington-based investment manager Morrison & Co is part of a group buying 49 percent of Australian telecommunication giant Telstra's mobile towers business.

Cyber attacks
Waikato DHB won't face fines for data breach, but may face liability - Privacy Commissioner
Waikato District Health Board will not be fined for patient data being hacked, but it may face liability if harm is caused from it, the Privacy Commissioner says.