Conference Description
Key Takeaways
- GOVIS 2026 brings together New Zealand public sector technology and data professionals to address digital transformation challenges
- Core themes include generative AI adoption, data governance, Māori data sovereignty, and cross-agency collaboration
- The conference explores practical approaches to delivering digital initiatives within complex government environments
- Sessions cover both technical implementation and leadership perspectives on public sector innovation
- The hybrid format accommodates both in-person attendance in Wellington and remote participation
Introduction
GOVIS 2026, themed “Courage to Deliver,” is a government technology conference designed for public servants working across technology, information, and data functions within New Zealand’s public sector. The event addresses the intersection of digital transformation, artificial intelligence governance, and cross-agency collaboration at a time when government agencies face mounting pressure to consolidate digital investments while adopting emerging technologies responsibly.
The conference arrives at a pivotal moment for public sector technology leadership. Government agencies worldwide are grappling with how to integrate generative AI capabilities into existing service delivery frameworks while maintaining robust data governance and privacy protections. For New Zealand specifically, these challenges intersect with unique considerations around Māori data sovereignty and the need to ensure digital initiatives serve diverse communities equitably.
About GOVIS 2026
The conference takes place at the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington, with a hybrid format enabling remote participation for those unable to attend in person. This approach reflects the broader shift in government working practices and ensures accessibility for public servants across the country.
GOVIS 2026 combines keynote presentations with breakout sessions, offering both inspirational leadership content and technical deep-dives. The programme structure facilitates knowledge sharing between agencies, providing opportunities for attendees to learn from successful digital projects and, equally importantly, from initiatives that encountered obstacles. This emphasis on practical learning distinguishes the event from purely aspirational technology conferences.
Catalyst and Silverstripe feature among the event’s sponsors, reflecting the involvement of organisations with established track records in government technology delivery. Technologies and platforms referenced in the programme include the Common Web Platform and open source solutions such as Koha, alongside various AI platforms that agencies are evaluating or implementing.
Digital Transformation and Cross-Agency Collaboration
A central challenge facing government digital leaders is the tendency toward siloed investment, where individual agencies develop solutions independently rather than leveraging shared infrastructure or learning from parallel initiatives elsewhere in the public sector. GOVIS 2026 directly addresses this fragmentation by creating a forum for cross-agency dialogue and showcasing approaches that have successfully bridged organisational boundaries.
The conference explores digital public infrastructure as a foundation for more efficient service delivery. Rather than each agency building bespoke systems, shared platforms and common standards can reduce duplication while improving consistency for citizens interacting with government services. However, achieving this coordination requires both technical interoperability and institutional willingness to collaborate—the latter often proving more challenging than the former.
Administrative data-first approaches represent another thread running through the programme. Government agencies hold vast quantities of data collected through routine administrative processes, and extracting value from this information while maintaining appropriate privacy protections presents both opportunity and complexity. The conference examines how agencies can move beyond treating data as a byproduct of operations toward recognising it as a strategic asset requiring deliberate governance.
Artificial Intelligence Governance in the Public Sector
The rapid advancement of generative AI has created urgent questions for government technology leaders. Public sector organisations must balance the potential efficiency gains and service improvements these technologies offer against legitimate concerns about accuracy, bias, transparency, and accountability. Unlike private sector organisations, government agencies operate under heightened scrutiny regarding how automated systems affect citizens’ lives and rights.
GOVIS 2026 addresses AI adoption and governance as interconnected challenges rather than separate technical and policy domains. Implementing AI capabilities effectively requires not only technical expertise but also clear frameworks for determining appropriate use cases, managing risks, and maintaining human oversight where decisions carry significant consequences. The conference provides a venue for sharing emerging practices as agencies navigate this relatively uncharted territory.
Building internal AI capability presents its own challenges. Government agencies compete for talent with private sector organisations often able to offer higher compensation, while also needing to develop AI literacy among existing staff who will work alongside these systems. The conference explores strategies for developing high-performing teams capable of delivering AI initiatives responsibly.
Data Governance and Māori Data Sovereignty
Effective data governance underpins virtually every aspect of digital transformation. Without confidence in data quality, agencies cannot reliably use information for decision-making, analytics, or AI applications. GOVIS 2026 examines practical approaches to establishing and maintaining data governance frameworks that balance accessibility with appropriate controls.
Māori data sovereignty represents a distinctive consideration for New Zealand government agencies. This framework recognises that data about Māori people, communities, and resources carries particular significance and that Māori should have meaningful involvement in how such data is collected, stored, used, and shared. For technology leaders, embedding these principles requires moving beyond compliance-oriented thinking toward genuine partnership in data governance design.
Privacy considerations intersect with both data governance and AI adoption. As agencies seek to derive greater value from administrative data and implement AI systems that process personal information, maintaining public trust requires robust privacy protections and transparent communication about how data is used. The conference addresses these tensions directly, acknowledging that innovation and privacy protection need not be mutually exclusive but do require careful design.
Leadership and Risk Management in Digital Delivery
The conference theme of “courage to deliver” speaks to a persistent challenge in government technology: the institutional risk aversion that can impede innovation. Public sector leaders face asymmetric consequences where failed initiatives attract significant scrutiny while successful delivery often goes unrecognised. This dynamic can discourage the experimentation and calculated risk-taking that digital transformation requires.
GOVIS 2026 examines what courageous delivery looks like in practice, both at organisational and individual levels. This includes creating environments where teams can pursue ambitious initiatives with appropriate support, as well as developing personal leadership capabilities that enable individuals to advocate for change within complex bureaucratic structures.
Risk management in digital delivery extends beyond traditional project risk frameworks. Technology initiatives increasingly involve novel capabilities where historical precedents offer limited guidance, third-party dependencies that introduce supply chain considerations, and rapidly evolving threat landscapes. The conference provides opportunities to explore how agencies are adapting their risk management approaches to these realities.
Who Should Attend
GOVIS 2026 is designed for public servants whose roles involve technology, information, or data within government agencies. This includes senior leaders such as Chief Information Officers, Chief Technology Officers, and Chief Data Officers who set strategic direction for digital initiatives. The programme equally serves digital transformation leaders, data scientists, IT managers, and project managers responsible for implementing these strategies.
Policy makers working on technology-related regulation or guidance will find relevant content addressing the governance frameworks surrounding AI adoption and data use. Team leaders seeking to build high-performing groups within their agencies can benefit from sessions addressing organisational capability development. The conference also welcomes professionals at earlier career stages who are building expertise in government technology and seeking to understand the broader landscape in which their work operates.
Conclusion
GOVIS 2026 offers New Zealand’s public sector technology community a structured opportunity to address the interconnected challenges of digital transformation, AI governance, and data management. By bringing together practitioners from across government agencies, the conference facilitates the knowledge sharing and relationship building that can help agencies avoid duplicating effort and learn from collective experience. For public servants navigating the complexities of delivering digital initiatives within government, the event provides both practical insights and connection to a broader community facing similar challenges.