By Danny Cowan
Publication Date: 2026-10-14 20:00:00
Artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data are embedded in almost every part of modern life. Our public services and many critical organisational functions depend on them. Technology decisions are no longer simply questions of procurement or IT architecture. They are connected to much bigger issues of digital resilience, national security and economic performance.
Digital sovereignty is ultimately a capability question: whether governments and organisations can exercise choice and control over critical systems and maintain continuity as risks and circumstances change. While in the past that may have meant relying on on-premises infrastructure in New Zealand, such an approach no longer meets the moment, especially given the scale and potential destructive impact of contemporary cybersecurity threats, as well as other risks highly relevant to New Zealand, like natural hazards.
Against that backdrop, local infrastructure and capabilities can only be one aspect of…
