New faces, new opportunities

Digital Identity NZ is entering a new phase of its journey; our superlative inaugural Chair David Morrison is joined by Ben Tairea as Co-Chair and Tamāra Al-Salim as Deputy Chair.  You can read more about Tamāra’s and Ben’s stories below.  The trio will lead the governance of the Executive Council as we navigate the next period of rapid change.  This is also my last newsletter as Executive Director of Digital Identity NZ.  Like David, I took on this role upon the formation of Digital Identity NZ in 2019, and after nearly 2 ½ years it is time to hand over the pleasure and responsibility to someone new.
 
As I reflect on the last 2+ years, an overriding theme is one of interconnectedness, both technically and socially.  The premise and promise of digital identity is more seamless and efficient ways of interacting online, whilst at the same time improving privacy, transparency, security and choice (solutions that are truly mana-enhancing).  The words of the karakia gifted to us by Janelle Riki-Waaka (kaiwhakahaere/advisor and member of our Executive Council) are apt to the journey we are on:

Unuhia te pō, te pō whiri mārama
Tomokia te ao, te ao whatu tāngata
Tātai ki runga, tātai ki raro, tātai aho rau
Haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!
 
From the confusion comes understanding
From understanding comes unity
We are interwoven, we are interconnected
Together as one!

We start and end all of our Council meetings, webinars and working groups with these words as a reminder of our shared past, present and future.
 
There is much work still to be done as we collectively work on a digital identity ecosystem designed for Aotearoa.  This is the work of Government, iwi, innovators, advocates, academics, community groups and businesses of all shapes and sizes.  My parting challenge to us all is to continue to work in trusted collaboration for the benefit of all people in Aotearoa, and to do so with the core principles of Te Tiriti anchoring the mahi (work); kāwanatanga (honourable governance), rangatiratanga (self determination and agency) and ōretitanga (equity and partnership).

Ngā Mihi,

Andrew Weaver
Executive Director

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