One of New Zealand’s most successful tech entrepreneurs has joined the call for a shift away from tourism and towards technology and digital business.

Ian Taylor, who founded Dunedin-based computer graphics company Animation Research Ltd and multimedia production company Taylormade Productions, has been working in tech for 30 years.

He was the guest speaker at the 2019 Central Otago Awards, held in Roxburgh in September last year, and his presentation almost exclusively focused on encouraging growth in tech and digital business.

“If my grandchildren are going to afford to live in somewhere like Central, yes property is going to be more expensive, so how are we going to deal with that? We have to have high-value jobs for them,” Ian told The Central App.

“Are we going to bring more people into our country and create low value jobs in tourism, many of which employ workers from overseas, and they take the wealth elsewhere?

“Or do we create technology jobs where the jobs are high-value and don’t get impacted by things such as coronavirus.

“Now you have coronavirus, and everyone is distraught about the impact on tourism. Well, we are sitting here in a technology business and we are still doing our stuff totally unaffected.”

The tech entrepreneur, who was a television newsreader before a change in career, has openly supported the group who oppose the potential expansion of Wanaka Airport.

He argues his support is because the growth associated with tourism does not create high-value jobs for New Zealanders and is unsustainable.

Ian Taylor has worked in the tech industry for over 30 years and believes more should be done to transition away from tourism and towards tech in order to create more high-value jobs for the future. Photo courtesy Animation Research Ltd.

Ian said if he compared his 30 years of tech to 30 years of tourism, he can see how much value tech has brought against the effect tourism has had on somewhere like Queenstown.

“To get past the airport takes an hour sometimes,” he said. “That’s not advancing, that’s going backwards. I can’t go into Queenstown anymore, I used to love Queenstown.

“If we have an airport in Wanaka for example, those roads are going to get worse and as a result, that town is going to get worse.

“It’s about taking a deep breath and asking about tourism and asking what is the future for Central Otago, or NZ? How can we create high value jobs for our people?

“I can’t believe we are thinking there will be 4 million more passengers coming here and with low value jobs and those employees shifting the money offshore, it just won’t work out well for us and particularly our grandchildren.”

Ian argued tourism should be limited and more support given towards growing the digital economy and investment in technology, which in turn will create larger numbers of high-value jobs which will allow people to keep up with the growing costs of living.

Ian Taylor’s Dunedin company, Animation Research Ltd (ARL), is behind graphics for a host of international sports, including The America’s Cup. Pictured: ARL's Chris Carpenter sets up one of two 360VR cameras used on Emirates Team NZ and Oracle Team USA. Photo courtesy Animation Research Ltd.

“In the end, our view, well my view is I have a grandson and two more on the way, and I’m thinking of them.

“If someone can tell me tourism is better for Central Otago, make it more affordable (to live here) and bring high value jobs, then I’ll be convinced.

“I went to Venice decades ago and it was magical, but now I wouldn’t go back, it is just ruined.  

“What is magical about Central Otago and New Zealand? It’s the space.

“When the world looks at New Zealand, it’s magical - so how can we keep it like that?

“I remember how we were fully supportive of tourism, but now we can see these connected things – carbon miles, pollution, crowded cities, even Air BNB, they are all creatures of tourism.

“Young people are sleeping in crowded houses and can’t afford to buy their own. Is this what we want for our grandkids?”

Ian’s sentiments closely follow behind the Clyde-born former ANZ chief economist, Cameron Bagrie, who visited Alexandra earlier in the month and told The Central App the region should try and attract more tech and digital businesses.

Cameron said more could be done to support the growth of the digital economy in Central Otago, which the powerful service sector greatly relies on. 

Central Otago-raised economist Cameron Bagrie has said the region greatly relies on horticulture as its economic “backbone” but hinted the future profits may lie within the digital-based service-sector. Photo Rowan Schindler.

“We are seeing a lot of growth across New Zealand out of the service sector. In a modern, functioning, technology world the tyranny of distance is no longer a barrier,” Cameron told The Central App.

“People can work anywhere. Someone like myself, I am perfectly mobile in terms of my job. I can park up at a café and I can still be as functional at a café as I am in a normal office setup.”

“The big challenges for the likes of Alexandra is enticing young people into the region. You tick the box lifestyle wise, but you have got to get those decent paying jobs and housing costs are a barrier.”

“The big challenges for the likes of Alexandra is enticing young people into the region. You tick the box lifestyle wise, but you have got to get those decent paying jobs and housing costs are a barrier.”