Why a Minister and Mayor became a startup fan

Why is government so bad at adopting new technology? And what would it take for New Zealand to build an economy where tech and startups sit alongside our traditional industries? This week, Serge Van Dam sits down with Wellington Mayor and former Cabinet Minister Andrew Little for a wide-ranging conversation about government, technology, risk and the future of New Zealand’s economy. Andrew gives an unusually candid view from inside government, including why the public sector is so risk-averse, why agencies gravitate towards large consulting firms and established technology providers, and why Kiwi startups can sometimes find it easier to win government customers overseas than at home. They also explore Wellington’s opportunity to become a genuine global startup city. Andrew lays out an ambition for 100 new startups a year, more globally significant technology companies, and a city where tech becomes a fundamental part of Wellington’s economic identity. The conversation covers AI inside local government, the $600,000 council website controversy, legacy technology in healthcare, procurement incentives, New Zealand’s “weightless economy”, and why political leaders struggle to articulate a compelling vision for a modern technology-driven economy. Plus, Andrew reflects on leadership, failure, resilience, his own technology literacy, what he admires about entrepreneurs, and whether he might ever invest in a startup himself. A fascinating conversation about what happens when politics, government and startups collide — and what New Zealand needs to do differently if technology is going to help drive the next chapter of our economy. Startup Theatre is hosted by Troy Hammond, Serge Van Dam and Adrienne Muir. This episode is brought to you by Maximus — an AI-powered go-to-market agency for B2B companies. Find out more at MaximusGTM.com. Why is government so bad at adopting new technology? And what would it take for New Zealand to build an economy where tech and startups sit alongside our traditional industries? This week, Serge Van Dam sits down with Wellington Mayor and former Cabinet Minister Andrew Little for a wide-ranging conversation about government, technology, risk and the future of New Zealand’s economy. Andrew gives an unusually candid view from inside government, including why the public sector is so risk-averse, why agencies gravitate towards large consulting firms and established technology providers, and why Kiwi startups can sometimes find it easier to win government customers overseas than at home. They also explore Wellington’s opportunity to become a genuine global startup city. Andrew lays out an ambition for 100 new startups a year, more globally significant technology companies, and a city where tech becomes a fundamental part of Wellington’s economic identity. The conversation covers AI inside local government, the $600,000 council website controversy, legacy technology in healthcare, procurement incentives, New Zealand’s “weightless economy”, and why political leaders struggle to articulate a compelling vision for a modern technology-driven economy. Plus, Andrew reflects on leadership, failure, resilience, his own technology literacy, what he admires about entrepreneurs, and whether he might ever invest in a startup himself. A fascinating conversation about what happens when politics, government and startups collide — and what New Zealand needs to do differently if technology is going to help drive the next chapter of our economy. Startup Theatre is hosted by Troy Hammond, Serge Van Dam and Adrienne Muir. This episode is brought to you by Maximus — an AI-powered go-to-market agency for B2B companies. Find out more at https://maximusgtm.com/