L-R - Barry Coates (Green Party), Tracey Martin (NZ First), Brett Hudson (National Party) and Rob O'Neill (MC)
The National Party, the Green Party and NZ First fronted up to outline their respective ICT policies at a debate in Auckland on Thursday evening.
Dubbed "New Zealand's Digital Future", the debate is the first of two organised by the Institute of IT Professionals, NZ Tech and Internet NZ, with the second debate to be held in Wellington on August 30.
The government was represented by National Party MP Brett Hudson, NZ First by MP Tracey Martin and the Green Party by Barry Coates.
Labour MP Calre Curran pulled out the day before the debate to take part in a protest for the homeless in Dunedin. The party was unable to put someone else on the panel.
Covering issues of skills and people, business and the economy and the future of government, the debate was lively with questions received from both a live audience and over the internet as the event was live streamed.
The debate in full is embedded below.
