Prof Richard BarkerAn ambition to create a billion-dollar technology sector in Queenstown will take a significant step forward next year. Speaking at last week’s Otago Tourism Policy School in the resort, organised by the university, Prof Barker said the aim was to use partnerships to leverage what was special about the region and create educational programmes that were both transformational and ‘‘globally attractive’’. ‘‘Our plan in all of this is not really to teach foundational technology skills,’’ Prof Barker said. Prof Barker said the university believed there was sufficient housing capacity within the existing market for next year’s pilot programme. QRC, for example, already had student accommodation with capacity for about 250, while Prof Barker told delegates at the policy school there was also a ‘‘huge amount of housing’’ planned.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 29, 2026 16:59 UTC