Auckland developer event with Callaghan Innovation will ask participants to design 'DOGE NZ' to track government expenditure

A "hackathon" event to be held this month at the University of Auckland will ask participants to design "DOGE NZ", a government expenditure tracking system.

The task, or "problem statement" to design DOGE NZ was set by Callaghan Innovation, the government agency's business innovation adviser Kevin Whitmore confirmed to interest.co.nz.

"It is one of many problem statements that will be given out to participants to try and solve/as inspiration with the hope that it will be solved," Whitmore said.

DOGE or Department of Government Efficiency is a controversial initiative by the Trump administration in the United States which may or may not be under the leadership of billionaire Elon Trump - the organisation's legal status is unclear at the moment.

Set up by an executive order from US president Donald Trump in January this year, DOGE has initiated large-scale sackings of government employees, unilaterally attempted to cancel long-standing programmes such as USAID, and gained access to federal computer systems holding sensitive personal information.

During its efforts to shut down US government programs, Musk admitted DOGE accidentally cancelled research into the deadly Ebola virus. DOGE has also demanded federal employees report to it, providing examples of five accomplishments in their working weeks, or take redundancy. 

Although the prize structure is "still under wraps" at the University of Auckland event, winning problem statement solvers could take away $25,000 in cash. The winning group will also have flights and accommodation paid for to another developer event overseas, named ETHGlobal.

The event in question is focused around Web3, and run by an organisation called Web3NZ. Sponsors listed include the University of Auckland and its Owen Glenn Business School. Asked what Callaghan Innovation's involvement in the event is, Whitmore replied with:

"They [Callaghan Innovation] have been helping coordinate the event. Yes, they have helped shape some of the problem statements they hope participants will tackle."

Why the cryptocurrency-related Web3 concept was chosen as the technology theme for DOGE NZ isn't clear. Musk promotes the Dogecoin meme cryptocurrency, but Web3 isn't mentioned as being used by the US DOGE.

Defining what Web3 is exactly is difficult. It is said to be built on the blockchain immutable database that was introduced with the Bitcoin cryptocurrency, with new records of transactions being linked to previous ones using cryptography. The transactions on the blockchain are themselves validated by a simple majority of participants in the network.

The definition provided by the event promoters says: "Web3 represents the next evolution of the internet. Unlike traditional systems where data and transactions are controlled by intermediaries (third parties like governments or banks), Web3 enables peer-to-peer interactions, providing greater transparency, security and user ownership."

"The blockchain is ideal for streamlining public services and tackling major challenges in New Zealand," Whitmore told interest.co.nz.

Critics of Web3 however, say it's first and foremost a marketing term with questionable projects vaguely defined and regulated, lacking in oversight, and in some cases, illegal pyramid schemes, with its goal of achieving decentralisation not best achieved by using blockchain.

Other issues that the developers will be asked to consider includes using Web3 technology for social support purposes:

"Additional problem statements include the possibility of "decentralised welfare distribution and food security". This platform would use smart contracts to automate eligibility checks and payments. It could include tokenised food vouchers tied to local suppliers, reducing fraud and ensuring funds are spent on essentials."

Inland Revenue is apparently taking a keen interest in Web3 too. "The IRD has also unofficially suggested an interest in how web3 can help divert and process tax including income tax and GST at point of sale or at time of payroll to simplify the tax collection and processing of end of year forms," the release for the event said.

Callaghan Innovation is itself no stranger to government efficiency drives. The organisation, named after physicist Paul Callaghan, is currently being disbanded by the government, with its Crown Research Institutes being reorganised into Public Research Organisations with the loss of over 60 jobs.