Who we worked with
Department of Conservation (DOC)
What we did together
GovTech Accelerator
At Creative HQ, we believe in pushing the boundaries of public sector innovation, and the 2024 GovTech Accelerator was another example of this pursuit. Over the last six years, our programme has refined a rapid development model, supporting 55 projects across the public sector. In just 3 months, we work with central and local government agencies to turn ideas into tangible outcomes, creating real-world value.
This case study focuses on one of our recent successes: the Smart Weed Alert Tool (SWAT), developed in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC), to demonstrate how rapid prototyping and agile methods can drive meaningful change.
The problem
New Zealand’s biodiversity is under constant threat from invasive plant species. With more than 25,000 exotic plants already present, traditional methods of identifying and managing new weeds are often too slow and reactive. This delay in detection leads to costly containment efforts, with native ecosystems suffering in the interim. The Department of Conservation recognised the need for a more proactive system that could identify harmful plant species early, allowing stakeholders to intervene before significant damage occurred.
SWAT was created to address this pressing need, providing an alert system to protect our native flora and fauna.
The solution
In less than four months, we worked closely with DOC and our development partner, Xequals to test and refine SWAT from a concept into a functioning tool. For SWAT, the process involved seven sprint stages, starting with problem identification and validation, followed by iterative development to build and refine the tool.
Within the programme, we worked closely with DOC and Xequals to ensure SWAT was not just a concept but a functional solution, integrated with existing systems. The tool taps into user-reported data from platforms like GBIF and iNaturalist, enabling real-time detection of invasive plant species. By notifying relevant authorities and stakeholders at the first sighting of a new weed, SWAT empowers users to take immediate action, reducing the risk of widespread ecological harm.
SWAT is designed as an early detection system, constantly monitoring for new reports of exotic plant species in vulnerable areas. By harnessing advanced digital tools, it sifts through vast amounts of data, identifying critical first reports of invasive plants in sensitive ecosystems. Once detected, it sends real-time alerts to relevant parties, from government agencies to local environmental groups, so they can act swiftly to prevent the spread of these species.
This proactive approach represents a significant shift from traditional weed surveillance methods, which are patchy and largely rely on luck. SWAT ensures that harmful species are identified and addressed at the earliest possible stage, offering the potential for massive cost savings and better protection of New Zealand’s natural landscapes.
GovTech impact
The development of SWAT is a powerful example of how government organisations can embrace a more flexible, adaptive approach to problem-solving. Rather than being bogged down by lengthy processes and extensive business case development, the GovTech Accelerator enabled DOC to move quickly, bringing a valuable tool to life in a matter of weeks, not years.
The Smart Weed Alert Tool’s success was driven by close collaboration between the Department of Conservation (DOC), Creative HQ’s GovTech Accelerator, and Xequals. This collaborative approach allowed the team to develop a functional and scalable solution, showing how government, innovation, and technical partners can collaborate to create impactful, real-world solutions.
What was enabled by GovTech
The success of the Smart Weed Alert Tool demonstrates the potential of the GovTech Accelerator model to drive real change in public sector digital innovation. By focusing on rapid development and iterative prototyping, the programme enabled the Department of Conservation to address a critical ecological challenge with a cutting-edge solution. Currently, the DOC have announced new funding to develop the SWAT prototype into a full functionality version, which is a huge milestone for the project.
SWAT’s early detection capabilities will save millions in future containment efforts, ensuring that New Zealand’s ecosystems are protected from invasive species. The GovTech Accelerator model is an example of what is possible when innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to delivering real-world outcomes come together. It also shows how government agencies can work more efficiently, embracing new approaches to solving complex problems.
