E-Government for New Zealand

Coming to a computer near you!

www.govt.nz

Find out about government agencies • File forms
Make payments • Choose your time and place

Transforming government
At the time of the 2001 census, 37% of New Zealand households had Internet access. Many more can access the Internet through work, school or public facility such as a library. Government agencies are working together to make the best of the opportunities the Internet offers. The aim is to give people improved access to government services, and enable transactions to take place at more convenient times and places.

The initial focus has been on developing ways to deliver government information online. The New Zealand Government Portal website (www.govt.nz) provides a 'where to go' facility. It helps people to find which government agency deals with the issue they are concerned with.

Individual department and agency web sites provide 'how to' explanations and increasing access to electronic templates – paperless forms people can use to register for services or grants or to meet compliance requirements.

The New Zealand vision for electronic government envisages reinventing government through the use of information technology.

In the past, government services have been delivered mainly through departmental or agency offices. But changes in population patterns and a focus on cost has led to the withdrawal of permanent departmental and agency representation from many cities and towns, particularly in provincial and rural areas. Electronic government provides an alternative way of dealing with government agencies, bringing a virtual government office to every wired household or community.

The electronic revolution in the delivery of government services is expected to lead not only to increased effectiveness, but also to improved efficiency.

Increasingly, people will begin to sift information for themselves and contact officials at a distance using a variety of channels. While these new channels improve governments’ ability to disburse information, they also allow rapid feedback so that policy designers can take account of what the public think.

Innovation options
The Development Goals of the NZ State Services Commission, the Digital Strategy in the portfolio of the NZ Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and innovations New Zealanders have spotted at home and abroad provide yet more e-government options.

The Centre for Citizenship Education continues to seek out e-government and e-democracy ideas as it builds on its 2005 citizenship education networking and scoping.

We have had these links to some online initiatives drawn to our attention, in turn, participants in the Centre for Citizenship Education, and the DecisionMaker online project, might wish to develop them further:

e-Petitions
http://www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/get_involved/parliament/index.html
This link is to the Queensland GetInvolved website which contains
numerous resources and opportunities for participation online, including e-petitions.

BBC in Action
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/
The BBC runs the non-partisan site Action Network as an open forum for people to influence issues they care about.

Action Network has been awarded top place in the World Forum on e-Democracy's list of the Top Ten Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics.

UK Local e-Democracy National Project
http://www.e-democracy.gov.uk
On that UK site a New Zealander came across the HeadsUp online debating space for under 18s to share their views on political issues and events.

Through the forums, HeadsUp aims to build young people's levels of political awareness and participation so that they can play an
effective role in the democractic processes affecting their lives.

HeadsUp is also a space politicians can use to consult with young
people and find out their ideas, experiences and opinions.
http://www.headsup.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s5

UN, and national, sources of e-government readiness
The United Nations/Queensland Government Engaging Communities Conference was held in Brisbane in 2005.

The United Nations’ provides evaluation for e-government readiness among 191 countries. The U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) announces an ``E-government Readiness Index Ranking’’ every year since 2002 to evaluate member nations’ use of their Web sites and IT in administering state affairs.

The agency, whose mission is to promote higher standards of living around the world also examines each country’s information and communication infrastructure, including the extent of wireless communication and broadband networks, and human resources engaged in the IT sector.

A ranking index also reports on e-business....http://www.ebusinessforum.com/index.asp?layout=rich_story&doc_id=6427

Search the internet for e-democracy and e-government
You can source a wide range of online information about various
e-participation and e-democracy global initiatives via the Internet.

Content and links updated 21 December 2005