About The Digital Strategy

The Digital Strategy(2005) is New Zealand’s five year action plan to ensure we maximise the opportunities that Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) bring. It sets out targets and key actions for the next few years where budgets have already been committed.

Vision

Creating Our Digital Future

New Zealand will be a world leader in using information and technology to realise its economic, social, environmental, and cultural goals, to the benefit of all its people.

The Digital Strategy is about how we will create a digital future for all New Zealanders, using the power of information and communications technology (ICT).

The Digital Strategy was launched on 16 May 2005 and is made up of three key enablers.

Content

Information made available through digital networks. "Information" is a broad concept that encompasses national heritage collections, government information, Māori language resources, research databases, traditional cultural products such as literature and history and new cultural products from the creative industries and entertainment, as well as relationships that can be conducted through online facilities (e.g. e-learning, online GST returns or Internet banking). The term also includes the information generated by government, businesses and community organisations.

Confidence

Developing the necessary skills at all ages, in all parts of society, to use and participate in ICT effectively. Such skills include functional and digital literacy and the ability to take part in an interactive electronic environment. Confidence also encompasses the dimension of trust in using ICT and addressing the challenges that may slow ICT uptake such as spam and electronic crime.

Connection

Affordable access to viable ICT infrastructure such as telecommunications networks, computers, mobile phones and other devices.

The Digital Strategy is about considering these three components together. Content provides the reason, confidence provides the skills and trust, and being connected provides the means. The Digital Strategy also recognises that businesses will have different drivers and needs from those of Government and wider Community groups. Our evolving Action Plan takes these differences into account.

To find out what is going on in the world of Government ICT visit one (or all) of these sections:

æ Connection - Broadband, Computers and other electronic Connection devices
æ Content - what we look at, use and do electronically
æ Confidence - knowing how to use ICT and being safe while we do so
æ Government - government focussed ICT development
æ Buisness - ICT development for business
æ Communities - communities, their ICT needs and what is being done