Who the Digital Strategy is for

The Digital Strategy is about creating a digital future for all New Zealanders. ICT offers new ways of connecting people, strengthening communities of all kinds, enhancing the democratic process, and opening the door to new opportunities. We want our future to be one of digital opportunity for all New Zealanders.

We can use the power of technology to connect people to the things that matter most to them, express our creative talents, celebrate the unique culture of Māori, and strengthen our links to our South Pacific neighbours. Technology holds the potential to include all people and communities more fully in our national life. But misused, without due attention, it can increase barriers that already exist.

The Digital Strategy recognises the importance of working with Māori to assist Māori, as individuals or collectives, to achieve their goals for the use of ICT, in light of these goals’ importance for social, cultural, and economic expression and development. Māori culture is a vital part of what distinguishes New Zealand from the rest of the world. ICT can be used to help create the conditions for the realisation of the diverse forms of Māori potential. It is crucial for the future of Māori and of New Zealand as a whole that distinctively Māori voices are encouraged and promoted.

Concerted action

Collaboration and partnerships will be essential in implementing the Digital Strategy. We already have good models of collaboration to build upon. Project PROBE⁷, and the evolving regional networks around PROBE, have not only shown many people the importance of broadband as an enabler but have been delivering the benefits of connection to communities throughout the country. The success of Project PROBE and our work on Connecting Communities have demonstrated the importance of taking a partnership approach.

There are many other examples led by the private sector, such as Cisco System’s Networking Academy Program (see Communities section) or the Vodafone NZ Foundation. The ‘Connected Lives’ initiative led by Telecom New Zealand and Hewlett-Packard New Zealand is designed to stimulate public interest in broadband, which is closely related to the Digital Strategy goal of raising people’s awareness of the potential of ICT. The Telecommunications Users’ Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) and others have done much to promote the potential benefits of broadband and its impact on business sectors.

Similarly, there are exciting initiatives promoted by community ICT trusts, not-for-profit organisations such as the Internet Safety Group, and regional and local groups. Internet New Zealand is exploring with partners the establishment of a Digital Opportunities Foundation to support public-good ICT projects. Christchurch South Library is another good example of collaboration.

How we deliver the Digital Strategy and how well we succeed will depend on the commitment of businesses and community stakeholders.

The government has committed up to $400 million to digital programmes, including about $60 million of new funding in this year’s Growth and Innovation Framework. This includes $44.7 million in contestable seed funding to implement key partnership initiatives in two streams:

• the Broadband Challenge ($24 million), to enable affordable broadband roll-out based on competitive open-access principles
• the Community Partnership Fund ($20.7 million), to support grassroots initiatives that will build ICT skills in communities and regions, and help create distinctive New Zealand content.

It is important that we keep all the dimensions of the Digital Strategy in line. Content, Connection, and Confidence are the three enablers. Connection is necessary but not sufficient – it simply provides the means. Confidence gives us the skills and a secure online environment, whilst accessing or creating Content provides a compelling reason to make it happen.

Government, business, and communities are the agents of change and their initiatives all impact upon each other. Whilst we set out below some issues that relate specifically to communities and businesses, including not-for-profit organisations, they are clearly interwoven. Since the full benefits of ICT can only be realised when everyone is able to participate, we have emphasised the importance of partnership and collaboration.

This is therefore a document for all New Zealanders. By working together, we can make it happen.

⁷ See www.probe.govt.nz.

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