Introduction

E-government has succeeded in promoting change and harnessing technology - using network technologies has become part of the day-to-day business of government.  The challenge now is to maintain this momentum and seize the opportunities technology offers to transform the way government works with and for New Zealanders.

This third update of the E-government Strategy builds on the progress made over the last five years, and the launch of the Digital Strategy and Development Goals for the State Services in 2005 - both have changed the strategic environment for e-government.  Recent moves to encourage the delivery of faster, cheaper broadband have also provided an impetus to use network technologies to encourage innovation and add value.

The 2001 E-government Strategy, together with the 2003 review, highlighted the ways government could use the Internet to increase the value of services it provided to New Zealanders.  Government agencies have increased their focus on the Internet as a channel for publishing information, and for delivering interactive services.

Central and local government agencies are now working together to deliver transformed services which link services provided by different parts of government.  This cooperative service delivery provides further opportunities to reduce compliance costs, improve effectiveness, and in the process, improve users satisfaction and the value they receive.  This collaboration is expanding to include all levels of central and local government as services are designed and delivered to meet users needs.

But the transactional nature of providing government information and services to New Zealanders is only one aspect of e-government.  Equally important is the growing part people are playing in policy development and delivery, and in contributing and using information.

Technological innovation is transforming our world and New Zealanders expect government to interact with them in new ways.  This means using network technologies that people are familiar with in other parts of their lives - social networking websites and tools like blogs, wikis, and folksonomies - and the full range of digital channels - mobile phones, instant messaging, podcasts and digital TV, as well as Internet pathways.

This refresh of the E-government Strategy goes beyond its predecessors in focusing on the inevitability of technological change and the need for government to recognise and meet the challenges this provides.  At the same time government must remain inclusive, making sure those who cannot or will not use the new technologies can still be engaged.

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