Tikanga
Key Documents
Overview
The report Research of issues for Māori relating to the Online Authentication Project was commissioned by the State Services Commission’s E-government Unit. The report provides a broad overview of the potential issues that may need to be considered as part of the phased implementation of all-of-government authentication. It is an independent report that presents the findings and views of the researchers.
Background
Cabinet agreed in June 2003 to progress with a detailed design and scoping phase for all-of-government authentication . During the public consultation process that had informed that decision, a number of potential Māori tikanga issues were identified as requiring further exploration. In particular it was identified that there was a need to:
- ensure that there is a process for obtaining Māori participation throughout the design, development and deployment of the authentication model;
- determine whether the governance structures that are implemented to support the operation of online authentication should include a Kaitiaki (guiding overview) group that formalises the interest of Māori stakeholders;
- explore the implications of protecting authentication data so that it cannot be used for statistical purposes (for example, to publicise the degree of Māori take-up of online authentication); and
- assess a view that government agencies should not collect or store whakapapa and, if appropriate, ensuring that whakapapa is not included directly in the authentication model.
Following a Hui with Māori stakeholder groups in November 2003, a formal tender process was completed and Paua Interface Limited was commissioned to complete a report that investigated these issues. Paua Interface was also tasked with identifying any other issues that might need to be considered as part of any future implementation phase.
The development of the report has been an independent research exercise that has included completing interviews and a further Hui with representatives from a range of identified Māori stakeholder groups (for example, the Māori Information Technology and Telecommunications Council, New Zealand Māori Internet Society, Te Waka Wahine Wa-Hangarau, the Manukau Urban Māori Authority, Te Wananga-O-Raukawa), and also with staff from selected government agencies (Te Puni Kōkiri, Department of Internal Affairs and the State Services Commission).
The completed report was presented to the State Services Commission in early April 2004. This report was the subject of in-depth discussion by the various reference and governance groups that were in place during the project’s Detailed Design phase . The report was recognised as raising issues that require further exploration and has therefore provided a basis for the phased implementation approach and also for the wider work programme of the E-government Unit.
It is important to note that the Māori issues report was updated by its author in late-May 2004 in preparation for the report’s publication.
Next Steps
This report provides a starting point for progressing further exploration of Māori tikanga issues for future phases of the Authentication Project. This report is not intended to provide a definitive position with regard resolution of any particular issue as it relates to the application of all-of-government online authentication.
It is intended that further work will be progressed with Māori stakeholder groups as part of the Initial Implementation project phase. Please contact the State Services Commission if you are interested in being involved in further discussion around online authentication (authentication@ssc.govt.nz).