Agency presentation - November 2005

The NZ Government Web Guidelines

Help people access your information and services

The Guidelines…

• In 2001 the first version of the Web Guidelines were created based on the UK Guidelines
• In 2003 following a public consultation process version 2 was created and the mandatory status agreed by Cabinet
• In 2004 a review of the guidelines was completed and version 2.1 was created
• In 2006 following a public consultation process version 3  of the Web Guidelines will be created and published

Why Guidelines?

• To ensure that as many New Zealanders as possible, regardless of physical or technical capability, or location can access government information and services via the Internet
• We needed to establish principles for creation and  maintenance of Government websites
• The Guidelines cite industry best practice and established technical standards
• The Guidelines are part of the e-GIF  Programme
• The Guidelines are part of meeting the State Services Development Goal: "Use technology to transform the provision of services for New Zealanders"

Current Activities:

• Our websites must be compliant
• We will seek an exemption for all non-compliant content
• We will have plans in place to convert non-compliant content
• Our CE’s are aware of the state of our websites compliance

E-GIF Umbrella Exemption

• Maps and Photos
• Documents authored and owned by third parties
• Documents where there are legal requirements to provide it in a specific format

E-GIF alternative access measures

1. Provide text descriptions of images
2. Provide an HTML paragraph that describes the key   messages of the document
3. Provide or link the page to a “contact us” or contact “X”
4. Provide a  disclaimer on that particular web page or on the home page
5. Offer “on demand” conversion in the format requested by the client

Current SSC Activities

• Update Web site
• Proactively visiting Agencies
• Exploring the option of providing a Test Environment
• Continue to review checklist

What happens beyond January 2006?

• Agencies will be required to self assess against the checklist by 30 April 2006
• An SSC report will be completed outlining a baseline of compliance across the mandated Government  Agencies
• A rewrite of the Web Guidelines will commence Feb 06
• An Accessibility assessment will be completed Sept 2006

2006 – 2007 Future Activities

Regular Review Cycle

Web Guidelines     

• Review        Jan – June
• Consult        Jul -  Oct
• Publish        Nov – Dec
• Adhere        Jan

Self Assess against Checklist

• Assess        Jan – April
• Report        May – June

External Accessibility Assessment

• Assess        Sept – Oct
• Report        Nov - Dec

To Summarise…

• 1 January 2006 deadline cannot be changed
• We need to have a plan in place to convert all our non-compliant material
• We will be expected to do an audit of ALL our websites and report to SSC by 30 April 06
• Opportunity to input into a new version of the Web Guidelines during the first half of 2006
• There will be a regular review cycle for the Web Guidelines, auditing our websites and an accessibility assessment
• Must think accessibility accessibility accessibility