Media statements - Government continues to promote

Media statement

Government continues to promote accessible websites

12 Dec 2001

The E-government Unit is continuing to promote the New Zealand Government Web Guidelines. The first version has been available since August 2001 after several months of consultation with government and non-government organisations, steered by Government Information Systems Managers (GOVIS).

The main focus of the guidelines is to ensure that government websites take into consideration those with older technology and software, low bandwidth and disabilities. They also promote plain language and good practice information architecture on websites.

Brendan Boyle, Director of the E-government Unit, says that the guidelines are more concerned with leading the way towards website accessibility, rather than being prescriptive of specific technologies, though they identify which technologies are believed to support specific aspects of accessibility.

"Over the next 6 months we are going to review agencies' experience of building websites within the guidelines to determine where they need refining. We are still considering the possibility of mandating use of the guidelines across government, but right now the focus is on ensuring they are usable."

Boyle also points out that while some decision-making for website development can be slower, when having to also consider the guidelines, feedback from agencies so far suggests that it forces a discipline in thinking and keeps accessibility at the forefront. In the end, if you are going to have investment in a website and all the management processes that sit behind it, there's little point if the intended audience can't use it.

For more information see
http://www.e-government.govt.nz/web-guidelines/

Contact: Brendan Boyle, Director E-government Unit (04 495 6719)
Contact for technical content: Mark Harris, NZGO Website Manager (04 495 6617)