Do citizens see Government Online as safe to use?

- Over one-third (35%) of New Zealanders consider it safe (nett of 'Very Safe' and 'Safe') to use the Internet to provide the Government with personal information such as a credit card number, a bank account number or salary amount. This is an increase from 31% in 2002. 59% consider it as unsafe, a significant decrease from 64% in 2002. New Zealand is well above the country average of the perception of "safety" (25%) and is similar to the to the country average (58%) of those who perceive it is "unsafe" to provide personal information to Government online. Less people in New Zealand were unsure (6%) compared to the country average of 17%.

- The perception of :safe" is continues to be significantly higher among those who have used the Internet (43%) in the past month than those who have not (12%), with non-Internet users remaining more likely to feel 'Very Unsafe' (43%) than users (25%).

- Perceptions of safety remain higher among males (41%) than females, although there has been a significant increase in the perception of "safe" among females since 2002 (from 22% to 29%). The perception of "safe" is highest among those aged 20-29 years (49%) and 30-39 years (42%). There was a significant increase in the feeling of "safe" among 60-69 year olds (from 7% in 2002 to 15% in 2003).

- New Zealanders living in Wellington continue to be more likely to feel 'safe' in providing Government with personal information over the Internet (48%) than others, however there was a significant increase among residents of Auckland feeling "safe" (from 30% in 2002 to 38% in 2003).

- Asians have the highest perception of "safe" (43%) among ethnic groups, although there was a significant increase among New Zealanders/Pakehas (27% to 34% in 2003).

- As incidence does, the perception of 'safe' increases with household income and educational qualifications. Almost two-thirds (64%) of households with income of over $100,000, half (50%) felt 'safe' in providing personal information to Government over the Internet, and half of New Zealanders with University education 52% felt 'safe'. There was a significant increase among households with incomes of less then $30,000 a year (from 15% to 23%) and among those with vocational or technical qualifications (from 30% to 41% in 2003).

- There is little difference in the perception of safe between households with school age children and those without.

- From 2002 to 2003, the perception of safety significantly increased among Transactors (from 44% to 61%), Providers (from 45% to 64%) and Information Seekers (from 44% to 53%). Concerns of safety were less among all groups of Government Online users and continue to be significantly higher and have remained similar among non users (22% safe; 70% unsafe). This reinforces the possibilities of not only security concerns being a barrier to uptake but that safety concerns lessen as online services become more prevalent and routine.