Ministry for the Environment

Ministry for the Environment

Context

The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) is the Government's principal adviser on the New Zealand environment and on international matters that affect the environment. It provides leadership on the environment across central and local government. Day-to-day environmental management is largely the responsibility of regional councils and territorial authorities.

Ministry for the Environment E-government Initiatives

• Website consolidation
• Implement Information Strategy

Summary

Ready Access: MfE's websites and metadata are of a high standard, enabling ready access to the agency's information and services.

Alignment: MfE is effectively using technology to provide information to a wide range of interest groups. Information technology standards and policies are used to ensure information can be integrated and shared, and websites are used to encourage participation in government. Online services are beginning to be offered.

Internet and Communications Technology

MfE's information strategy is nearing completion. The three-year strategy has been designed to ensure alignment between MfE and the E-government Strategy. It identifies key projects and processes needed to improve information management within MfE, including the use of technology and data standards to facilitate interactions between people and processes.

The Ministry uses websites extensively to manage information. In addition to the general website, there are a number of specialist websites that address the information needs of specific projects and interest groups. However, MfE is actively reducing the number of websites it manages to make greater use of branding. Any new websites are anticipated to be for specific audiences who have specific needs.

MfE is responsible for specialist websites, such as 'Oceans Policy' and 'Climate Change Office', as part of its role in leading all of government initiatives. Other websites, such as 'Biodiversity', contain information and content MfE provides, but are managed by other agencies.

MfE has developed a number of websites, such as 'Reduce Your Rubbish', in close consultation with Local Government. Websites have email addresses to encourage feedback, comments, and to enable participation in the projects.

Intellectual property issues are proving to be a complex challenge to implementing e-government, particularly in relation to research.

Internally, staff access to information is a high priority. MfE has recently redeveloped its intranet system (Te Taiao) to provide a 'one-stop-shop' for employees to access information.

Where possible, intranet based systems are built re-using technology code. Technology code sharing with the Department of Conservation has been used for an intranet-based system to track documents. The document tracker supports information sharing with the various Ministers' Offices (i.e. Cabinet papers, Ministerials, Briefing notes, OIA requests and Parliamentary Questions).

Ready Access to Information and Services

Metadata

MfE has 88 metadata records, including 14 services, 73 documents, and an agency record.

Metadata is of a high standard, generally being clear and well written with its audience in mind. Records are at an appropriate level of detail so that MfE's information is easily accessible through the portal. Metadata records are up to date and no broken links were found.

Website Assessment

Websites assessed during May 2004 included:

www.mfe.govt.nz
www.environment.govt.nz
www.smf.govt.nz
www.climatechange.govt.nz
www.oceans.govt.nz
www.reducerubbish.govt.nz
www.4million.org.nz
www.qualityplanning.org.nz

But did not include www.bioethics.org.nz

Overall, MfE's websites are of a high standard.

The strengths of the sites are in accessibility, information and e-services delivery and required government content. In future, the usability of the sites could be improved. The Ministry is currently looking at three of its sites to redesign them or integrate them with other sites.

The information the Ministry is required to provide is readily accessible on its website.

Key quality issues noted during the assessment included:

• Good range, depth and presentation of information and services content.
• Usability and site navigation could be improved for easier use.
• Some required email addresses are missing or were not answered.
• Minor accessibility issues may impede some physically impaired people's access.
• Some documents are in PDF only, excluding people who are unable or unwilling to read this format. However, documents from late 2003 onwards are provided in HTML.
• More links to other related content would be useful.

Alignment With E-government Goals

Convenience and Satisfaction

MfE's websites are designed taking into consideration the information needs of people using the sites.

MfE uses the Internet effectively to advise the public of the services it and other related government agencies provide. Websites have downloadable articles and reports, and recent documents have alternative formats to complement PDFs.

Where possible, online services are being introduced to replace paper-based methods. For example, MfE's Resource Management Act Survey of Local Government will soon become an online process.

Integration and Efficiency

The Ministry is increasingly using technology to gather information directly from other agencies.

MfE contributes information for shared websites and manages websites that source information from other agencies. For example, the Ministry supplies news and consultation items to the government portal using RSS News Feeds.

Participation

Websites are used extensively to encourage people to participate in government. The 'Working With You' section of MfE's website describes in detail the various ways that people can get involved, including consultations, conferences and events, awards, funding, community groups, and educational opportunities.

MfE is actively engaged in using the Shared WorkSpace to involve people in government because it can enable a broad range of people to work on common projects. For example, the Improving the RMA cross-government project is being set up to use the workspace.

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