FAQs
Updated May 2004
If you have a question about online authentication for e-government please email authentication@ssc.govt.nz. Answers to questions of common concern will be added to this page.
How many people access government services online?
A recent survey found 75 per cent of those surveyed in New Zealand had used the Internet in the previous month, an increase from 71 per cent in 2002. New Zealand's usage rate was the highest of the 32 countries surveyed (which include Australia and the United States)
How many services currently require online authentication?
More and more government services are being brought online all the time. Over a third of all government services require authentication and online authentication will be needed for those services to be delivered via the internet. This figure is likely to rise as agencies meet increasing demand for more sophisticated delivery of online services.
Do I get to choose to use online authentication?
Yes. There are a number of ways to receive government services, including via the internet. However, if you want to access certain government services online, you will have to use the proposed online authentication system. Registering for online authentication means you’ll have an additional, more convenient way to contact government departments when you need to.
Will the State Services Commission continue to consult with interested groups during the next design phase?
Yes. The E-government Unit of the State Services Commission has had valuable input from a variety of community, voluntary and business groups throughout the project. Further input from groups, particularly those that have expressed a particular interest, will be sought to ensure the solution takes account of the views of the people who will eventually use the system.
How would an all-of-government authentication solution work?
A summary paper explaining the proposed processes for all-of-government authentication is available here http:www.e.govt.nz/docs/authent-processes-200312/index
If I enrol for online authentication then will all government agencies know all of my information?
No. The authentication model does not allow all government agencies or any one agency to know all of your personal information. In order to register for an online credential, you will only have to provide enough information to the authentication agency so that you can be uniquely identified, such as name, date and place of birth. The detail on the identity information required for registration will be determined in the design phase.
Will the proposed authentication system mean members of the public must have an ID card?
The work completed since the public consultation has confirmed that whole of government authentication can be implemented without introducing national ID cards.
Will the proposed system do away with established customer numbers like those used by Inland Revenue and in the health sector?
No. The proposed system allows people to apply for a credential to use online. The credential simply allows the agency to identify them uniquely and to find the agency’s own records for that customer.
Why does government need a new authentication model when models such as Internet banking are already in place?
One of the key differences between government services and the services provided by private sector agencies is that in many cases you do not have a choice as to whether or not you deal with government. Also, the types of services that government provides, such as healthcare and welfare, means that government agencies often have to hold more personal information about you than private companies do for their business. A consistent approach to all-of-government authentication needs to reflect these differences.
