Authentication Policy
The Authentication Programme began in 2000 with the aim of determining what Government could do to help people more conveniently and securely authenticate themselves when transacting with government agencies using the Internet.
In the first few years, the Authentication Programme focussed on
policy development, high-level design work, and public consultation.
This policy-led approach has led to the development of a uniquely New
Zealand approach to authentication that leverages international best
practice.
Following consultation with a range of public interest groups and
agencies, the policy and implementation
principles approved by Cabinet in 2002 continue to be the
foundation on which later work has developed and will continue to play
a central role in directing the future vision of the Authentication
Programme.
The principles were the basis for four conceptual models that were developed in late 2002 to represent the possible ways to achieve a consistent approach to online authentication. These models were analysed to determine the implications of each approach and feedback was also sought via a public consultation.
This led to a decision by the Government in June 2003 to proceed with designing an all-of-government authentication solution. Since then, work has progressed in phases on Authentication Standards and development of all-of-government authentication services (Government Logon Service, Identity Verification Service, and Future Services).
Key documents that were published during this stage of the Authentication Programme include:
