New Zealand Secure Email Systems

10 April 2005

In 2000, the New Zealand government implemented Internet security standards (S/MIME) to secure messages sent over the Internet between government agencies. This initiative became known as the SEEMail standard. SEEMail is currently used by over forty government agencies as a means for the secure exchange of email and attachments using the Internet.

In 2004, the E-government Unit initiated a project, SecureMail, to extend the SEEMail concept, to include secure email communications between government, businesses and people. The SecureMail project developed a set of complementary requirements, to enable the functioning of SecureMail, alongside SEEMail.

This wider system is termed the 'New Zealand Secure Email' system. The requirement changes being notified to existing SEEMail participants are necessary to enable this new environment, and thereby offer the opportunity of secure email to New Zealand business and people.

• Note that the new requirements will not come into force immediately. They will be put in place once:
• a product is formally accredited to the requirements;
• the Crown has given further notice that the new version will come into effect; and
• the Crown has given further notice when previous versions will be withdrawn.

We will be providing opportunities for vendors to discuss the requirements at three meetings on 28 April, 24 May and 21 June 2005. Anyone else is welcome to submit comment via the Consultation feedback form.

Please Note:

These are considered to be special purpose documents for Secure Email vendors, and are therefore posted in the following formats.

Download the Requirements document in Word [416 KB] or PDF [213 KB]

Download the Consultation feedback form in Word [43 KB] or PDF [11 KB]