2 Guiding Principles

The following principles guide how the e-GIF is to be developed in the future, and define how agencies are expected to respond to it.

2.1 Purpose

The purpose of the e-GIF is to create a common basis across government for the cost-effective delivery of e-government to the public and business, and between government agencies. The design and content of e-GIF is driven by the need to enable inter-agency electronic business arrangements. Its primary value results from its application by agencies as part of their e-government efforts.

2.2 Usage

Subject to Cabinet agreement, mandatory adoption of the e-GIF will be required of:

• Agencies listed in the first schedule of the State Sector Act 1988;

• The New Zealand Defence Force

• The New Zealand Police

• The Government Communications Security Bureau

• The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service

• The Parliamentary Counsel Office

• The Office of the Clerk

• Parliamentary Services

• Offices of Parliament

Organisations in the wider State sector are encouraged to use the e-GIF. Local government is invited to use the e-GIF.

The e-GIF is open to use by non-government organisations, the business community, and the general public. It is also open to use by other jurisdictions.

2.3 Alignment with international environment

The e-GIF provides a framework that facilitates business solutions between agencies at a national level. It must also contribute to this across national borders. To meet this objective, design and maintenance of the e-GIF will ensure that it provides government agencies with a supportive framework that is aligned with the international environment of interoperability policies standards and guidelines.

The e-GIF is based on the use and adoption of internationally accepted standards; as such bespoke policies, standards and guidelines (i.e. those written by the NZ Government) will only be developed where deemed strictly necessary. Wherever feasible and relevant the e-GIF:

• utilise existing information and technology policies, standards and guidelines [ See glossary] that are proving useful in the New Zealand public sector;

• mirror established and open international standards for interoperability (where relevant to NZ); and

• draw upon the interoperability Framework developed in other jurisdictions [e.g. The UK Government's E-government Interoperability Framework (UK e-GIF)].

2.4 Governance of the e-GIF

The e-GIF is an important public asset. The value of the asset must be maximised and maintained across time. A key to this is the governance arrangements that surround the e-GIF. The design of these arrangements will reflect the following key principles:

• The principles of ownership, stewardship and custodianship developed as part of the Policy Framework for Government-held Information should be reflected in the design of governance arrangements for e-government infrastructure

• Clarity of roles, responsibilities and accountabilities, and transparency of decision-making processes is essential.

• Consistency with legal arrangements, and prevailing conventions and practices of governance in the public sector is required.

• Balancing of the collective interests of government with the needs of individual agencies and their stakeholders must be possible.

• Development and implementation processes should be inclusive and as consensual as possible.

• Gaining confidence in, and commitment to, the e-GIF from its stakeholders is important.

Management of the e-GIF in a live environment forms part of the wider e-government programme initiative to determine governance of all operational components arising from the various projects. This initiative is in its early stages.

2.5 e-GIF enhances the capability of agencies

Use of the e-GIF provides an environment whereby government agencies can be more efficient through using the same standards and information exchange environments in different projects and with different agencies. This in turn enhances the value these agencies provide to their stakeholders. To assist agencies in capturing the benefits of the e-GIF, all interoperability policies, standards and guidelines will be clearly defined, beneficial, applicable to agencies of any size, and formulated to encourage good practice.

2.6 e-GIF complies with legislation

The e-GIF will comply with all relevant NZ legislation and Government policy. In particular, personal privacy and the security of data and information held by government are paramount, and are not to be compromised by the design or application of the e-GIF.