Frequently Asked Questions
Why RSS?
EGU selected RSS V1.0 as a standard format for news feeds and syndication because:
- RSS V1.0 is XML based; RSS V2.0 does not use XML or RDF
- RSS V1.0 uses XML Namespace and RDF based modularisation: RSS V0.9 uses XML, but not XML Namespace or RDF modularisation
- RSS has been adopted in other overseas government initiatives, including United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada
- RSS is compatible with the RDF, XML and Core Dublin standards included in NZGLS/Metalogue
- The proof of concept of RSS was established in a pilot project in 2003/04 involving over 2000 news feeds
The complete proposal for adoption of RSS V1.0 is set out in the A Request For Comment: Proposed standard for New Zealand e-GIF RDF Site Summary for publishing Government news.
Which fields are required within a RSS item?
The following fields are the minimum:
- <title>
- <link>
- <nzgls:date.valid>
- <nzgls:identifier>
- <nzgls:type.agency>
More elements may be added. For example, the <description> element makes an item more useful.
What is the <nzgls:identifier> field used for?
This field provides each item with a unique identifier, used to check for updates to a given item. It should consist of:
- The date
- A sequence number
- An abbreviated agency or unit name
These three parameters, in this order, ensure the identifier is unique.
What happens to items with a future start date?
An item with a future start date in the <nzgls:date.valid> element is not published, nor available in the aggregated output, until that date and time.
Do items with an expired end date get deleted?
An item with an expired end date in the <nzgls:date.valid> element is not shown on the most recent list of articles. It is moved to the archive section of the aggregator. Expired items do not appear in the aggregated output.
What can I do if I need an item that expired today?
The expiry date of the item in the feed can change. When the item on the aggregator is synchronised with the item in the news-feed, it will immediately acquire the new expiry date.
How long should an item keep appearing within my news-feed?
An item should appear in the news-feed for at least seven days. This ensures items are never missed, even if there are service disruptions or “acts of God”. A simpler solution is to ensure that the 10 most recent items are always present in your news-feed.
Why are <nzgls> elements used rather than <dc> elements?
The NZGLS metadata standard is the official New Zealand government standard for creating discovery-level metadata. It is closely based on two well-established standards: the Dublin Core (DC) Metadata Element Set and the Australian Government Locator Service (AGLS). NZGLS elements are used in preference to Dublin Core elements for government-specific information.
How much content should go into a <description>?
This is up to the news-feed provider to decide. The description should include enough information so that the item is complete and the reader can determine what the item is about. The description can contain the entire content, partial content or a summary of the content of the item.
Which encoding scheme should be used?
The item should use UTF-8 encoding. This means that all characters with an ASCII value higher than 127 are encoded as double byte sequences or as “&#{NUMBER}”. Special characters like “&” should be encoded using the “&#{NUMBER}” notation.
What does 'Recommended Standard' mean?
You are strongly urged to use recommended standards. You do not have to take any action unless you are implementing new systems or upgrading existing systems and processes. You must be aware that a recommended standard is likely to become a mandatory standard in due time. Your agency is likely to benefit from adopting the standard now, rather than waiting for it to become mandatory.
For help with terminology and abbreviations, see RSS Glossary.
