16. Site Layout
16.1 Links to homepage of “Main” agency web site
Any web site owned by the agency that is not the 'Main' web site of the agency (defined as an 'Other' web site of the agency) has a link, as a minimum from the homepage, to the homepage of the 'Main' agency web site.
Note: ‘Main’ and ‘Other’ web sites of an agency are defined in the Glossary of Key Concepts.
Guide to this standard
It must be clear which agency is administering a web site. For example, Studylink and Office for Disability Issues (ODI) are web sites administered by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). The Studylink and ODI sites contain links back to the main agency (MSD) web site.
Related Standard
16.2 - Minimum content of homepages.
Rationale for this standard
Any NZ Government agency site must be clear as to which agency is hosting the site.
All sites will ultimately relate back to a principal “root” of the agency.
16.2 Minimum content of homepages
All homepages contain the following as a minimum:
- Contact Us. This can be a content header or a link to a page titled "Contact Us". The associated content includes full contact details, including contacts for feedback and complaints.
- Link to the all-of-government portal (refer to http://www.govt.nz/linking for details)
- About this Site. This can be a content header or a link to a page titled "About this Site". The content within “About this Site” is specified in 16.3.
- At least the name and/or the logo of the agency.
Note: ‘Homepage’ is defined in the Glossary of Key Concepts.
Guide to this standard
Contact details should include phone and fax numbers, physical and postal addresses and email address(es) or online enquiry forms. Explicit invitations should be made to submit feedback and complaints about the web site or overall agency comments.
The link to the all-of-government portal can be text or an image (logo), however the text or logo used should be that provided in the page http://www.govt.nz/linking
Related Standard(s)
16.1 - Links to homepage of “Main” agency web site
16.3 – Minimal content within “About this Site”
Rationale for this standard
Provides consistency across all NZ Government web sites – users will find these links and/or sections on all such sites.
In the case of any parts of an agency’s site that are inaccessible to certain users for whatever reason, which prevents those users from accessing the information they require or completing an online transaction, it is important to provide contact details to the agency to enable such users to obtain the information and/or complete a transaction by other means.
It is acknowledged that most NZ Government agencies have a logo familiar to the NZ public, in some cases the logo being more recognisable than the agency name. By this reasoning, either the name in text and/or the agency logo as a minimum is required.
16.3 Minimum content within “About this Site”
The content of the section or page titled "About this Site" contains (as a minimum):
- "Site Owner". The associated content contains (as a minimum):
-
- a link back to the main agency web site
- site owner name (can contain a logo, but a logo alone is insufficient)
- "Accessibility". This can be a content header or a link to a page titled "Accessibility". The associated content contains (as a minimum):
-
- Access Keys, refer standard 8.4
- Other information detailing navigational aids within the site is preferred.
- "Copyright". This can be a content header or a link to a
page titled "Copyright".
If the agency is providing a general crown copyright statement, it is expected to reside here, refer standard 16.5 for further detail. - "Privacy". This can be a content header or a link to a page
titled "Privacy".
The associated content contains (as a minimum): -
- A privacy statement, refer standard 16.7.
Guide to this standard
A general crown copyright statement is to be provided in the “Copyright” page, or content section on the agency web sites within “About this Site”, as required in standard 16.3 - Minimum content within “About this Site”.
Related Standard(s)
8.4 - Navigation Access keys used within the site.
16.2 - Minimum content of homepages.
Related Recommendation
Rationale for this standard
Provides consistency across all NZ Government web sites – users will find these links and/or sections on all such sites.
16.4 Minimum content within “Main” agency web site
A homepage in the ‘Main’ agency web site must have "About Us" or "About <Agency Name>".
This can be a content header or a link to a page titled "About Us" or "About <Agency Name>".
Mandatory content within the “About Us" section or the "About <Agency Name>" page contains (as a minimum):
- agency purpose
- a list of Minister(s) (or Mayor) relevant to the agency
- agency accountability documents
- a list of responsibilities for each of the relevant Ministers. The primary objective is defining what the ministers do for the agency.
- a list of links to the biographies (on http://www.beehive.govt.nz or equivalent) for each of the relevant Ministers.
- a list of legislation or by-laws for which the agency has lead responsibility
Note: ‘Main’ agency web site is defined in the Glossary of Key Concepts.
Guide to this standard
This constitutes minimal requirements regarding the content contained within or under “About Us”/"About <Agency Name>". Other relevant information about the agency can also be on this page or in this section. Agencies should consider placing links to other primary sources of information relevant to the agency’s functions (such as clearly defining the services provided by the agency).
It should always be clear which organisation is accountable for the site.
The definition of ‘homepage’ for NZ government agency web sites is in the Glossary of Key Concepts.
Related Standard(s)
16.1 - Links to homepage of “Main” agency web site
16.2 - Minimum content of homepages
Rationale for this standard
Provides consistency across all NZ Government web sites – users will find these links and/or sections on all such sites and thus the relevant information therein.
16.5 Crown Copyright
Every web site under ownership of the agency must contain a Crown copyright statement which states (as a minimum) that:
- the material on the web site is protected by crown copyright, and
- anyone can utilise any of the material available on the web site free of charge and without permission of the agency provided that:
-
- The material is not altered
- -The source and copyright status of the material is acknowledged
Any content item and/or downloadable item on the site that the agency deems to fall outside the above (i.e., outside of crown copyright) must be stated as such, together with the item.
A general crown copyright statement is to be provided in the “Copyright” page or content section on the agency web sites within “About this Site”, as required in standard 16.3 - Minimum content within “About this Site”.
Guide to this standard
Agencies can assert their own copyright and/or alter the terms of the copyright statement.
Related Standard(s)
16.6 – Copyright of third parties
16.3 - Minimum content within “About this Site”
Rationale for this standard
Agencies are obliged by government mandate to disclaim crown copyright.
16.6 Copyright of third parties
Any web site under ownership of the agency that contains third party material, which in part or whole is copyright material, must have the permission from the copyright owner to use.
Source and copyright status of the material on the web site, such that there is no ambiguity as to which item(s) of material on the web site the copyright pertains.
A statement must also be made (on the agency web site) that permission to utilise such material cannot be given by the agency.
It is also acceptable to have a general copyright statement for all material covered in the site. However, in this case the onus is on the agency to ensure that no qualifying material on the site falls outside of the statement, or material that does fall outside of the general statement has its own custom copyright statement associated with it.
Guide to this standard
The agency is obliged to seek permission to use such material from the copyright owners in cases that qualify under this standard.
Such material on an agency’s web site includes
- that presented as content items sourced from a third party
- downloadable items sourced from a third party
- links to web sites outside the ownership of the agency
- content “pulled-in” from web sites outside the ownership of the agency
If a general copyright statement is provided, it should be provided in the “Copyright” page or content section on the agency web sites within “About this Site”, as required in standard 16.3 - Minimum content within “About this Site”.
Related Standard(s)
16.3 - Minimum content within “About this Site”.
Rationale for this standard
Agencies are obliged by government mandate to disclaim copyright of material utilised by the agency which has not been created by the agency nor under ownership of the agency.
16.7 Privacy Statement
Every page within a web site (including a home page) under ownership of the agency must link to a privacy notice. The text of the link includes the word ‘privacy’.
Guide to this standard
A web site can supplement privacy information contained within a privacy notice with additional targeted privacy messages e.g. where the web site collects information by means of a form.
The agency is expected to have a principal privacy notice, as content or a link to a dedicated privacy page, within “About this Site”, as required in standard 16.3.
Related Standard(s)
8.3 - Compulsory links on every web page
16.3 - Minimum content within “About this Site”
Rationale for this standard
A privacy notice must communicate information clearly and comprehensively about the handling of personal information. This standard provides a government mandate that agencies are obliged to provide a privacy notice and assists with compliance with the
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