Foreword

All around the world e-government is revolutionising our understanding of how government works and the quality of what it can deliver to people. This is happening because the Internet has changed the way organisations, communities and individuals learn, work and interact.

Turning government into e-government is essential if New Zealand's public sector is going to maintain its high quality performance in the information age. The Government recognised this, in May 2000, with our vision for e-government:

New Zealanders will be able to gain access to government information and services and participate in our democracy using the Internet, telephones and other technologies as they emerge.

Creating e-government is a key to our future social well-being through its focus on better understanding and meeting individual New Zealander's needs and creating opportunities for greater public participation in government and democratic processes.

It is also critical for New Zealand's future economic performance. Government is a big part of the economy so it is important that modern technology is harnessed to increase its efficiency and improve its quality, at the same time minimising the costs it imposes.

This strategy sets out an operational vision for e-government:

New Zealand will be a world leader in e-government.

The vision is supported by the following mission:

By 2004 the Internet will be the dominant means of enabling ready access to government information, services and processes.

E-government is not just about the public service. Although achieving the strategy's goals is the formal responsibility of the public service, e-government has a much wider focus. Crown entities and other state sector organisations will be encouraged to participate in the strategy. Local government will be invited to take up the opportunities and challenges presented by e-government and I hope it will work in partnership with central government so collectively we can serve people better.

I am excited about what this e-government strategy can achieve. I commend it to all New Zealanders whether they work in government or want to know how government will work for them in future.

Hon Trevor Mallard

Minister of State Services

"We have accepted that globalisation is an inexorable process and we either get wired up and innovative or our living standards slide. We live in a fast-paced world and New Zealand is getting on with turning its small size and flexibility to great advantage. This means being as nimble and high-tech as the yachts that have brought us America's Cup glory"

-Prime Minister Rt Hon Helen Clark, "The Sydney Morning Herald", 26 November 2000.

"Our e-government vision is to use information and communications technologies to provide better government services and information electronically and to build a closer relationship between government and citizens. It is an important part of the future of democracy."

-Hon Trevor Mallard, Minister of State Services, keynote address at the Government Information Systems Forum Conference, May 2000.

"At a third of GDP, government activity is a huge part of the economy. It is therefore essential that government walk the talk. Government will lead by example through e-government... In this context the government is committed to using online technologies to deliver better quality, cheaper and faster services to its citizens, as well as providing opportunities for New Zealand businesses..."

-Hon Paul Swain, Minister for Information Technology, keynote address at e-commerce summit, Auckland, November 2000.

Governments around the world are responding to the information age society and New Zealand is no exception. The key forces of change - including globalisation, the rise of knowledge economies and new technology - are transforming the relationship between government, business and society. Public attitudes and expectations of government are changing quickly. It is clear government must change the way it relates to its customers. This is the New Zealand Government's strategy to deliver e-government over the next 14 months as part of its long-term vision.