New Zealand - Overview

What is the level of Government Online adoption?

40% of those living in the New Zealand have used the Internet to access Government Online (GO) over the last twelve months. This represents over half (55%) of those who used the Internet within the last month. Internet usage was measured at 71%.

The major Government Online use is Information Seeking (36%). 12% of New Zealanders have Downloaded forms to later submit by post or fax (Downloaders), 8% have Provided personal details to Government over the Internet (Providers), and 6% have Transacted by using the Internet to pay for Government services or products involving the use of a credit card or bank account number (Transactors). The least used Government Online service is Consulting (4%), that is using the Internet to express a point of view or participate in community consultations with Government.

Who is using Government Online?

Incidence of Government Online is strongest among those aged 20-39 years (20-29 years 52% and 30-39 years 55%). Males (45%) are significantly more likely to use Government Online (45%) than females (35%).

Usage increases with income with 69% of New Zealanders with household incomes over $100 000 using Government Online. Similarly, usage increases with education level (up to 68% of those University educated).

New Zealanders with school age children in the household just as likely to use Government Online services as those without.

Is security a barrier to using Government Online?

Nearly one-third (31%) of New Zealanders consider it safe* to use the Internet to provide the Government with personal information. 64% consider it as unsafe*. The perception of ‘safe’ is higher among those who have used the Internet (38%) in the past month than those who have not (14%), and significantly higher among males (40%) than females (22%). Perceptions of safety are more common among those under the age of 39, and similar to GO incidence the perception of safe increases as income increases, and among higher levels of education.

Downloaders were more likely to consider it safe to provide personal information to Government over the Internet (59%) than other service users. Transactors, Providers and Information Seekers had similar perception of ‘safe’ (44%-45%), with Consulters (39% safe) the most concerned with safety out of the Government Online users. Comparatively, non-users had significantly higher levels of concern (21% safe; 73% unsafe) which could indicate that security concerns are a barrier to uptake.

How is New Zealand placed internationally?

New Zealand had the highest level of Internet penetration (71%) out of the 31 countries surveyed. Penetration of Government Online was of a high level (40%) comparatively, with New Zealand 11th in the countries surveyed and above the global average of 30%. However, among Internet users using Government Online services, New Zealand was below the global average of 61% (at 55%). The perception of ‘safe’ in providing personal information to Government over the Internet in New Zealand (31%) is above the country average of 23%, with the perception of ‘unsafe’ at similar levels to average (64% compared to 63% average).

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