Letter to Minister of State Services

Hon Jonathan Coleman
Minister of State Services
Parliament Buildings
Wellington 6160

20 December 2011

Our Digital Future

Dear Minister,

Congratulations on your appointment as Minister of State Services, Minister of Defence and Associate Minister of Finance.

The mission of InternetNZ is to protect and promote the Internet for New Zealanders. As a charitable, independent and open membership body representing New Zealanders’ best interests, we are keen to work with you to realise the Government’s vision of “a safe, prosperous and successful New Zealand that creates opportunities for all New Zealanders to reach their personal goals and dreams”.

We believe that the election commitment to a five-point action plan “to realise the economic, social, and productivity benefits spanning E-education, E-health, E-government, E-business, and E-development” will significantly contribute to the achievement of the Government’s vision.

Clearly, the E-government portion of this five-point plan is relevant to your State Services portfolio. In this regard, we particularly support the Government’s commitment to “ensure that public services are modern and responsive” by seeking “new and better ways to deliver public services, including more effective use of technology”. In so doing, InternetNZ recommends that the Government consider the need for such services to be user-centric while also cutting across departmental structures. InternetNZ further recommends that the Government promote the use and take up of its existing digital public services alongside the development of new ones.

Prior to the elections, we published Future: Digital, a discussion-starter on Internet and digital-related priorities for an incoming Government. The document was well received, and it is relevant to a number of areas covered by your ministerial portfolios. I enclose a copy for your reference.

Areas in addition to the Government’s election agenda that are highlighted in Future: Digital include the Government’s adoption of an “open by default” standard. For example, all Cabinet papers, briefing papers and Official Information Act requests and responses, could be published online. This is but one step that the Government can take to develop a genuine two-way dialogue with the public online, resulting in increased trust and continued evolution of the relationship between the people and the Government.
 
On a final note, last year we organized the inaugural NetHui, a unique conference and participatory event built around multiple discussion streams relating to the Internet in New Zealand. Last year’s NetHui drew over 500 people from across a wide array of sectors and communities. Hon Bill English and Hon Steven Joyce delivered keynote addresses. Several other ministers and parliamentarians also attended and participated in the discussions. NetHui 2012 will take place from 11th to 13th July. We would very much like for you to attend and shall liaise with your office about this possibility.

If you wish, I am available to meet to discuss these or any other issues relating to the Internet in New Zealand.

Yours sincerely,

Vikram Kumar
Chief Executive