Government investment in digital technology

Government investment in digital technology will make it easier for citizens, business and other groups to interact with government and will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of activities, in the ‘back office’ and in frontline areas like health and education. This investment will also encourage innovation, as new procurement guidelines allow local firms that create applications for government to sell and develop these further.

By 2020, through e-government¹ and the redesign of government services, people’s engagement with the government will have been transformed through increasing and innovative use of network technologies. New Zealanders expect, and deserve, 24/7 government that responds to their needs and is open to their ideas. Government will provide secure, personalised interaction between government and individuals, and open up authoritative data sources for others to use, while protecting privacy and the security of information.

In the future, each New Zealander will go to one secure site that will have all their personal information and a record of their interactions with government services. People will be able to enter recent changes, keeping track of their own history and keeping all parties up-to-date and accountable. This authoritative data will also be available as appropriate to health providers, schools, universities, researchers, community groups, local businesses and others to build applications and provide services that meet the needs of different groups.

In health, ‘being smarter through digital’ means improving the quality and flow of information, getting the right information to the right person at the right time. People’s health information will be available to them and will follow them on their journey through the health system. This will improve the quality of decision-making, not only by clinicians, funders and policy-makers, but also by individuals, who will be able to access their personal health information.

In education, the vision for the future is one of networks, connectivity and community. High-quality information will be stored digitally and shared safely and securely across the sector, giving educators and learners better access to digital content, resources and services.

Case studies about using digital technologies to deliver 21st century health and education services.

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^{1   E-government in New Zealand www.e.govt.nz}