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The Purpose of the Digital Strategy


This Document is Archived


Digital Strategy: A Draft New Zealand Digital Strategy for Consultation - Summary

[ Last Updated 27 January 2006 ]


Technological change, by its very nature, causes (or requires) significant changes in society's structures and institutions. New thinking is required to drive complementary innovative changes in society's systems, processes and institutions, in business management, and in individual skills and behaviour. In simple terms, the way we go about doing things must change so we can exploit the new opportunities that ICT provides.

Because of this rapid technological change and its impact, the government believes it is time to provide an integrated framework that provides a direction and context for all ICT-related government policy for the medium term, drawing together economic, cultural and social perspectives.

The Digital Strategy describes the necessary conditions for New Zealand to become a world leader at using information and technology; proposes actions for realising the benefits of ICT in our communities, in business and in government; identifies the opportunities and challenges facing New Zealand and outlines the government's role in addressing them.

The State of Play

New Zealand's Strengths

  • High uptake of ICT.
  • International reputation in creative digital content (film, animation and Web design).
  • Offer access to advanced technology plus low cost base.
  • Open, transparent regulatory environment.
  • World-leading e-government services.

Opportunities Arising from ICT

  • Create new products and services.
  • SMEs can use ICT to build critical mass and compete with larger firms.
  • Advanced network allows connection to advanced science research facilities overseas.
  • ICT provides tools to exploit the market for creative content.
  • Better integrated, more efficient, customised government services.
  • Enables different communities to strengthen their linkages and communicate their stories to the rest of the world.

New Zealand's Weaknesses

  • Skill shortages (management, and e-commerce entrepreneurial skills).
  • Many SMEs (but few large firms) not globally connected.
  • Poor understanding of how ICT is changing market requirements and opportunities.
  • Uneven infrastructure.
  • Low uptake of broadband.
  • Pockets of ICT illiteracy in our communities, particularly among those living on low incomes or outside cities.

Threats Arising from ICT

  • Being left behind by our key competitors.
  • Differences in access to and training in ICT may lead to a "digital divide".
  • Falling behind changes e.g. in adopting new technologies.
  • Privacy issues e.g. personal data being mined and misused.
  • Technology-enabled crime.
  • Dilution of our national identity and culture.

There are two dimensions to the Strategy: creating the conditions, and realising the benefits.


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