Minister's Foreword
Spam is a growing problem for New Zealand computer users and businesses. In this discussion paper, the Government proposes an approach to tackle the problem through legislation. This will form part of a multi-pronged approach alongside industry self regulation, awareness and education campaigns, and international initiatives.
Spam, or unsolicited commercial electronic messages, undermines the use of email and other communications technologies. It clogs up the email boxes of private individuals with irrelevant, unwanted and often offensive messages. The Government seeks to assist New Zealanders who are sick of the annoyance and costs that spam imposes on them.
Spam also imposes significant costs on businesses who lose productivity and staff time dealing with it, and who foot the bill for security and screening software. It also undermines the legitimate needs of communications and marketing users. In so doing, spam undermines the Government's objectives of promoting economic growth and building public confidence in electronic communications.
Spam has become a huge problem worldwide and has now grown to the extent that many countries see legislation as an important step to effectively addressing it. New Zealand must play its part alongside other countries to deal with this growing threat to electronic communications. The Government considers that it is now timely to look at how legislation in this country might effectively contribute to minimising the spam problem.
I encourage all individuals and organisations with an interest in this area to consider the issues raised by this discussion paper and make a submission so that the Government can benefit from widespread input in the development of an effective and timely policy to address the issue of spam.
Hon David Cunliffe
Associate Minister for Information Technology
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