Executive Summary
1. Business, government and personal interactions are increasingly being facilitated, if not driven, by the Internet and associated uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs). To stay competitive and enhance social and economic participation, New Zealand needs a population that is willing and able to use ICT to best effect. In other words, an e-literate population with optimal access to ICT. Given existing inequities, however, it is likely that certain groups and locations will find it difficult to become e-literate or gain good access to ICT, and that a digital divide between information haves and have nots will develop.
2. There is no comprehensive evidence on the nature of a digital divide in New Zealand and how it is likely to impact on Government's attempts to promote an innovative, inclusive economy and enhance social cohesion. However, based on the limited New Zealand information we do have, and the situation in other countries, New Zealand's information have-nots are most likely to be those on low incomes, unemployed people, sole parents, people with disabilities, and those living in less populated locations. Accordingly, Maori and Pacific Peoples are likely to be over-represented amongst information have-nots. An increasing division between information haves and have-nots could not only reduce economic opportunities for individuals but also for particular communities, locations and the economy overall.
3. Being able to access ICT and acquire e-literacy involves four main dimensions, which can also act as barriers: attitude, finance, skills and infrastructure. These encompass recognising the importance of e-literacy, being able to afford access, being able to develop the skills to make optimal use of hardware and software, and having access to sufficient bandwidth to use the Internet to best effect.
4. In recognition of the impact e-commerce and e-government will have on their national well being and competitive advantage, major developed countries have integrated social and economic inclusion into their overall Information Economy/Society strategies. They have prioritised enabling as many people and places as possible to go online and funded initiatives accordingly, usually in partnerships with local government, communities, and the private sector.
5. Because actions to improve access to ICT cover many social and economic policy and delivery areas, it will be important that any strategy to address them is co-ordinated across sectors. Ideally, in order to ensure existing funding is utilised to best effect, as well as focus any future investment, leadership of an access and e-literacy strategy would be led most effectively by a department which already had a core social/economic focus, such as the Department of Labour.
6. A strategy would need to combine a number of elements: research, monitoring, enhanced co-ordination, action research and piloting of initiatives. It would also need to increase leverage from current social policy investments, particularly education, training and employment assistance.
7. Access to ICTs and encouraging e-literacy is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Resolving digital divide issues strengthens Government's ability to address current inequities, develop New Zealand in new economic directions, and enhance social cohesion.
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