New Zealand's Digital Strategy
[ Last Updated 15 August 2008 ]
In May 2005, the government launched the Digital Strategy, a practical and achievable action plan for ensuring all New Zealanders benefit from information and communications technology (ICT).
At the heart of the Digital Strategy is the integration of the three C's - connection, content and confidence:
- Connection is about being able to gain access to affordable and viable ICT infrastructure such as broadband, computers, mobile phones and other devices
- Content is about gaining seamless, easy access to the information all New Zealanders find important for their lives, businesses, and cultural identity
- Confidence is about creating the environment where all New Zealanders can gain the digital skills to find and use the information they need; and to ensure that telecommunications and the Internet in New Zealand are reliable and secure.
The Digital Strategy is an action plan based on collaboration between New Zealand businesses, communities and government. The Digital Strategy also focuses on how the three C's fit with the needs of communities, businesses and government and how the needs of all New Zealanders can be addressed.
The government has committed up to $400 million to digital programmes, including approximately $60 million of new funding in this year's Growth and Innovation Framework. This includes $44.7 million in contestable seed funding to implement key partnership initiatives in two streams:
- The Broadband Challenge ($24 million), to enable affordable broadband roll-out based on competitive open-access principles
- The Community Partnership Fund ($20.7 million), to support grass roots initiatives that will build ICT skills in communities and regions, and help create distinctive New Zealand content.
To find out more and to keep up to date with developments with the Digital Strategy please visit its website.
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