NZ Thinking and Managing Digitally
Wellington: 7 August 2009
The New Zealand Government has launched a Digital Continuity Action Plan (world first initiative) requiring public sector agencies to work together to ensure archived digital information is not lost as the result of technological change.
The Plan describes ‘digital continuity’ as ensuring digital information is accessible, usable, and reusable by those who need it for as long as it is needed.
Digital information includes any type or form of information created, stored or held in any digital format or platform. For example, contracts agreements, health records, building plans, client and case management systems, geospatial information systems, information on shared or network computer drives, data sets, memory sticks, cell phones, email and so on.
The Executive Summary to the Plan points to the following Key Messages.
- There when you need it. Public sector digital information will be maintained so that it can be accessed when it is needed. Some information is required only for a few months or years. A small proportion needs to be preserved for many decades, or indefinitely, for future use.
- Authentic and reliable. Public sector digital information is tamper-proof and free of technological digital rights restrictions. It can be trusted to be authentic and reliable.
- Trusted access. New Zealanders can be confident that they will be able to find, retrieve and use all public sector digital information that can be made publicly available, and that their sensitive information will be protected from unauthorised access.
- Do nothing, lose everything. If no action is taken, public sector digital information will be lost. The public sector must take a proactive approach to maintain its digital information for the future.
The press release from the Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand Nathan Guy, states:
“Two-thirds of New Zealand public sector agencies can no longer access some of their records because of problems such as material being kept on obsolete storage media or on unreadable software or hardware,” said Mr Guy.
"The Digital Continuity Action Plan comprises six goals and 15 action areas to help public sector agencies overcome the complex issues surrounding security and the future usability of digital information critical to government business."
Archives New Zealand will lead implementation of the plan and provide support, advice and leadership to other public agencies on digital continuity issues.
The plan applies to government departments, local authorities, crown research institutes, crown entities, state enterprises, district health boards, tertiary education institutions and state and integrated schools.
There will be a staged implementation of the plan with visits to key agencies starting next week.
Mr Guy said the Digital Continuity Action Plan was the first government-mandated public sector approach to digital continuity anywhere in the world. While other countries had separate initiatives – none had developed a unified public sector approach.
“We live in a digital age. We must think digitally and manage digitally. This plan will ensure public sector digital information is accessible, usable, and reusable by those who need it for as long as it is needed,” Mr Guy said.”
Read Full Speechon Launch by Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand, Nathan Guy
Full Information about the Digital Continuity Plan is available from Archives New Zealand
Report References
Digital Continuity Action Plan: Managing Information for Public Sector Efficiency, Archives New Zealand, August 2009, 48 pages (web page or pdf)
ISBN 978-0-477-10098-4 (print) / ISBN 978-0-477-10099-1 (online)
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