New Zealand Data and Information Management Principles
On 8 August 2011 government approved new principles for managing the data and information it holds. These replace the 1997 Policy Framework for Government held Information. See Cabinet Minute CAB Min (11) 29/12.
They have been developed to ensure high quality management of the information the government holds on behalf of the public. While new language is used, the enduring concepts of the 1997 framework, in particular, quality, ownership, stewardship and custodianship, are retained.
In summary, government data and information should be open, readily available, well managed, reasonably priced and re-usable unless there are necessary reasons for its protection. Personal and classified information will remain protected. Government data and information should also be trusted and authoritative.
Principles for Managing Data and Information held by the New Zealand Government, approved by Cabinet on 8 August 2011 (CAB Min (11) 29/12 refers)[1].
| Principle | Description |
| Open | Data and information held by government should be open for public access unless grounds for refusal or limitations exist under the Official Information Act or other government policy. In such cases they should be protected. |
| Protected | Personal, confidential and classified[2] data and information are protected. |
| Readily Available | Open data and information are released proactively and without discrimination. They are discoverable and accessible and released online. |
| Trusted and Authoritative | Data and information support the purposes for which they were collected and are accurate, relevant, timely, consistent and without bias in that context. Where possible there is an identified authoritative single source. |
| Well Managed |
Data and information held and owned by government:
Agencies are stewards of government-held data and information and must provide and require good practices which manage the data and information over their life-cycle, including catering for technological obsolescence and long-term preservation and access. Good practices also include collaborating with other agencies and the public, facilitating access, strengthening awareness, and supporting international cooperation. Agency custodians must implement these practices on a day-to-day basis. |
| Reasonably Priced |
Use and re-use of government held data and information is expected to be free. Charging for access is discouraged. Pricing to cover the costs of dissemination is only appropriate where it can be clearly demonstrated that this pricing will not act as a barrier to the use or re-use of the data. If a charge is applied for access to data, it should be transparent, consistent, reasonable and the same cost to all requestors. |
| Reusable |
Data and information released can be discovered, shared, used and re-used over time and through technology change. Copyright works are licensed for re-use and open access to and re-use of non-copyright materials is enabled, in accordance with the New Zealand Government Open Access and Licensing framework. Data and information are released:
Data and information released in proprietary formats are also released in open, non-proprietary formats. Digital rights technologies are not imposed on materials made available for re-use. |
Mapping from the 1997 Policy Framework for Government Held Information to the 2011 Principles for Managing Data and Information held by the New Zealand Government
| New Principle | Old Policy Framework for Government Held information Principle |
| Open |
Coverage Integrity |
| Protected | Privacy |
| Readily Available | Availability |
| Trusted and Authoritative | Quality |
| Well Managed |
Collection Ownership Stewardship Preservation |
| Reasonably Priced | Pricing |
| Reusable | Copyright |
Complementary Documents
The principles reflect New Zealand legislation and international obligations[3]. They are complemented by the following current domain strategies, principles and codes of practice:
Legislation
| Copyright Act 1994 | Official Information Act 1982 |
| Privacy Act 1993 | Public Records Act 2005 |
| Statistics Act 1975 |
Information Strategies
| Cyber Security Strategy | Digital Strategy 2.0 |
| Digital Continuity Action Plan |
Justice Sector Information Strategy (not currently available) |
| National Health IT Plan | New Zealand Geospatial Strategy |
| Digital Content Strategy |
Complementary Principles
|
New Zealand Government Open Access and Licensing framework (NZGOAL) |
|
United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics |
Privacy Principles and Codes of Practice
[1] These Data and Information Management Principles replace the 1997 Policy Framework for Government held Information
[2] As defined in the Guidelines for Protection of Official Information at is http://www.gcsb.govt.nz/assets/GCSB-Documents/Guidelines-for-Protection-of-Official-Information-Wallchart.pdf
