Cabinet Minute — New Zealand Government Web Guidelines: Mandatory Requirements

1 noted that the New Zealand Government Web Guidelines ('the Guidelines') assist government agencies to make online information and services as accessible as possible to the widest range of New Zealanders using the Internet;

2 noted that the Guidelines assist government agencies to develop websites that give effect to core Public Service values, and also to meet obligations under the Official Information Act 1992, the Human Rights Act 1993, the Policy Framework for Government-held Information, and the e-government, New Zealand Disability, and Māori Language strategies;

3 directed all Public Service departments, the New Zealand Police, the New Zealand Defence Force, the Parliamentary Counsel Office, and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service to implement the Guidelines as follows:

4 agreed that conversion of non-compliant website content produced before 1 April 2004 to meet the requirements of the Guidelines (e.g. conversion of documents from pdf to html format) is not required in cases where that content:

Reviews and Governance of the Guidelines

5 noted that the Guidelines will be periodically reviewed and updated to account for changing technology, and the evolving capability and needs of both website users and providers;

6 agreed that subsequent versions of the Guidelines will be developed in a consultative manner, and implemented with due regard to the need for timeframes that allow for return on existing website investment, and prioritisation of web development among other agency activity;

7 agreed that governance of the Guidelines will involve:

Exemptions

8 agreed that, where an agency considers that there are no alternative technologies and/or management practices that enable the function of a website to be fulfilled while also complying with the Guidelines (in part or in full), or where costs of changing websites to enable compliance may be significant, exemption from Guidelines-compliance for a limited period of time may be sought, and that:

8.1 granting of any exemptions will occur through processes in which the e-GIF Management Committee will have the role of decision-maker;

8.2 the Committee will determine the specific term of an exemption, and no exemption will be permanent;

8.3 on its expiry, an agency will be free to apply for further exemption;

Implementation Issues

9 agreed that agencies required to adopt the Guidelines will be responsible for conducting self-audits of compliance, and that these agencies must be able to demonstrate compliance with at least Version 2.1 of the Guidelines to the State Services Commission by 1 January 2006, and with subsequent versions produced after that date, according to assessment criteria that the Commission will accredit and/or provide by 30 June 2004 and keep updated as required;

10 noted that there are unquantified fiscal costs, and economic and social benefits associated with this proposal;

11 noted that arrangements for implementation of mandatory Guidelines-compliance include mechanisms for mitigating fiscal and operational risk to agencies;

Further Work

12 invited the Speaker of the House to direct the Office of the Clerk and the Parliamentary Service to implement the Guidelines and demonstrate compliance with them on the same basis as the Public Service;

13 invited, in coordination with the Minister of State Services:

13.1 Responsible Ministers to write to State sector agencies (excepting State Owned Enterprises and Offices of Parliament) encouraging them to implement the Guidelines;

13.2 the Minister for Local Government to communicate the Guidelines to local government, inviting their implementation;

Publicity

14 noted that the Minister of State Services will publicise Ministers' decisions about the Guidelines;

15 agreed to publication of this paper and its associated minute on the website of the e-government Unit of the State Services Commission;

Consultation

16 noted that the Minister of State Services indicates that consultation is not required with the government caucuses or other parties represented in Parliament.