Cunliffe launched Digital Strategy 2.0 in Parliament on August 28, saying that it focuses on how New Zealand can maximise the potential of digital technologies to increase the country’s productivity, improve environmental sustainability, and build social inclusiveness.

The government believes it is vital to create digital opportunities by bringing the benefits of ICT to all New Zealanders, and it says it will take a number of actions to achieve its goal.

“We’re introducing...exciting new projects such as Connected New Zealand and the Digital Content Innovation Cluster, and we’re also looking to expand initiatives that have proved successful, such as accelerating the adoption of videoconferencing by government agencies,” said Cunliffe.

A major initiative of the strategy is the $340 million earmarked for the Broadband Investment Fund to enable an affordable broadband roll-out based on competitive open-access principles. 

Alongside open access, the government will also concentrate on areas such as fast access; security of ICT infrastructure and networks; protecting personal information online; and the use of home-grown digital content as a way of creating identity.

The Broadband Investment Fund is part of the $500 million the government has committed to investing in broadband infrastructure over the next five years. 

Expressions of Interest for the Broadband Investment Fund opened on August 26.

The Digital Strategy 2.0 is available online at www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz