By Carol Hayward and Tristan Parker
Some 78% of New Zealanders use the internet and 71% of users rate the internet as a more important source of information than family and friends, according to a 2007 survey by Auckland University of Technology. However, the country’s local councils have been slow to capitalise on the opportunities ... Read More
This blog complements E-Government Bulletin, an email newsletter on the use of digital technologies to enhance public services & democracy
South Pacific Progress
March 8th, 2010Data Offenders ‘Should Face Jail’, Says Commissioner
March 8th, 2010There should be tougher penalties, including jail sentences where appropriate, for those who breach data security laws, the UK’s Information Commissioner Christopher Graham told delegates at a recent meeting of the Parliamentary IT Committee (PITCOM).
Citing the case of employees of telecommunications operator T-Mobile who, it is alleged, last year stole and sold on the ... Read More
Budget Struggles In New Zealand’s Quest For E-Government
March 8th, 2010Local councils in New Zealand are struggling with limited funding and central government policy support as they look to implement e-democracy and e-government services over the next decade, according to a special report for E-Government Bulletin.
Clear progress is being made nevertheless, as councils develop a range of innovative, low-cost e-government and e-democracy measures including ... Read More
UK Council Sites Lack Key Democracy Information
March 8th, 2010UK council websites often lack key information on local democracy, according to this year’s ‘Better Connected’ snapshot survey of websites from public sector ICT professionals’ body Socitm ( http://bit.ly/dltkU5 ).
Almost two-thirds of websites (65%) fail to present details of when and where local councillor surgeries are to be held. More than half the sites ... Read More
Mapping Out the Future for Ordnance Survey
February 22nd, 2010The announcement by Prime Minister Gordon Brown late in 2009 that the government intends to allow freer use of geographical and location data created by Ordnance Survey was the latest twist in a debate which has raged for decades. Small companies, public bodies and others have complained for some time that they should not have ... Read More
Map Data Freedom Could Damage Quality, Expert Warns.
February 22nd, 2010The freeing up of restrictions on the use of Ordnance Survey data, including cutting or removing fees for its use, could result in the production of lower quality UK mapping data in future, a leading analyst has warned.
Michael Blakemore, Emeritus Professor of Geography at Durham University, told the Parliamentary IT Committee (PITCOM) that when ... Read More
