Source: New Zealand Government
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government.
I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future.
Today, we stand at the cusp of a digital revolution that has the power to transform the way our government serves New Zealanders.
The digitisation of government services is not just a matter of convenience; it is a fundamental shift towards a more modern, efficient and customer-centric public service that works for its people.
As the Attorney General and Minister for Digitising Government, Science Innovation and Technology, Defence, GCSB/NZSIS and Space portfolios, as well as the MP for Papakura, I can see the profound difference digital technologies can and are making to the way we live and work.
These technologies hold immense potential for our wider economy and productivity.
Our government recognises the potential of embracing technology to deliver real impact and results for New Zealanders.
The journey has already started, and we are taking active steps to accelerate our digital capability, whilst also preparing our country for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
We want government services that work for New Zealanders.
Online portals, mobile applications and AI-enabled interfaces will be key to ensuring that people and businesses in New Zealand can access important government services and information, anytime and from anywhere.
By leveraging AI and other data-driven technologies, government agencies can tailor services to meet the specific needs of individuals, communities and businesses.
This personalised and targeted approach can ensure that services are relevant and easily accessible.
To support this, we need strong digital foundations, like AI, Cloud and Digital Identity, to ensure government can seize on the opportunities for digital innovation, in trusted, sustainable and scalable ways.
My cross-party AI Caucus is supportive of our AI direction, and I am establishing a Ministerial oversight group to steward our service modernisation goals.
These groups will help us to achieve our ambitions for delivering better government services to New Zealanders while also ensuring we have consensus on how best to do this.
I am working with the Minister of Transport to pilot our new Digitising Government approach, focussing first on a new mobile app for drivers to digitally engage with the New Zealand Transport Agency.
The app’s initial focus is managing common interactions that New Zealanders have with NZTA, such as viewing and paying for vehicle registrations and Warrant of Fitness reminders.
Over time, more services will be added to the app, including ultimately a digital drivers’ licence.
This will be a flagship product for us, providing wide-ranging benefits for New Zealanders and helping us to learn together the benefits of digital Government services.
Unifying and simplifying people’s experience of government is essential. A collective and targeted approach that optimises taxpayer value will be key for us.
AI will be an important part of our service modernisation journey. New Zealanders already interact with AI-powered services daily.
I have directed officials to advise me on a roadmap for unified government services and a strategic approach for AI in government services and more broadly. Cabinet will consider these proposals in coming months.
AI has the potential to revolutionise public services through automating routine tasks, personalisation, targeted interventions, and predicting and personalising experiences in response to people’s needs.
AI technologies, such as machine learning, and more recently GenerativeAI can aid in enhanced efficiency and productivity.
I’d like to see us embracing the potential of AI innovation to support task automation, streamlining processes and optimising service delivery in appropriate circumstances.
AI will enable our government agencies to analyse vast amounts of data to gain new insights into customer behaviour, preferences and needs.
This data-driven approach will enable our agencies to deliver personalised services and recommendations tailored to individual preferences, enhancing overall experience and satisfaction of government services, for New Zealand’s people and business.
We are working to support safe and trustworthy use of AI by Public Service agencies, taking an optimistic approach in ways that optimise benefits while also managing risk.
Whilst we have made good progress, there is and will always be more work to do.
We are also working with providers to better understand the ecosystem of AI solutions that could support our needs and goals.
I have asked Officials to build a principles-based AI framework to support responsible and trustworthy AI adoption and innovation in Government. Cabinet will be taking decisions on this Framework in coming months.
I expect the underpinning work programme will be key for supporting capability uplift across the system, further enabling agencies to balance the benefits and risks of AI.
Digitising Government relies on strong data as well as digital foundations.
Modern digital systems need safe and effective data sharing to help services work together and provide people with better customer service experiences.
The work you are all doing to foster a data-driven public sector is critical to providing better services for New Zealanders.
I am working closely with the Minister of Statistics, Hon Andrew Bayly, who shares my view on the importance of robust data and safe and effective data-sharing to support the digitising of government.
Digital identity allows people and organisations to use their information, such as date of birth, to prove things about themselves and access services digitally.
Modernising our approach to digital identity will help us to unlock the economic and social benefits of the digital world.
We are seeing the success of similar models overseas, such as in New South Wales and Victoria.
International studies indicate that the potential benefit to the economy of enabling digital identity in New Zealand is estimated between 0.5% and 3% of GDP.
The foundational work to protect and enhance our digital identities relies on robust and effective data management.
The Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Act 2023 establishes a system that allows accredited providers to verify information about people (or organisations) and create identity credentials.
DIA’s Digital Identity Work Programme aims to create a trusted, coherent, and sustainable digital identity system.
A modern digital identity system will improve efficiency of government services while increasing resilience to privacy breaches and fraud.
The new regulatory framework for digital identity services will allow both public and private providers of digital services to be accredited from July 1st this year.
Once established, the Trust Framework will support people to access services safely and securely.
Service providers will know the information they receive is correct and belongs to the right entity, and people will have confidence that their personal information is being used and secured appropriately.
Digitising government is fundamental to providing accessible, trusted and secure ways to interact with the Government.
Embracing change and recognizing the opportunities that digital modernisation brings is key.
Fostering an environment of continual learning and skill development in the ever-changing digital environment will keep the workforce primed to embrace the benefits and challenge that change brings.
These changes present some big challenges and opportunities, and the potential gains will shift the ways government can support the needs of people and businesses so that we can all thrive.
The collaborative way in which you undertake this work is very valuable to me, and these next two days are a fantastic opportunity to reimagine service delivery in the public sector.
If done right, the digitisation of our public service will be game changing, and I am committed to ensuring this happens.
I have appreciated the opportunity to speak about the Government’s digital agenda with you all today.
Thank you and I wish you all the best for the rest of the Summit.
