Launch of Digital Continuity Action Plan
Thank you all for your warm welcome. I am very pleased to be back at Archives New Zealand today to launch the Digital Continuity Action Plan.
On my last visit I saw several examples of digital material that can no longer be accessed or needed to be switched to a new format to save it from being lost.
The zip discs I saw were from the 2005 Royal Commission of Inquiry into Genetic Modification. With their large storage capacity, zip disks were popular in the 1990s and early 2000s.
But, their popularity was short-lived, as re-writable CDs and DVDs, followed by USB flash drives, soon took over the market.
While
they remain in good condition the temporary nature of this hardware
means they are already at high risk of becoming obsolete.
The New Zealand public sector has been making full use of information and communication technology to deliver services and this has enabled digital information to be created at an unprecedented rate.
By 2011 the volume of digital content will be 10 times the size it was in 2006, and in the same year almost half of all information created will not have a permanent home.
Today's launch of the Digital Continuity Action Plan signals the beginning of a new approach to this challenge.
It recognises the existing approach of agencies grappling individually with the issues, won't provide the answers. What the Government wants is the state sector working smarter and better with a focus on front line service delivery and value for money.
The Action Plan sets out six key goals. These goals will:
- raise the understanding about the need for digital continuity
- ensure digital information is well-managed from day one
- establish robust cross-agency infrastructure
- ensure high-value information is kept
- ensure the public sector and citizens can assess digital information, now and in the future, and
- establish good governance.
The focus is on working together collaboratively to achieve cross-agency and cross-discipline solutions. Archives New Zealand will provide leadership, support and advice, but working together across the public sector and sharing results will have the greatest benefit.
This cross-agency approach to digital information management will avoid duplicating effort. The National Library, Statistics New Zealand, Government Technology Services and the State Services Commission are key players.
I want to acknowledge these agencies and the many people who have been involved in the development of this plan including the members of the Strategic Advisory Group. Thank you all for a job well done.
I also want to thank the department for recognising the great need for a digital continuity programme and for getting on and doing something about it.
I wish the Digital Continuity Team and lead agencies all the best for making this plan successful. I am looking forward to being kept up-to-date on progress.
The Digital Continuity Action Plan is a groundbreaking initiative. I am proud to launch the first government mandated public sector approach to digital continuity anywhere in the world.
Thank you.