Minister for Digitising Government
| Minister for Digitising Government | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
.png) | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Member of | |
| Reports to | Prime Minister of New Zealand |
| Appointer | Governor-General of New Zealand |
| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
| Formation | 6 November 2020 |
| First holder | David Clark |
| Website | Official website |
The Minister for Digitising Government is a minister in the New Zealand Government with responsibilities including the delivery of the government's digital strategy, digital services delivery, and digital modernisation. The portfolio is supported by the Department of Internal Affairs and the Public Service Commission.[1]
The present minister is Judith Collins.[2]
History
[edit]Standalone ministerial responsibility for government digital services was created in October 2017 under the Sixth Labour Government. Clare Curran, the inaugural Minister for Government Digital Services, was also appointed Minister of Broadcasting, Communications, and Digital Media and Associate Minister of State Services. The portfolio's responsibilities then included the delivery of the government's digital strategy and digital government services, including the Digital Inclusion Blueprint and work relating to digital identity, and the Government Chief Digital Officer (previously the Government Chief Information Officer).[3] Oversight of Government information technology was previously a responsibility of the Minister of Internal Affairs.[4]
In November 2020, the beginning of the Labour government's second term, the position was combined with aspects of the Broadcasting, Communications, and Digital Media portfolio and retitled as the Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications (the remainder of that portfolio became the Minister of Broadcasting and Media).[5] The purpose of the Digital Economy and Communications portfolio was to simplify and streamline digital workstreams across the New Zealand government, as well as to regulate the telecommunications and postal sectors, broadband infrastructure, and the radio spectrum.[6][7] Those regulatory functions had previously been under the Minister of Communications and Information Technology. In this version of the role, the minister shared responsibility for cyber security matters with the minister responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau.[8] Former Minister of Internal Affairs Peter Dunne said the position was "extremely important... given New Zealand’s position as one of the world's most digitally advanced governments."[5]
The portfolio was retitled with a refocused set of responsibilities for a third time after the 2023 general election. The communications-related responsibilities were assigned to the Minister for Media and Communications. Today, the portfolio's focus is digital strategy and service delivery. The minister is responsible for the Digital Executive Board, which "leads a whole-of-system approach to transform digital public services for New Zealand."[9]
List of ministers
[edit]- Key
| No. | Name | Portrait | Term of Office | Prime Minister | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister for Government Digital Services | |||||||
| 1 | Clare Curran | .jpg)
|
26 October 2017 | 24 August 2018 | Ardern | ||
| 2 | Megan Woods | .jpg)
|
24 August 2018 | 28 June 2019 | |||
| 3 | Kris Faafoi | .jpg)
|
28 June 2019 | 6 November 2020 | |||
| Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications | |||||||
| 3 | David Clark | 
|
6 November 2020 | 1 February 2023 | Ardern | ||
| Hipkins | |||||||
| 4 | Ginny Andersen | 
|
1 February 2023 | 27 November 2023 | |||
| Minister for Digitising Government | |||||||
| 5 | Judith Collins |
|
27 November 2023 | present | Luxon | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "Digitising Government". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "Ministerial List". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ "Government Digital Services". dpmc.govt.nz. 30 July 2019. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
- ^ "Govt chief information officer role to be expanded". NZ Herald. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
- ^ a b Dunne, Peter (6 November 2020). "Winners, losers and a powerful PM". Newsroom. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ "Digital Council winds up following successful tenure". New Zealand Government. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ "Digital Economy and Communications". dpmc.govt.nz. 5 February 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ Dexter, Giles (18 November 2022). "Kiwis' rights in Australia: No mention of 501 policy from minister in 'family' lecture". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ "Digital Executive Board". New Zealand Digital government. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
