Online access to Government data opened up

Public information is to become easier to access after government departments were today given instructions to release more data online.

The Government announced a declaration that sets out an expectation for agencies to release all non-personal and unclassified data that could be reused.

Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy said technology developments over the past decade meant government data had gradually become more open.

"However, the release of data has been ad hoc and there has been no clear set of expectations. These steps build on New Zealand's long history of openness and recognise that this data effectively belongs to the public."

New Zealand Transport Agency data, such as traffic updates and traffic webcams, was among the information the Government said could be reused by research communities.

According to the updated government-held data policy, the Government said data should be released proactively in accessible formats and licensed for re-use unless there were good reasons not to, data should be free, or where fees are necessary, reasonably priced, and personal and classified data would remain protected.

 

 

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