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Commitment 9 progress report: May to June 2019

Open Government Partnership New Zealand National Action Plan 2018-2020

Progress report to: 30 June 2019

Commitment 9 progress report: May – June 2019

 

Commitment 9: Increase visibility of government data stewardship practices

Lead agency: Stats NZ (Government Chief Data Steward)

Objective: To increase the visibility of data practices for government-held data.

Ambition: New Zealanders will:

  • understand how government is managing, using, and protecting their data and be able to hold government to account.
  • have confidence and trust in the management and use of data that government holds on their behalf.

OGP values: Transparency, Accountability

 

Milestones

Milestone 1

Develop and publish an overview of government’s data stewardship practices

Start/End dates: August 2018 to 30 November 2018

Progress: Underway

Milestone 2

Engage with citizens and government on the data stewardship overview to ensure it provides visibility of the right things and is addressing key needs 

Start/End dates: 1 December 2018 to 31 April 2019

Progress: Underway

Milestone 3

Promote the data stewardship practices to government agencies and support them to implement good practice

Start/End dates: 1 May 2019 (ongoing)

Progress: Underway

Milestone 4

Engage with citizens and government to identify where effort should be focused to address gaps in government’s data stewardship practices

Start/End dates: 1 May 2019 to 30 November 2019 (then periodically ongoing)

Progress: Underway

 

What we have been doing

  • The New Zealand government holds substantial data on behalf of its citizens and businesses and, in a digital era where data continues to increase at an exponential rate, the government has recognised the opportunities to harness data to deliver better outcomes for New Zealanders.
  • In 2017 the State Services Commissioner designated Liz MacPherson, Chief Executive of Stats NZ, as Government Chief Data Steward (GCDS), tasking her with empowering government agencies to use data more effectively while maintaining the trust and confidence of New Zealanders.
  • In September 2018 Cabinet authorised the GCDS to set mandatory standards and guidelines for the collection, management, and use of data by government agencies, and to direct agencies to adopt common data capabilities. This mandate provides the GCDS with the basis for defining good data stewardship practices.
  • However, the stewardship practices need context to ensure the practices will work cohesively across government and address the full scope of data stewardship. Following research into system stewardship and data management, Stats NZ developed a draft data stewardship framework comprising 8 high-level elements that work across the various roles and layers of New Zealand’s data system. Accompanying the draft framework is a draft toolkit of guidance, resources, and tools through which the framework will be implemented. Both the draft framework and toolkit have been published on data.govt.nz.
  • The draft framework has been guided by Government’s Information Group[1] and discussed with several government agencies and other key stakeholders. The framework elements were refined in response to their feedback. Further analysis of their feedback is underway to identify gaps in the framework and toolkit and prioritise resource development.

How we are including diverse voices

  • We will be seeking public views on the framework and toolkit via a multi-channel approach. We’ll be inviting feedback on the framework elements, existing resources that could be added to the toolkit, and the resources needed to help people and organisations better manage and use data.
  • Loomio discussion forum on data stewardship framework and toolkit.

How we are keeping diverse communities informed

  • We will publish the key findings from our analysis of feedback to date on the draft framework and toolkit.

What’s next?

  • Raise public awareness and invite feedback on the draft framework and toolkit.
  • Publish key findings from the analysis of feedback.

Links – Evidence of progress and milestones achieved

Draft data stewardship framework

Draft data stewardship toolkit

Cabinet paper on strengthening data leadership across government and Cabinet Minutes

 

[1] A group of senior information leaders across New Zealand’s Public Service.