History
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]
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