Communications and Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe launched the Digital Strategy 2.0 on Thursday.

David Cunliffe said the strategy provides a bold vision and concrete actions to help New Zealanders become leaders in the digital world.

"No country has more to gain from this digital revolution than New Zealand. Through it we overcome our remoteness, leverage our inventiveness and show off our uniqueness."Communications and Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe launched the Digital Strategy 2.0 on Thursday.

David Cunliffe said the strategy provides a bold vision and concrete actions to help New Zealanders become leaders in the digital world.

"No country has more to gain from this digital revolution than New Zealand. Through it we overcome our remoteness, leverage our inventiveness and show off our uniqueness."David Cunliffe said revolutionary change has occurred since the 2005 Digital Strategy. Robust competition is driving a wave of investment to build super fast broadband networks.

"The building blocks of the Digital Strategy remain relevant: super fast connection, enhanced user confidence and cool content. DS 2.0 sets out targets and actions that take these to the next level and emphasises the importance of collaboration to get there.

"DS 2.0 challenges us to go further to secure outcomes from this technology: new digital productivity; reduced environmental footprints, and communities that are locally networked and globally connected."

"To do this we are introducing a number of exciting new projects such as Connected New Zealand and the Digital Content Innovation Cluster. We're also expanding successful initiatives, such as videoconferencing and teleworking, the Aotearoa People's Network and the Community Partnership Fund."

A major initiative of the Strategy is the $340 million for the Broadband Investment Fund over three years from Budget 2008 to enable affordable broadband roll-out based on competitive open-access principles. This is
part of the $500 million the government has committed to investing in broadband infrastructure over the next five years. DS2 sets updated targets for connection speed and super fast broadband rollout.

David Cunliffe said the government was committed to creating digital opportunities by bringing the benefits of ICT to all New Zealanders.

"The Digital Strategy is about people and their ability to connect to the world. It's about bringing all New Zealanders on the journey by breaking
down the digital divide, and building their capability and confidence in using ICT. The future belongs to us all."

Press Release: New Zealand Government

29/08/08