This section includes information about the Government Digital Archive Programme and the Digital Continuity Action Plan.
Securing today's digital information for tomorrow
In 2010 Archives New Zealand secured Government funding for the development of a digital archive. Read the Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand's announcement about the Government Digital Archive Programme.
This digital archive will enable Archives New Zealand to take in large-scale transfers of government agencies’ digital records and provide appropriate public access to these records, such as email messages, videos, databases and electronic documents. Creating the Government Digital Archive allows for the on-going implementation of the Public Records Act 2005 in a digital world.
With the right combination of proven technology, efficient processes and leading skills Archives New Zealand will achieve these objectives:
Today, most information is created digitally and the continuity of digital information has become a major concern worldwide. As yesterday’s information management technologies are replaced by today's, the danger of losing our digital investment is increasingly high.
Trusted Access - New Zealanders can be confident that they will be able to find, retrieve and use all public sector digital information that can be made publicly available, and that their sensitive information will be protected from unauthorised access.
Authentic and reliable - Public sector digital information needs to be tamper-proof and free of technological digital rights restrictions. It must be trusted to be authentic and reliable.
There when you need it - The Government has entrusted Archives New Zealand with ensuring that important Government digital information is not lost and instead remains discoverable, reusable, secure and accessible over-time.
Do nothing, lose everything - If no action is taken, public sector digital information will be lost forever.
The Government Digital Archive Programme is a programme of actions to address these issues.
Archives New Zealand is developing a digital archive by leveraging previous investments made in the National Library of New Zealand’s National Digital Heritage Archive (NDHA) system. This involves extending the NDHA core software and hardware to store and secure government digital information of long term value and to provide access to it through time as formats and storage media evolve. Archives New Zealand’s existing discovery and access system Archway will be linked to the NDHA system, making information stored there automatically accessible to the public and government agencies (within relevant security restrictions).
Approved by Cabinet in August 2009 the Digital Continuity Action Plan aims to ensure today’s public sector information is available tomorrow. The plan was developed as an all-of-public-sector programme to support agencies with storing, accessing, using and reusing the digital information they produce.
Archives New Zealand leads the implementation of the plan to provide support, advice and leadership on digital continuity issues. The plan provides a platform for public sector agencies to act in a coordinated way to use public sector resources more efficiently and to share ideas, expertise and systems.
Archives New Zealand is working collaboratively with key stakeholders in developing the Government Digital Archive. This includes lead and specialist agencies, researchers, vendors and interest groups. Processes for public sector agencies to prepare and securely transfer large volumes of digital material onto the digital archive are in development. Completion of the Government Digital Archive is expected in 2013.
In March 2012 a conference will be held in Wellington, New Zealand, Future Perfect 2012 Digital Preservation by Design. The theme of the conference seeks to stimulate discussion about how, when and why influencing the design of systems can support digital preservation and ultimately ensure that today’s information is available tomorrow. For more information visit the Future Perfect web page.
An on-going community of practice - the Digital Preservation Practical Implementers Guild - is a gathering of people who meet regularly to discuss digital preservation work and issues.
Download a complete copy of the Digital Continuity Action Plan.
To successfully develop the Government Digital Archive your input is welcome and numerous events and forums are being organised in order to share and learn. Learn more about the training and events offered by Archives New Zealand.
If you are from a public sector organisation learn more about risks to digital public sector information.
Learn more about digital preservation and become a member of the Digital Preservation Practical Implementers Guild.
A full glossary of terms can be found on the Continuum pages Digital Continuity Glossary.
Find out which agencies have experience in digital preservation, exemplar data and information practices as well as leadership with regards to data formatting and standards in the Lead and Specialist Agency Directory.
Read about the set of risks which affect long-term access to trusted digital information in public sector agencies in the Risks to Digital Public Sector Information. It also describes a set of indicators which can be used to identify the risks in public sector agencies.
Building on the last digital continuity conference Future Perfect: Digital Continuity Conference 2010 we will be holding another conference this year Future Perfect 2012: Digital Preservation by Design.
Archives New Zealand is driving the development of the Government Digital Archive. Find out who to talk to in the Government Digital Archive Programme at the biography page.
If you have a question about digital records, the Government Digital Archive Programme or digital preservation, consult our Frequently Asked Questions page.
If you have any further questions of comments you can contact the team at rkadvice@dia.govt.nz