Govt agencies to improve data access

The government has declared its intention to proactively publish data held by its agencies, provided the data is not personal or classified.

The new approach could prove a boon for businesses, which currently have to submit requests for information they think might be useful.

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says data will be released proactively and in accessible formats, either for free or at a reasonable cost.

"Improving online access to government data has many potential benefits,” English says.

"These include creating business opportunities and new services, increasing government accountability and improving policy development by encouraging greater external analysis and community engagement.

"Allowing research communities to reuse existing data for new purposes will also increase the value gained from state-funded research.”

Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy adds that the data effectively belongs to the public.

"Over the past decade new technology has meant government data has gradually become more open,” Guy says.

"However, the release of data has been ad hoc and there has been no clear set of expectations.”

Around 1400 government data sets are currently available to the public. Go here to view them, or to make a request.