Trusted digital identity critical for New Zealand’s digital future

26 September 2023

The not-for-profit, Digital Identity NZ, is calling for any future Government to ensure they focus on supporting the uptake of digital identity for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

In their recently released manifesto, the New Zealand digital identity ecosystem seeks to remind Government of the importance of digital identity as a way to revolutionise the lives of all New Zealanders by enabling them to fully participate in the digital economy safely and confidently.

“If people don’t have trust in the safe and secure use of their identity in a digital world, they will not participate, and will miss many opportunities,” says Colin Wallis, executive director of Digital Identity NZ.

“We believe the Government must focus on building a resilient digital identity ecosystem in order to address digital inclusion, and establish trust and security across New Zealand’s economy and society.”

“Our Manifesto outlines four key areas to enable such an environment – how to establish trust and security, empowering digital inclusion, enabling user-centric design and promoting interoperability and standards.”

“The expertise needed to get the right outcomes from Digital Identity for New Zealanders is found less in government and more in industry. As a nation we need to face this reality and change the way we set policy and regulation for technically complex domains, for example biometrics, which I opinioned recently,” says Wallis.

The manifesto calls for increased focus on bridging the digital divide to ensure equitable access to digital identity solutions for all New Zealanders – people and organisations – taking into account Māori tikanga and Māori data sovereignty, and social inclusion for the disadvantaged in our society.

Digital Identity NZ is the voice of digital identity in Aotearoa, a not-for-profit formed to help New Zealand’s transformation as a digital nation, where everyone should have the right and ability to prove who they are in a secure and trusted way. Digital Identity NZ is a part NZTech, the umbrella tech association for New Zealand.

View DINZ’s Manifesto here.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Colin Wallis
DINZ Executive Director

colin.wallis@digitalidentity.nz

021 961 955

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About Digital Identity NZ

Digital Identity NZ was formed to help New Zealand’s transformation as a digital nation, where everyone can prove who they are digitally to organisations in a secure and trusted way.

Digital Identity NZ is a purpose driven, inclusive, membership funded organisation, whose members have a shared passion for the opportunities that digital identity can offer. Digital Identity NZ supports a sustainable, inclusive and trustworthy digital future for all New Zealanders.

For more information, visit our website:  https://digitalidentity.nz/