Digital Development Forum

The Digital Development Forum was set up to represent the varied interests of the wider digital community, with representation from the business, local government, ICT users (such as academics and the research and science sector) the community and voluntary sectors, and the ICT industry.

Forum membership was self-selecting and effectively a coalition of existing bodies - an "association of associations". Members included not-for-profit organisations and associations whose core mission or objectives supported the goals and objectives of the Forum and the Council.

The Forum was not a legally constituted body but members were exepcted to contribute actively to its work.

Key Activities

Agree on strategic priorities for the Digital Development Council.
Provide an independent stream of advice to and dialogue with the government on the development and implementation of the Digital Strategy and related digital policy initiatives.
Facilitate the sharing of knowledge and learnings

Videos

Videos of the event on 23 September in Wellington are on the R2 site, here:

Digital Development Forum - Whole session as one video
Plenary report back from sector breakout sessions for Creative and Cultural, Business, Local Government, ICT, Community and Voluntary
Speech by Hon David Cunliffe, Minister for Communications and Information Technology
Plenary Q & A, with Hon David Cunliffe and Hon Juidth Tizard, Assoc Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage

About

The Digital Development Council and the Digital Development Forum were set up in July 2008 to help New Zealand become a world leader in using information and technology. Recognising that there are many organisations in this space, it was designed to forge a stronger digital alliance and build a national action plan.

However, the new Government, elected in November 2008, preferred to work directly with the individual bodies, and in February 2009, the Government confirmed it would withdraw core funding for the Digital Development Council.

The Council had intended to use this funding as a springboard to launch projects and seek supporting funds from outside government. However, in the absence of government funding and support, Council members decided to dis-establish the DDC as an Incorporated Society.

DDC Council Members were: Telecommunications Users Association (TUANZ), InternetNZ, NZ Computer Society, Women in Technology, the 2020 Communications Trust, Local Government NZ, Business NZ, Te Huarahi Tika Trust, the ICT industry (NZ ICT) and a representative of the community and voluntary sector.