Press Release
15 April 2007

International Recognition for Archives New Zealand Digital Records Standard

A new Digital Records Standard developed by Archives New Zealand to provide guidance on the digitisation of records is up for adoption by Australia, South Africa and the International Standards Organisation, Dianne Macaskill, Chief Executive of Archives New Zealand, said today.

“Our new standard setting out how state sector and local government organisations should comply with legislative requirements in the Public Records Act 2005 is filling a gap internationally,” Dianne Macaskill said.

“This standard is a world leading product and shows New Zealand is keeping pace with the fast changing electronic world.”

Dianne Macaskill said with the shift to electronic recordkeeping systems, many government agencies are using scanning technology to digitise their paper records. Digitisation has many benefits to organisations – including improved capacity for online service delivery, integration with business systems, information sharing and reduced document storage.

“However, the digitisation process also has its risks, particularly for managing electronic documentation in the long term,” she said.

“Digitisation processes and systems for managing digitised records along with the disposal of the original documents do need to comply with the Public Records Act and the Electronic Transactions Act 2002.

“This new standard has been developed through wide consultation and supports good recordkeeping across all areas of government.

“A new General Disposal Authority for the state sector to streamline the lawful disposal of scanned paper original documents accompanies the new standard, so the two can work effectively together.”

The Digitisation Standard and General Disposal Authority will be launched in Wellington this evening. More information is available on the Archives New Zealand website at: http://www.archives.govt.nz/continuum/

ENDS

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