The Web Accessibility Standard will be replaced by the Digital Accessibility Standard. This will include accessibility for non-web-based documents and mobile applications as well as websites.
The New Zealand Government Web standards
In the early s, digital government services were all about websites. In , Cabinet mandated that all public service departments — along with the NZ Police, the NZ Defence Force, and the Parliamentary Counsel Office — make their websites accessible, that is, usable by disabled people.
The currently mandated New Zealand Government Web Standards are made up of the Web Accessibility Standard and the Web Usability Standard — which were last updated in .
Evolving accessibility beyond the browser
The scope of digital government services has expanded significantly since . The government now delivers digital services through websites and mobile applications. People are reading and filling in government PDFs and Microsoft Word documents on their smartphones and tablets.
To help ensure these non-web-based documents and mobile applications are also accessible, the Web Accessibility Standard must become the Digital Accessibility Standard (DAS). We need a standard that will better support the creation of accessible digital services — no matter how they’re delivered.
To develop the DAS, we — the Department of Internal Affairs Web Standards team — are talking to:
- the people who create and deliver accessible services, products or information
- members of the disabled community who use them.
If you’d like to be involved in the research, contact us at web.standards@dia.govt.nz.
New Zealand’s commitment to digital accessibility
This is reflected in a range of legislation and policy. The most fundamental of these is the Human Rights Act , which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of disability.
We also have the Bill of Rights Act that affirms the government’s legal obligation to not discriminate in its activities on the grounds set out in the Human Rights Act.
In , NZ signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). In , it ratified the UNCRPD, requiring the NZ Government to promote, monitor, and report on the accessibility of the services it provides.
The NZ Disability Strategy, published by Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People, guides the work of government agencies on disability issues.
The Strategy for a Digital Public Service is a commitment to ensure that government digital services are accessible.
Collectively, these laws and policies provide a foundation for the goals of the new standard.
- Human Rights Act — Legislation NZ
- New Zealand Bill of Rights Act — Legislation NZ
- UNCRPD — United Nations
- NZ Disability Strategy — Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People
- The Strategy for a Digital Public Service
What other countries are doing to improve digital accessibility
The European Union (EU)
In , the EU introduced several new changes for public sector organisations. This included the adoption of the European standard, EN 301 549 Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services.
This standard is based on an older version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, WCAG 2.1, produced by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). However, it extends the WCAG requirements to all information and communications technologies. The next version of EN 301 549, coming in , will be based on WCAG 2.2.
EU member states are legally required to make their public sector websites and mobile applications accessible. Since , the European Accessibility Act (EAA) requires that private sector companies make their digital products and services accessible. Complying with EN 301 549 is the best way to meet both legal requirements.
European Accessibility Act — European Commission
Other countries
Other countries, like Canada, Türkiye, India, Japan, and Australia have also adopted EN 301 549, and New Zealand is currently in the process of doing so.
Foundations of the new Digital Accessibility Standard
The DAS will be based on the European standard, EN 301 549. This will allow us to point to a single standard for the accessibility of websites, mobile applications, emails and digital documents.
We’re also looking to broaden the scope of government organisations the DAS will apply to.
Who we’re talking to
As part of our research into people's experiences of the current accessibility standard, we’re talking to:
- disabled people’s organisations and service providers who advocate for different groups of disabled people, and have a deep understanding of their lived experience using digital tools
- disabled people with first-hand experience of interacting with digital services within New Zealand
- leaders and decision-makers who can guide how the NZ Government Web Standards are applied and supported within government agencies
- people working for the public sector who plan, build and deliver digital services and tools
- organisations that provide digital tools and services for people in New Zealand, and who practice applying accessibility standards in their daily work.
Get involved in the research
We need to hear from people who are directly affected by updates to the standard. If you’re part of one of the groups mentioned above, we’d love to hear from you about being part of our research. This may include:
- attending an online or in-person workshop about the new Digital Accessibility Standard
- participating in an individual interview with one of our researchers
- completing a survey about your experience interacting with digital government services or building and delivering them.
If you’d like to be involved in the research, contact us at web.standards@dia.govt.nz.
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