Department of Internal Affairs
Finalist: Best Plain English Turnaround 2013
from www.newzealand.govt.nz to https://beta.govt.nz
Judges' comment
We're in love with this website. It’s amazing. No mean feat considering it covers all of government. It’s so easy to read and navigate. Well done to you all.
In comparing the Ministry of Education rewrite with its original, we had to laugh and wonder how it was possible to make something so clear (the 'after') seem so complicated ('before'). The small text and tsunami of information in the original would make us seek therapy — the rewrite was a whole new world.
Media statement
The Department of Internal Affairs is delighted to be a finalist in this year’s WriteMark Plain English Awards.
The newzealand.govt.nz website was established in 2001 and has served its purpose well. However, we know that the site no longer meets the expectations of modern users. We’re not delivering information that’s focused on the user. We are delivering information that’s important to us.
We’ve changed our approach with beta.govt.nz. Our goal is to make it easier for New Zealanders to interact with government online. We are committed to speaking the language of our users — not the language of government. All of our content is written in plain English and organised around user needs, not government structure.
Beta.govt.nz is just one step in the process to make it easier for New Zealanders to access government information online. The information we gather during this pilot phase will help us ensure the new Govt.nz website is easy to understand and meets the needs of our users.
Laura Sommer
Team Manager Digital Engagement