The changing face of local egovernment in New Zealand

In New Zealand, there is a national digital strategy with targets for 2010 in place set by the State Services Commission. In this paper, the extent to which e-participation targets have been met by local governments in New Zealand is explored, particularly with respect to social networking facilities made available on local government websites. A two-level theoretical framework based on core systems thinking principles is presented that provides a means of evaluating 2010 targets for local governments and citizens. The impact of structural change particularly on meeting 2010 participation targets for local government are explored from both local government web developers and the public view via an analysis of participation facilities offered on local government websites.