01 March 2010

US-NZ Comparisons: The Obama Directive and a Comparison with New Zealand

“Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies”

Open Government Directive from Peter R. Orszag, Director of the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C., December 8, 2009

"The three principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration form the cornerstone of an open government. Transparency promotes accountability by providing the public with information about what the Government is doing. Participation allows members of the public to contribute ideas and expertise so that their government can make policies with the benefit of information that is widely dispersed in society. Collaboration improves the effectiveness of Government by encouraging partnerships and cooperation within the Federal Government, across levels of government, and between the Government and private institutions."

Government – Community Engagement

A reflection on recent initiatives in the United States and New Zealand looks at how the governments can better engage with their publics.

This paper and the following were sent by the Head of the Kettering Foundation, David Mathews (a former Secretary of State for Education) to the Obama Administration people dealing with their open government project.

The Comparative table and references is attached to the comparative report on recent initiatives in the United States and New Zealand, looking at how the governments can better engage with their publics.

Kayt Robinson, 4 December 2009