New Zealand signs up to open government commitment

WELLINGTON - New Zealand is to join the Open Government Partnership (OGP) group of 60 nations that promotes open and transparent government, State Services Minister Jonathan Coleman announced Friday.

Coleman, who is attending the OGP Summit in London on October 31 and November 1, said in a statement from his office that OGP membership would show New Zealand was committed to promoting open and transparent government.

New Zealand planned to develop an OGP Action Plan that built on the government's existing efforts to improve public services, said Coleman.

The OGP, which started with just eight states in 2011, commits member governments to promote transparent and open government through empowering citizens, fighting corruption and harnessing new technologies.