Digital Investment Office

The Digital Investment Office supports the Government Chief Digital Officer and works with the Treasury and other public sector system leaders to achieve government-wide strategies and outcomes for digital investment.

Role of the Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO)

The GCDO is mandated to oversee and drive strategically aligned digital investments across the public sector.

Government system leads

The strengthened Digital Investment Mandate in May 2022 led to:

  • the establishment of the Digital Investment Office (DIO)
  • the GCDO having more influence over public sector digital investments.

The GCDO supported by the DIO, encourages the efficiency of agencies’ digital investments and makes sure they align with the Strategy for a Digital Public Service and wider government outcomes.

Strategy for a Digital Public Service

Public Service system leaders — Public Service Commission

What the Digital Investment Office (DIO) does

The DIO provides insights into current and planned digital spending. The GCDO and government agencies use these insights to inform strategic digital investments and priorities across the public sector.

The regular work of the DIO from which these insights come is described under these 5 categories:

Data collection, monitoring and analysis

  • Monitoring system direction and providing insights on priorities for government digital investments.
  • Collecting data, analysing trends and developing insights to identify wider implications for the public service.
  • Using all-of-government data about digital initiatives to identify:
    • risks and opportunities
    • any need for government interventions and responses.

Reporting, guidance and advice

  • Reviewing digital investment settings.
  • Updating principles, guidance and tools to help with identification and evaluation of digital investments.
  • Informing the Treasury, other public service system leaders, central government agencies, policy groups, and ministers about digital investments. This helps to determine investment priorities and funding for digital investments, whether through current spending levels (baselines) or new money from budget bids.

Working with others

  • Working collaboratively with public sector system leaders, to support system settings that maximise the impact of digital data and cyber-security investment outcomes and benefits.
  • Joining with groups across the Digital Public Service branch of Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs, to develop advice, insights, and guidance to inform public sector engagement.

Supporting Cloud First

  • Measuring and reporting on cloud services uptake and spend across the public sector.
  • Managing approval of on-premises information and communications technology (ICT) investment exceptions to the Cloud First policy.

About public cloud services

On-premises ICT investment — assessment process and exceptions criteria

Supporting government agencies

  • Sharing the data and insights the GCDO has from:
    • annual surveys
    • government procurement of digital services
    • lessons learnt.
  • Providing advice to agencies about their digital investment direction and prioritisation.
  • Supporting agencies through their Cloud First on-premises ICT investment exception assessments.

Who the GCDO and DIO collaborate with

The GCDO and DIO work collaboratively with the Treasury and other public service system leaders to achieve government-wide strategies and outcomes for digital investment.

Collaborating with Te Tai Ōhanga The Treasury

The DIO’s work sits within the “Think” (renamed to ‘Intentions’) phase of the Treasury’s investment management system.

The Treasury is accountable for developing and maintaining the rules, thresholds, and processes around investment management for major projects and programmes.

Agencies planning major ICT or digital initiatives should contact both the Treasury and the GCDO.

Visit the Treasury’ website to learn about:

Digital, data, and cyber security investment

The close connection between digital, data, and cyber security investments is why the GCDO and DIO also work with these public service system leaders.

  • Government Chief Data Steward (GCDS) — about data investments
  • Government Chief Information Security Officer (GCISO) — for cyber security investments
  • Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)

Key contacts to email

Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs

Te Tai Ōhanga The Treasury

Tatauranga Aotearoa Stats NZ

Te Tira Tiaki Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB)

Related advice

Utility links and page information

Was this page helpful?
Thanks, do you want to tell us more?

Do not enter personal information. All fields are optional.

Last updated