Cybersecurity Strategy

New Zealand’s 2019 Cyber security Strategy aims for a cyber-secure nation through five priorities:

 Active citizen a capable workforce and ecosystem, an internationally active presence, proactive cybercrime tackling, and a resilient nation. It guides organizations by emphasizing public-private partnerships and fostering capabilities in resilience and response. The strategy could better incorporate Māori perspectives by recognizing kaitiakitanga (guardianship), whanaungatanga (community connection), and manaakitanga (mutual care), integrating indigenous knowledge into digital safety frameworks, and ensuring culturally appropriate access and protection for Māori communities.

Objectives and Core Components

The 2019 Strategy has five key priorities to achieve its vision for a thriving and secure digital Aotearoa:

Cyber security aware and active citizens:

Empowering all New Zealanders to engage online safely and securely.

Strong and capable cyber security workforce and ecosystem:

Building a robust national capacity in cyber security, including education and training.

Internationally active: Engaging in international cooperation and diplomacy to enhance global cyber security.

Proactively tackle cybercrime: Strengthening capabilities and coordination to prevent and respond to cybercrime effectively.

Resilient and responsive New Zealand: Ensuring organizations and critical infrastructure can withstand and recover from cyber incidents.

How the Strategy Guides Organizations

The strategy promotes collaboration between the government, businesses, and individuals to strengthen cyber security:

Promoting awareness and active participation: It encourages organizations to promote cyber security awareness among their employees and stakeholders.

Fostering capability and resilience: By investing in the workforce and developing response capabilities, it helps organizations build more robust defences against cyber threats.

Encouraging partnerships: The strategy emphasizes working together across sectors to share knowledge and resources, creating a more secure digital environment.

Incorporating Māori Perspectives

The 2019 Strategy is a good foundation, but it could better incorporate Māori perspectives by:

Acknowledging cultural values: Integrating principles like kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (mutual care) can guide digital stewardship and community resilience.

Promoting community-led solutions: Empowering Māori communities to develop and implement their own culturally relevant digital safety programs could lead to more effective and inclusive approaches.

Ensuring digital inclusion: Addressing the unique digital safety concerns of Māori, including issues of data sovereignty and access to culturally appropriate online resources, is essential for true community protection.