New Zealand Government Web Standards 1.0
New standards released
The New Zealand Government Web Standards 2.0 were released in March 2009 and replace the previous version, the New Zealand Government Web Standards 1.0 (below). See Meeting the standards for more information.
1. Images
- 1.1 Alternative text for every non-text element
- 1.2 Client side image maps preferred over server side image maps
- 1.3 Text description of visual track of a multimedia presentation
- Recommendation 3.1.1 Use appropriate mark-up language when it exists
2. Colour
- 2.1 Information conveyed with colour must be available without colour
- 2.2 Contrast between foreground and background colours
3. Site Markup
- 3.1 Documents validate to published formal grammars
- 3.2 Use elements to convey document structure and mark up lists properly
- 3.3 Do not use deprecated features of W3C technologies
- 3.4 Relative rather than absolute units
- Recommendation 3.1.1 Use appropriate mark-up language when it exists
- Recommendation 3.1.2 Use W3C technologies when available
- Recommendation 3.1.3 Provide abbreviations for header labels
4. Special Purpose Documents
- 4.1 Document size and type with document links
- 4.2 Publish documents in most accessible format possible
- 4.3 Use of PDF documents
- 4.4 Website documents for specialist audiences identified as such
- 4.5 Website special-purpose documents identified as such
- Recommendation 4.1.1 Information for users to select their documents to their preference
- Recommendation 4.1.2 Versions and other aspects of a document
- Recommendation 4.1.3 Compression of large files or collections of small files
- Recommendation 4.1.4 Create documents primarily in the valid formal grammars
5. Writing Content
- 5.1 Identify changes in natural language of document text
- 5.2 Identify the primary natural language of a document
- 5.3 Expansion of abbreviations and acronyms in a document
- 5.4 Substituting umlauted vowels for macronised vowels
- 5.5 Height and width attributes are specified in the IMG element
- 5.6 Underlining is not used for any items making up text or headings
- 5.7 Provide metadata to pages and sites
- Recommendation 5.1.1 Use the clearest and simplest language appropriate for the site content
- Recommendation 5.1.2 Supplement text with graphic or auditory presentations
- Recommendation 5.1.3 The alt text ends with a full point and a space
6. Site Content
- 6.1 Agency sites provide publicly available reports
- 6.2 Agency sites provide consultation documents
- 6.3 Agency sites provide press notices from the agency
- 6.4 Agency sites provide mandatory email addresses
- 6.5 Superseded material is marked as superseded
- 6.6 Paid advertising not hosted on a site
- Recommendation 6.1.2 Paper-based forms provided by an agency are made available on its web site
- Recommendation 6.1.3 Agency sites provide contact details for specific policy or services
- Recommendation 6.1.5 Avoid the usage of underscores in URLs
- Recommendation 6.1.6 Discovery-level URLs are descriptive and less than 50 characters long
- Recommendation 6.1.7 Plan in place to ensure material on the website is accurate and up to date
- Recommendation 6.1.8 Disclaiming content
- Recommendation 6.1.9 Media releases and consultation documents available as an RSS feed
7. Page Layout
- 7.1 Associate labels explicitly with their controls
- 7.2 Create a logical tab order through links
- 7.3 Include non-link printable characters between adjacent links
- 7.4 Web pages are able to be printed in whole
8. Navigation
- 8.1 Identify the target of each link
- 8.2 External and internal links are valid
- 8.3 Compulsory links on every web page
- 8.4 Navigation access keys
- Recommendation 8.1.1 Use navigation mechanisms in a consistent manner
- Recommendation 8.1.2 Differing searches for skill levels if searching provided
- Recommendation 8.1.3 Non-government links not an endorsement
9. Style Sheets
- 9.1 Organise documents so they may be read without style sheets
- 9.2 Use style sheets to control layout and presentation of page and elements
10. Dynamic Content
- 10.1 Ensuring dynamic content is accessible
- 10.2 No blinking or scrolling text and flashing objects
- Recommendation 10.1.1 Minimise movement in pages
11. Tables
- 11.1 Table row and column headers
- 11.2 Mark-up for data and header cells in tables
- 11.3 Do not use tables for layout
- 11.4 Provide summaries for tables
12. Frames
13. Scripting and Applets
- 13.1 Pages usable when scripts applets and other programmatic objects turned off
- 13.2 Alternative event handlers and device dependence
14. Page Refreshing
15. Site Behaviour
- 15.1 Pop-ups and other windows appearing
- 15.2 Unique interfacing and device-independence
- 15.3 Keyboard shortcuts
- 15.4 Skipping over long lists of unwanted links
16. Site Layout
- 16.1 Links to homepage of Main agency web site
- 16.2 Minimum content of homepages
- 16.3 Minimum content within About This Site
- 16.4 Minimum content within Main agency web site
- 16.5 Crown Copyright
- 16.6 Copyright of third parties
- 16.7 Privacy Statement
- Recommendation 16.1.1 Divide large blocks of information into manageable groups
- Recommendation 16.1.2 Provide information about the general layout of a site
- Recommendation 16.1.3 Placement of distinguishing information
- Recommendation 16.1.4 Provide information about document collections
- Recommendation 16.1.5 Create a style of presentation that is consistent across pages
- Recommendation 16.1.6 A homepage has a link to Search or a search box
17. Archiving
18. Quality Assurance
- 18.1 Minimum web browsers and their respective versions for sites to work in
- Recommendation 18.1.1 Operating systems and device types for sites to work on
19. Data Tracking
- 19.1 Data tracking able to be disabled
- 19.2 Rules governing storage of tracking data
- 19.3 Client-side personally identifiable data storage
- 19.4 Encryption of personal information in tracking data
- Recommendation 19.1.1 Scope of collecting tracking data
- Recommendation 19.1.2 Server side session state
20. Authentication
- 20.1 Requesting users to authenticate themselves
- Recommendation 20.1.1 Standards to comply with if requesting user authentication
21. Security
- 21.1 Security requirements for internet exchange of personal information
- 21.2 Compliance to PCI DSS for credit card details online
22. Online Forms
- 22.1 FIELDSET element grouping related form elements
- 22.2 Descriptive labels tagged
- 22.3 Confirmation of information submitted online
23. Tendering and Contracting
- 23.1 GETS notified of tenders on or over the government procurement threshold
- 23.2 Specifying compliance with web standards and recommendations
- 23.3 Data re-use by third party hosts
30. Site Delivery
31. Operational
- Recommendation 31.1.1 A comprehensive disaster recovery plan
- Recommendation 31.1.2 Accommodating any discussion forums
32. Web Strategy
- Recommendation 32.1.1 Agency incorporating the E-government policy framework into its web strategy
- Recommendation 32.1.2 Agency incorporating the disability strategy into its web strategy
- Recommendation 32.1.3 Agency incorporating the Maori language strategy into its web strategy
- Recommendation 32.1.4 Agency having a record-keeping strategy
