Government Web Standards
All Standards
The New Zealand Government Web Standards and Recommendations v 1.0 apply from 1 January 2008. Standards are mandatory, and Recommendations should be implemented.
The Web Standards and Recommendations are also available as printable checklists of all Standards and all Recommendations.
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 6.1.1 Not available
- 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 6.1.4 Not available
- 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
