The govt.nz app

Forums › ICT Policies and Regulation › The govt.nz app

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

1330 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 735

Trusted

#3442431 10-Dec-2025 16:57

It's worth noting that this is a building block for future aggregation of NZ Government information - so 'watch this space' applies.

No signature to see here, move along...

ascroft

437 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 177

#3442454 10-Dec-2025 17:20

Hoping it won't be like the national transport ticketing system - squillions over 16 years and replaced by standard mobile features for $5m - for basic aspects anyway.......

Think I will wait for the Apple Wallet version.

"Artificial Intelligence" - aka Machine Learning 2.0

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#3442465 10-Dec-2025 18:11

michaelmurfy:

But seems to be awfully pointless for now.

Yeah, not a fan of our tax money being spent on this. It is like an app for apps sake, when a mobile website would serve the same purpose. Maybe once it has more services and integration with all the government departments it would be useful.

Also the fact that it only work on devices that have iOS 18 or higher is bad, there is no reason why it needs such a new version of iOS to run. So many elderly in particular sport older iphones which are perfectly usable.

gzt

18679 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7809

Lifetime subscriber

#3442468 10-Dec-2025 18:18

iOS 17 is out of security patch support that will be the reason. By the time the app does anything useful 17 will be long gone.

sentry

1 post

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 2

ID Verified

#3442492 10-Dec-2025 19:14

freitasm:

Why bother with a new government app for digital ID? What a waste of money. Just use the Android and iOS wallets for that.

Everything else in the app is... not needed.

This article mentions a bit more about the wallet situation:

The digital wallet was required because existing ones, such as those provided by Apple and Google, won’t work with accredited IDs - at least in the immediate future.

This preliminary design research seems to hint at some possible future additions. We already know about secure messaging, notifications and digital credentials.

The bottom section of the Terms and Conditions reserves the right to "deliver push notifications for surveys, reminders or updates." as well.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80646 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41030

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3442494 10-Dec-2025 19:25

sentry:

freitasm:

Why bother with a new government app for digital ID? What a waste of money. Just use the Android and iOS wallets for that.

Everything else in the app is... not needed.

This article mentions a bit more about the wallet situation:

The digital wallet was required because existing ones, such as those provided by Apple and Google, won’t work with accredited IDs - at least in the immediate future.

Thanks for the link. Since that article Digital ID have been made available on both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, so there's no reason not to use these.

It's reinventing the wheel, similar to Snapper creating their version of Android-based store value using a secure SIM (Semble, announced in 2015), which was quickly replaced with Touch2Pay and then discontinued.

As for notifications, sure. But I don't think cramming Digital Id in there is a good use of tax dollars.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Handle9

11924 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9675

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3442495 10-Dec-2025 19:26

gzt: iOS 17 is out of security patch support that will be the reason. By the time the app does anything useful 17 will be long gone.

Seems like a very good reason then.

You always need to look at these things from the perspective of "if there was a breach and it ended up in the media" what would they report? Things like unlocked bootloaders and OS without security support is easy meat for the media and those who choose to think every government employee is a lazy idiot

panther2

385 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 143

#3442504 10-Dec-2025 20:01

Looks half baked. Time to uninstall until something release ready is avaliable

lxsw20

3689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2174

Subscriber

#3442519 10-Dec-2025 21:29

PM: The app needs to be live by Christmas
Engineer: But it doesn't do anything useful yet
PM: I said by Christmas......

Stu1

1892 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 489

ID Verified

Subscriber

#3442522 10-Dec-2025 21:53

BlakJak:

It's worth noting that this is a building block for future aggregation of NZ Government information - so 'watch this space' applies.

It will be another waste of money just like RealMe , I am guessing this is one of DIAs pet projects

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80646 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41030

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3442524 10-Dec-2025 22:00

I am not sure RealMe is a waste. It is used across domains and services, it helps with some document requests.

I would think RealMe needs a wider adoption but it is something interesting.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

fe31nz

1294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 423

#3442577 10-Dec-2025 23:59

On my new Flip 7 the app initially said "This device does not meet the govt.nz requirements". But when I pushed the back button a couple of times it changed its mind and started working.

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12765

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3442623 11-Dec-2025 09:11

I don't know if it was PWC, KPMG, EY or Datacom who developed this for the Government. I wonder what the cost was? It does not seem like value for money.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Oblivian

7345 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2117

ID Verified

#3442624 11-Dec-2025 09:17

MikeB4:

I don't know if it was PWC, KPMG, EY or Datacom who developed this for the Government. I wonder what the cost was? It does not seem like value for money.

It's in the partnership update in july. None of the above.

Dave Clark NZ and MATTR

https://www.dia.govt.nz/press.nsf/d77da9b523f12931cc256ac5000d19b6/bdccdd5cd7d17e88cc258cd100133def!OpenDocument

Stu1

1892 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 489

ID Verified

Subscriber

#3442626 11-Dec-2025 09:23

freitasm:

I am not sure RealMe is a waste. It is used across domains and services, it helps with some document requests.

I would think RealMe needs a wider adoption but it is something interesting.

Conceptually it’s a good idea but it’s such a barrier for customers to set up reset passwords. Uptake of apps using RealMe is low, that’s why a lot of Govt departments are looking at social media logins. It needs a complete overhaul, there are still old Igovt log ins there . It’s terrible

1 | 2 | 3 | 4