26 September 2006
Open source is taking root internationally in the public sector from Brazil to Germany, and increasingly in New Zealand too. While cost savings are a factor (in 2001 the Brazilian government paid over US$1billion in license fees alone), open source solutions are increasingly being adopted for critical IT systems in government.
Catalyst has enabled the Electoral Enrolment Centre to fully embrace open source from desktops to the high-end applications that manage the electoral roll, and secure communications between the Centre and its field officers.
A combination of technology and the people processes has enabled the EEC to become one of six most accurate electoral enrolment registers in the world. Open source also enables the EEC to remain innovative, providing a high-quality service to New Zealanders in what is a contestable role.
At the end of the day "It's people who make decisions, not the computers" as Centre manager Murray Wicks points out.