New Zealand has provided an extra $300,000 funding for the next two years of its Open Government Data and Information Programme - with two thirds of the money being spent over the next year.

The funding was provided in New Zealand’s recent Budget, and the programme will be led by the agency Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).

“The funding will see LINZ accelerate work with public sector agencies to focus their efforts supplying and releasing public data that people want to reuse,” Michael Woodhouse, Land Information Minister said.

In particular, the programme will look at new tools, services and applications using public data, efficiencies gained by agencies using other agencies’ data, and how data reuse contributed to better public services.

The money will also go towards maintaining the New Zealand Open Access and Licensing framework, and providing support to Creative Commons Aotearoa New Zealand.