New Zealand launches government app
The government of New Zealand has released an app that aims to make it easier for people to access government services.
The Govt.nz app will initially provide access to information and services from across government and the ability for users to customise their experience by saving the most relevant services to a personal dashboard. It will also include emergency warnings from the National Emergency Management Agency and Fire and Emergency.
Judith Collins, digitising government and public service minister, said: “The Govt.nz app provides a secure option for people to access government information and services from their mobile phones.
“This is an important milestone in our work to ensure we have a digital public service that is customer-focused, efficient, and future-ready.”
Further plans for the app over the coming months include an AI assistant, secure messaging and notifications, and a digital wallet to hold identity credentials like licences and qualifications. The app is available on both iOS and Android platforms.
Read more: New Zealand launches its first national AI strategy
‘Just the start’
“The app released today is just the start,” said Collins. “I look forward to seeing New Zealanders benefit from these improvements as we continue to expand the app’s capabilities.”
Use of the app is optional and people will continue to be able to access government services in a range of ways, Collins said, adding: “Our goal is to offer an option that is secure and convenient, while maintaining the highest standards of safety.”
In user research carried out in May 2025, 39% of survey respondents said they would be extremely or very likely to download and use an “all-of-government app”.
Users highlighted the importance of receiving user-friendly notifications and reminders, and being able to easily act on them, such as being able to provide information or make payments in a few clicks or taps.
Read more: New Zealand eyes billions in savings through centralised technology procurement
UK app
The UK government launched the first version of its GOV.UK app in July, enabling users to access existing government webpages, customise the home page, and register their postcode to find local council services.
According to the latest data, there have been 260,000 downloads of the app so far. The current version features AI-powered search; remembers previously visited pages; and enables users to opt in for push notifications and real-time updates. The app is in ‘public beta’, which means significant development work is still ongoing.
Additional plans for next year include increasing personalisation options; working with departments to identify services that could be delivered through the app; and introducing an AI-powered GOV.UK Chat feature.
The UK government is also planning to launch a GOV.UK Wallet, which will store government identity documents such as digital driving licences and will eventually be integrated into the GOV.UK App.
An app for that: A session at Global Government Forum’s Innovation 2026 event (London, March 24 and 25, 2026) will look at how to develop government apps to meet citizens’ expectations, and make them intuitive, useful and attractive as a channel. This will include learning from private sector customer experience, taking a user-centred approach, and tackling the back-end complexity such as data silos and lack of interoperability.
About Sarah Wray
Sarah has over 15 years’ experience as a journalist with a specialism in the public sector and topics such as digitalisation and climate action. Sarah was formerly the editor of Cities Today and Smart Cities World, as well as a specialist video-based publication in the aerospace sector. She has also written for publications including Smart Cities Dive, Mobile Europe, Mobile World Live and Computer Weekly.
Related Posts
