Latest news with #PaulJames
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Traffic filter to be installed after concerns in Guernsey
A new traffic filter is to be introduced to improve road safety, following islander's is set to be sited at the junction between Les Varioufs, Rue des Huriaux and La Rue de la Corbinerie, near Les Bourgs Hospice charity junction is expected to be closed on 12 July from 09:00 GMT, for most of the day, to allow the works to be carried out States of Guernsey said the new filter has come about because of islander feedback about limited visibility and reports of traffic collisions at the junction. Paul James, road safety officer at Traffic and Highway Services, said the junction "met the threshold for installing a filter", which will bring improved road safety with minimal impact on said: "We proactively monitor key junctions across the island to see what improvements can be made and then take appropriate action."Improving road safety for all road users continues to be one of our top priorities."
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Is your home being left behind in the broadband revolution?
It's 2025, but in many British homes, the internet is still behaving like it's 2015, writers Paul James of Octaplus. Despite full-fibre broadband being available to nearly 70% of UK households, just over a third are actually using it. According to Ofcom's latest figures, this means millions of families are still relying on ageing copper-based connections to power increasingly digital lives. That disconnect isn't just technical—it's personal. Whether it's a buffering box set, a glitchy Zoom call, or the smart doorbell that works one day and crashes the next, many of us have felt it: the creeping frustration that our home internet just can't keep up. Some blame the devices. Others reboot the router. But often, the problem is deeper—our homes simply aren't future-ready. In a time when children learn, parents work, and families unwind through connected screens, lagging behind isn't just annoying—it's isolating. And when your neighbours seem to stream in 4K with ease while you're stuck waiting for files to upload, that gap feels even wider. There's a growing sense among households that they're being left out of the digital fast lane. And it's not about vanity—it's about inclusion. Falling behind in broadband performance can affect everything from your child's online schoolwork to your job's video meetings. It's about having the confidence that your home is equipped for what life throws at it—whether that's hosting family on a video call, gaming online without lag, or integrating new smart-home tech without a hitch. Enter Multi-Gig Full Fibre Broadband—a new tier of ultra-fast internet now available in select areas through providers like Octaplus Internet. Offering speeds of 1.8Gbps and 2.3Gbps, it's the kind of infrastructure designed not just for today's demands, but tomorrow's innovations., it's the kind of infrastructure designed not just for today's demands, but tomorrow's innovations. These aren't just numbers—they translate into peace of mind. They mean no dead zones. No frozen screens. No fear of falling behind. The broadband revolution is already underway. The only question is: is your home ready to join it? Upgrading might be simpler—and more affordable—than you think. Visit or call 0333 772 9009 to learn whether Multi-Gig broadband is now available on your street.
Techday NZ
10-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
New Zealand climbs global digital ranking but equity lags
The New Zealand government has recorded improvements across all measures in Adobe's 2024 Digital Government Index, with particular gains in customer experience and site performance, but digital equity continues to require focused attention. Progress in digital services The Digital Government Index (DGI), conducted annually by Adobe, benchmarks individual government agencies and departments on their delivery of functional and inclusive digital services. The 2024 results show New Zealand's overall score increased to 66.5 out of 100, representing an 11.6 per cent rise from its 2023 ranking and a 14.7 per cent lift from the inaugural 2022 assessment. This improvement moves New Zealand into the Intermediate maturity category, alongside all other countries in the study. The increase is largely attributed to a 14 per cent improvement in Customer Experience, which was the highest-rated globally, and a 13 per cent rise in Site Performance. However, the Digital Equity dimension saw only a 7 per cent increase, suggesting more work is needed to ensure equal access to services for all citizens. The Ministry of Education was the top-performing agency in New Zealand, achieving consistent results across the three DGI dimensions without leading in any single category. Strategic approach New Zealand's current digital strategy is guided by the Service Modernisation Roadmap, which was introduced in late 2024 and takes a unified agency approach to service improvement. It is managed by the Government Chief Digital Officer and relies on individual agencies to implement consistent service experiences across government operations. The modernisation programme is grounded in four key pillars: enhancing customer experience, developing reusable digital components, strengthening foundational systems, and improving digital governance. These focus areas are designed to produce efficient and equitable government services for all New Zealanders. "Scaled up across millions of customer interactions, there are opportunities for significant returns on investment from driving a more efficient, customer-centric approach to digital service delivery," said Paul James, Government Chief Digital Officer and Chair of the Digital Executive Board. Comparisons and rankings New Zealand was ranked third globally in the 2024 DGI, following the United Kingdom and Australia, and placed ahead of the United States, India and Singapore. The study assessed 102 agency websites worldwide, with Australia's myGov achieving the top overall score. French Administration and French Retirement completed the top three international websites. The highest-performing websites generally provided accessible entry points to government services, strong accessibility features, and personalised citizen journeys. In New Zealand, the Ministry of Education scored consistently across all measured areas to lead government agencies. Technology and trust Artificial intelligence continues to influence how public sector agencies deliver personalised digital experiences at scale. AI adoption is seen as important not only for automation, but also for constructing a citizen-centric public sector. When implemented strategically, technology such as AI can deliver secure, trusted, and fair experiences, supporting New Zealand's approach to regulation and governance. "Harnessing AI effectively could significantly improve customer experience and boost efficiency and productivity. The Government is seeking to enable AI innovation in public services to create value for New Zealanders while maintaining trust and confidence in the Public Service," said Paul James. Next steps The 2024 DGI results reflect progress in all three measured categories—customer experience, site performance, and digital equity—although individual agency results varied and no single organisation outperformed in every area. The report emphasises the importance of continued effort across all dimensions to meet the expectations of citizens and keep pace with technology advancements. The study also notes that agencies with more mature technology and personalisation capabilities tend to achieve higher DGI scores. The report concludes that while there has been commendable progress, there remains scope to expand inclusion efforts through technology improvements, in order to foster trust, participation and growth among all citizens.
Scoop
01-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Government Chief Digital Officer Issues Standard To Protect Government-held Personal Information
Press Release – Department Of Internal Affairs Mr James, also Secretary for Internal Affairs, emphasises the importance of this new standard in maintaining public trust and confidence. The Government Chief Digital Officer Paul James today issued a new standard to enhance the protection of government-held personal information. 'To retain the trust and confidence of the public, government agencies must put privacy and transparency at the heart of their service delivery and management of personal information,' says Mr James. 'The new Standard for providing non-government third parties with access to, or collection of, government-held personal information places clear expectations on all parties and will support agencies to adopt stronger information security, management and assurance practices.' Agreements with third parties must confirm that any potential, perceived or real conflicts of interest have been disclosed, that these will be appropriately managed by the third party, and that the third party has processes for ongoing disclosure of new conflicts. The new standard, developed by the GCDO in collaboration with a cross-agency working group, sets minimum expectations for public service agencies when arranging access to or collecting personal information with non-government third parties. Many public services are delivered by third-party providers who are best placed to do so due to their location, relationships, knowledge and expertise. Sharing personal information is an essential component of this therefore we must get it right. The new standard requires public service agencies to conduct a risk assessment whenever personal information is to be shared and includes robust safeguards to protect individual privacy and directs agencies to apply best practices when granting access to personal information. Mr James, also Secretary for Internal Affairs, emphasises the importance of this new standard in maintaining public trust and confidence. 'Government agencies are custodians of New Zealanders' personal information. How they handle that information is essential to public trust and confidence,' says Mr James. 'This new standard aims to ensure personal information is accessed and used responsibly, with appropriate safeguards to protect privacy.' 'We are committed to working closely with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to ensure that the standard aligns with existing legal requirements and enhances the overall protection of personal information,' says Mr James. The standard will be mandatory for all public service agencies from 1 July 2025. Other State services agencies are encouraged to adopt it. It offers more options for assurance, audit, and addressing non-compliance, helping agencies establish clear legal responsibilities with third parties. Chief Executives must ensure their agencies implement the standard. The development of this standard follows an inquiry into the protection of personal information which found some agencies fell short on their responsibility to protect and manage the sharing of personal information.
Scoop
01-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Government Chief Digital Officer Issues Standard To Protect Government-held Personal Information
The Government Chief Digital Officer Paul James today issued a new standard to enhance the protection of government-held personal information. 'To retain the trust and confidence of the public, government agencies must put privacy and transparency at the heart of their service delivery and management of personal information,' says Mr James. 'The new Standard for providing non-government third parties with access to, or collection of, government-held personal information places clear expectations on all parties and will support agencies to adopt stronger information security, management and assurance practices.' Agreements with third parties must confirm that any potential, perceived or real conflicts of interest have been disclosed, that these will be appropriately managed by the third party, and that the third party has processes for ongoing disclosure of new conflicts. The new standard, developed by the GCDO in collaboration with a cross-agency working group, sets minimum expectations for public service agencies when arranging access to or collecting personal information with non-government third parties. Many public services are delivered by third-party providers who are best placed to do so due to their location, relationships, knowledge and expertise. Sharing personal information is an essential component of this therefore we must get it right. The new standard requires public service agencies to conduct a risk assessment whenever personal information is to be shared and includes robust safeguards to protect individual privacy and directs agencies to apply best practices when granting access to personal information. Mr James, also Secretary for Internal Affairs, emphasises the importance of this new standard in maintaining public trust and confidence. "Government agencies are custodians of New Zealanders' personal information. How they handle that information is essential to public trust and confidence," says Mr James. "This new standard aims to ensure personal information is accessed and used responsibly, with appropriate safeguards to protect privacy.' 'We are committed to working closely with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to ensure that the standard aligns with existing legal requirements and enhances the overall protection of personal information," says Mr James. The standard will be mandatory for all public service agencies from 1 July 2025. Other State services agencies are encouraged to adopt it. It offers more options for assurance, audit, and addressing non-compliance, helping agencies establish clear legal responsibilities with third parties. Chief Executives must ensure their agencies implement the standard. The development of this standard follows an inquiry into the protection of personal information which found some agencies fell short on their responsibility to protect and manage the sharing of personal information.
