Review, Restructure, and Reform: Record-Keeping Standards in the New Zealand State Sector

This paper examines public management theory and practice as it evolved in New Zealand and considers the role of standard setting as it applies to recordkeeping in this environment. It outlines the development of the recordkeeping profession and establishment of the National Archives in New Zealand as well as the recent reviews and restructuring of the Archives. It discusses the limited culture of standards setting within the New Zealand recordkeeping profession, how a standard-setting group emerged during the restructure of National Archives, and how standards are evolving into regulatory and operational tools for the Archives. In addition, an outline is given of a government-wide initiative focusing on an information management framework and the need for standards to support its principles, as well as a summary of lessons learned in the development of specific recordkeeping standards. Parts of this paper were originally presented at the 1999 Association of Canadian Archivists/Archives Association of Ontario Conference.