Release your agency's data for Mix and Mash NZ 2011

The National Library's DigitalNZ team, along with data.govt.nz, will be running the Mix and Mash NZ competition again this year in August. The competition aligns with Direction 2 of the Directions and Priorities for government ICT, as it aims to demonstrate to government agencies the value of releasing open government held data for reuse.

Competition entrants will use available government held data and combine it with other data and/or present it in an interesting/engaging way, usually via a web or mobile application.

Last year's inaugural Mix and Mash NZ competition attracted a high level of interest within the New Zealand software developer community and had over 40 application entries. Daniel Pietzsch won the ‘Supreme Mashup’ award for his NZ Walks Information entry. It provides a unique view of DOC's geospatial tracks and huts data.

DOC benefited from their involvement in the Mix and Mash 2010 competition by gaining:

•    greater public awareness of recreation opportunities;

•    improved awareness within the Department of the Open Government Data initiative, the need for data sharing and the opportunities that this presents; and

•    opportunities to improve internal data management processes and systems.Your agency can be involved in Mix and Mash 2011 by:

•    considering what data your agency could release in time for the competition start date (1 August 2011).

•    considering what particular problems/challenges you could identify as suggestions for entrants, where they could help with potential solutions or provide another viewpoint on your data.

The Mix and Mash organising team can provide advice on:

•    appropriate datasets, formats and any required conversion;

•    the data release process, including application of the NZGOAL framework

•    forming problem/challenge statements;

•    listing your data on data.govt.nz.

Please contact Nadia Webster @dia.govt.nz to discuss this opportunity further.