The New Zealand government will be refreshing its approach to cybersecurity, giving a facelift to its existing Cyber Security Strategy and Action Plan introduced in 2015.

According to Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister Clare Curran, the increasing number of cyber threats has provided criminals with new avenues to cause harm in New Zealand. She said the widespread use of connected devices and the security challenges of emerging technology are intensifying the problems.

"So it's timely for us to step up New Zealand's cybersecurity efforts so that we are not left vulnerable to cyber intrusion and to refresh the 2015 strategy so we can deal with increasingly bold, brazen, and disruptive threats," Curran said.

"This government has committed to building a connected nation, promoting, and protecting digital rights. We intend to close the digital divides by 2020, and to make ICT the second largest contributor to GDP by 2025. A modern, responsive cybersecurity system is essential to this."

The refresh plan [PDF][1], penned by Curran, points to the National Cyber Security Centre's (NCSC) Cyber Threat Report 2016-17 that revealed the NCSC recorded 396 incidents during the 12-month period and provided "hands-on, intensive incident response" on 31 occasions.

It said the clear trend is "an upward trajectory of cybersecurity threats".

"Cyber threat actors are increasingly bold, brazen, and disruptive. New Zealand's geographical location does not exempt us from this threat," it continued.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet approved New Zealand's second Cyber Security Strategy, Action Plan, and National Plan to Address Cybercrime in November 2015.

"The strategy has served us well as an overarching framework for cross-government work under four goals: Cyber resilience, cyber capability, addressing cybercrime,

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