Work on online encyclopaedia to start next year

Work will begin next year on an online encyclopaedia of New Zealand.

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Judith Tizard said yesterday that it would provide a comprehensive guide to the country's natural environment, history, culture, economics, institutions and social development.

"This will be one of the most significant cultural investments that we as a nation have made to building and enhancing the nation's identity," said Helen Clark.

Judith Tizard said the encyclopaedia, which would give access to images, sounds, film clips, maps and original documents, would be an essential tool for people, from school students working on projects to academics doing advanced research.

It would cost $1.1 million over nine years, the ministers said, and would be produced by the history group of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

The previous official Encyclopaedia of New Zealand was published in 1966.

Helen Clark said: "It sold over 30,000 copies within a year and has been out of print ever since."

- NZPA