Address by Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, New Zealand

Ananta Centre in collaboration with the New Zealand High Commission, New Delhi, hosted a special address with Rt. Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New Zealand  followed by a fireside chat with Mr Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, Government of India on the 30^th May 2025. The discussion centred on the importance of a comprehensive Data Management Policy (DMP) for development sector organisations, particularly in the Indian context. Experts underscored that data should be regarded as a public good, with explicit accountability, especially when it is collected from vulnerable communities. It was noted that development organisations often lack the internal capacity to manage and safeguard data effectively, thereby necessitating frameworks that prioritise responsible data stewardship.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised the need for informed consent, transparency, and the ethical use of data, advocating for a rights-based approach that upholds the dignity and agency of data subjects. They highlighted the importance of building internal capacities, fostering collaboration across civil society, and adapting best practices from global frameworks while tailoring them to local realities.

Challenges discussed included the power asymmetry between data collectors and subjects, the absence of formal data governance structures, and insufficient awareness regarding data risks. The session concluded with recommendations to integrate data management into organisational policies, to invest in training, and to develop sector-wide standards. Overall, the conversation brought to light the urgent need for a cultural shift towards ethical, inclusive, and rights-based data governance across the development ecosystem.