An accessible website is one that accommodates a full range of users. Accessible websites prioritise clear content, structure and ease of navigation over superfluous aspects of design, however they need not be visually unattractive, nor are they prevented from using the latest web technologies, provided that all information is still accessible to users.
Maintaining accessibility
We aim to achieve and maintain good levels of accessibility, but recognise that it is very hard for a large website to maintain such compliance. Through further development of our web services we will improve our compliance and aim to meet as many WAI Level AA guidelines as are achievable.
Access keys
Access keys are keyboard shortcuts which allow the user to navigate around a website or a piece of computer software without having to use a mouse or other pointing device.
You can use the following access keys throughout our website.
To use these shortcut keys hold down the Alt key (PC) or Ctrl key (Apple Macintosh) and then one of the keys in the table below. In some browsers you may have to press Enter to confirm your choice.
- Access key 0 is provided for List of Access Keys.
- Access key 1 is provided for Home.
- Access key 2 is provided for Site Map.
- Access key 3 is provided for Search.
- Access key 9 is provided for Contact Us.
- Access key [ is provided for beginning of main content. This is known as a Skip Link
- Access key / is provided for re-directing to the all-of-government portal www.newzealand.govt.nz.
Change text size
You can use your browser settings to change the text size for all the websites that you visit. The technique for doing this is slightly different depending on the browser that you use:
- Internet Explorer 7/8: Select the 'Page' menu, then one of the options under 'Zoom' or 'Text Size'. The default setting is 'Medium'.
- Internet Explorer 6: Select the 'View' menu, and select one of the options under 'Text Size'.
- Mozilla Firefox: Select the 'View' menu, then 'Text Size', then select Increase, Decrease or Normal.
- Opera: Select the 'View' menu, then one of the 'Zoom' percentage options.
- Netscape: Select the 'View' menu, then one of the 'Text Zoom' options.
- Chrome: Select the spanner icon on the browser toolbar, then select 'Options' ('Preferences' on Mac and Linux; 'Settings' on Chrome OS), then select 'Under the Bonnet', then in the 'Web Content' section, use the 'Font size' menu to make adjustments.
Other browsers may also have similar options available.