Web-based WINZ Development is Underway

Although the next few versions of WINZ 5 will remain in Microsoft Access 2002, development has commenced on a web-based version to take its place. Full conversion is expected to take three years, but some areas, especially to support the Ministry of Health TAP and CAP programmes, will start to be available from mid-2006.

What's happening in the meantime?

While it would be good to move immediately to a web-based system, the amount of work required is immense and will take several years to complete. In the meantime, WINZ needs to manage the 2005 Annual Survey and also meet the requirements of the new Drinking-Water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ) 2005 as soon as possible.

Therefore the following versions of WINZ is Microsoft Access will be released in the next few months:

WINZ 5.2, December 2005. Covers the needs of the 2005 Annual Survey, which have to be evaluated under the DWSNZ 2000.
WINZ 5.3, March/April 2006. Provides compliance and scheduling facilities using the DWSNZ 2005. Compliance will be evaluated using quarterly or annual time periods, and is expected to have facilities to manage varying population. While the new standards apply from 1 January 2006, it has not been possible to fully upgrade WINZ

Because the web version (WINZ 6) will not include all WINZ 5.x facilities for several years, further desktop versions are likely at the end of 2006 and 2007.

What will change with a web database?

Many things. Here's a few of them:

Users will no longer need to install the application from CD-ROM. A simple download from the web will initialise your PC and get you connected to the database.
All data will be maintained in one database for the country, but only the supplier, the relevant Drinking-Water Assessors, and MoH representatives (National WINZ) can see full details for any particular supply.
Data changes at the National level, such as a new supply entry, become immediately accessible to those who need to use them. No more transfer files.
Similarly, a DWA can audit data or examine compliance submissions, as soon as they have been entered.
Appropriate security and data integrity will be used throughout.
Improvements (or bug fixes) to WINZ 6 will be carried out when needed, rather than having to wait for the next CD-Version on CD-ROM.

The database technology used is still being investigated, but is expected to use a Microsoft .NET 2005 Smart Client approach. This will give a good balance between speed of response and maintaining the rich user interface to which WINZ users have become accustomed.

Before WINZ 6 has full functionality, will there be problems with two systems operating at once?

Challenges yes, but the development will be planned as carefully as possible to minimise these being an issue for the average WINZ user.

Plans for year 1 development of WINZ 6 specifically exclude areas such as grading, compliance and the Annual Review. These will be incorporated in subsequent years.

But, by 1 July 2006, WINZ 6 is expected to:

Manage the register of community drinking-water supplies, and start to include full details of supply owners.
Support the TAP (Training Assistance Programme) by recording membership and activities of participating suppliers within TAP groups.
Support various areas of DWA functionality
Support Chapter 10 functionality in the DWSNZ 2005 for participating supplies, including small supply PHRMP procedures and supply component flow diagrams.
Manage records of initial intentions of suppliers to apply for CAP (Capital Assistance Programme).

What will happen to the old (WINZ 5) data?

Suppliers and DHBs will have the option, when WINZ 6 is fully operational, of sending their data to National WINZ and having it incorporated in WINZ 6.

More Information

More details will be added on this site as development takes place.

Learn more about TAP and CAP from the Ministry of Health website, or read the Budget 2005 announcement.