This document discusses whether opening up data has promoted open government in New Zealand. It provides context on New Zealand's open government milestones since 2008 and definitions of open data. It then examines whether open data has promoted economic, cultural, environmental and social growth as well as better public services and more transparent government. It summarizes New Zealand's ratings in the 2016 Open Data Barometer report. It concludes by considering future directions for New Zealand's open data practice, such as linking to international agreements and creating new policy and governance structures to achieve open data as business as usual.