The information age created a glut of data and how best to present and use it is the focus of GovHack.
Wanganui is one of six New Zealand cities hosting the data competition this weekend. Over 46 hours, teams will come up with new ways to present government data for various outlets such as smartphone applications and websites.
"We've got a small but powerful crew," Whanganui and Partners innovation leader Marianne Archibald said.
About 35 people have signed up for the Wanganui event. Developers, designers, film- makers and politicians will share expertise at the Awa City Computer Clubhouse.
"The main purpose of it is to make Government see how valuable opening up data is and that we shouldn't second guess what we use it for," Ms Archibald said.
"It's about opening it up and letting people be as innovative as they want with it."
There are several prize categories and Wanganui, which is the only city to be running GovHack through the night, has adopted an "intelligent community" theme.
"I would really like us to win something so people can see how wicked we are in Wanganui," Ms Archibald said.
Ms Archibald said GovHack was more about coming up with a concept which can be further developed and was excited to see what would be created.
"It doesn't have to be a finished thing that you push and it goes," she said.
"Part of it is about not guessing what might be made. It's up to me to provide the conditions for people to foster that innovation."
The New Zealand events are being supported by the Open Government Data and Information Programme which is based at Land Information New Zealand. Programme leader Paul Stone said GovHack was about being creative with government data, encouraging agencies to make more of it publicly available. The more that was, the more innovation could happen.
"It's a new skill that needs to be learned," Mr Stone said. "We are really at a stage where awareness is building and people are are saying 'hey I need to upskill myself with this'."
Wanganui people have until 12pm today to register for GovHack at www.govhack.org.nz