Criteria for the evaluation of Government web sites were adapted from Eschenfelder, Beachboard, McClure, and Wyman ((1997) Gov. Inform. Quart. 14(2), 173) and applied to a sample of five websites of NZ government entities. Issues that arose in applying the criteria are examined, and lessons for designers of government websites explored. In particular, it is important that websites provide orientation information, that conditions for re-use of information be made clear, that privacy concerns be addressed, that print materials be properly adapted to the web environment, that materials be kept current, that contact details be available, that metadata be used effectively, that external links be made appropriately, that pages be accessible to users with disabilities, and that help information on search engines and other facilities be made available to users.