When it comes to the best content management systems (CMS) for New Zealand businesses, Silverstripe CMS stands out as a leading choice. Known for its flexibility, security, and performance, Silverstripe is designed to meet the unique needs of organisations in New Zealand, from nonprofits and charities to government agencies and enterprises.
This article delves into everything you need to know about Silverstripe and why it continues to be a preferred CMS in New Zealand.
Key Takeaways
- Home-grown and widely trusted: Silverstripe was developed in Wellington and powers almost 7,000 New Zealand websites.
- Free to use: The CMS is open source. Your costs come from development, hosting and maintenance.
- Built for high-stakes sites: Strong security, accessibility compliance and scalability make it a good fit for government agencies, nonprofits and enterprises.
- Easy for editors, flexible for developers: Non-technical teams can manage content with confidence, while developers can build bespoke solutions.
- Backed by a strong community: Local and global developers keep the platform updated and extend it with modules and plugins.
- Proven with our clients: We have delivered Silverstripe websites for Greater Wellington Regional Council, Citizens Advice Bureau and Interislander.
New Zealand Based CMS
Silverstripe was developed in Wellington, New Zealand, and has grown to become a trusted name both locally and globally.
Today, almost 7,000 New Zealand-based websites use Silverstripe, highlighting its widespread adoption and trust across the country. These include prominent government portals, nonprofit sites, and private sector websites. Silverstripe’s focus on providing a secure, scalable, and flexible platform makes it the go-to choice for organisations looking to deliver reliable online experiences.
The platform's local developers continue to maintain and innovate Silverstripe, ensuring it evolves to meet modern web requirements while staying true to its Kiwi roots.
What is Silverstripe?
Silverstripe is an open-source CMS and framework(external link) that simplifies website content management while offering advanced customisation for developers. With a flexible architecture and robust features, Silverstripe supports everything from small business websites to complex enterprise-level applications.
Key Features of Silverstripe
- User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive content editing with WYSIWYG tools.
- Custom Templates: Flexible templates allow businesses to create unique designs.
- Scalability: Supports everything from small websites to large-scale platforms.
- Version Control: Rollback functionality for restoring earlier versions of content.
- Security: Advanced security features make it a trusted choice for high-stakes industries.
Benefits of Using Silverstripe
Easy to Navigate
Silverstripe’s intuitive interface ensures that even non-technical users can manage content efficiently, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes.
Security
Silverstripe is built with security in mind, offering robust protection against common vulnerabilities. It’s regularly updated to meet evolving cybersecurity standards.
High Performing
With clean code and efficient architecture, Silverstripe ensures faster load times and seamless performance, even for complex websites.
SEO and Performance Advantages
Silverstripe makes it easy to implement SEO best practices, such as clean URLs, meta tags, and fast page speeds. It also supports integration with analytics tools to track and improve site performance.
Customisation and Flexibility
Unlike many out-of-the-box CMS platforms, Silverstripe is highly customisable. Developers can create bespoke solutions to meet specific business needs.
Developer-Friendly Framework
Silverstripe is built on the open-source Silverstripe Framework, which provides developers with powerful tools for creating custom applications and solutions. Its modular structure and well-documented API allow for seamless integration, advanced customisation, and scalability, making it a preferred choice for developers working on complex projects.
The Community and Ecosystem
Silverstripe boasts a strong developer community in New Zealand and beyond. This active network contributes plugins, modules, and resources that extend the platform’s functionality. Whether you need e-commerce tools or advanced SEO capabilities, the Silverstripe ecosystem has you covered.
Additionally, the community provides valuable support, ensuring users can quickly troubleshoot issues and access updates. This collaborative environment ensures Silverstripe remains robust and future-proof.
Who is Silverstripe For?
Silverstripe is versatile enough to suit a wide range of industries and organisations. It’s particularly beneficial for:
- Government Agencies: With advanced security features and accessibility compliance.
- Nonprofits and Charities: Ideal for creating engaging, high-impact websites within tight budgets.
- Enterprises: Scalable solutions capable of managing complex data and content.
Case Studies
Greater Wellington Regional Council
As a long-time partner, Greater Wellington Regional Council with Somar Digital to redesign and redevelop their website using Silverstripe. The project aimed to refresh the site’s design while enhancing its overall performance and usability. The new website delivers an intuitive user experience, making it easy for the GWRC team to manage content while remaining engaging and accessible for the Wellington community.
Outcomes:
- Enhanced navigation for improved user experience.
- Simplified content management for administrators.
- Improved accessibility for all users.
Citizens Advice Bureau
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), a not-for-profit organisation supported by over 2,600 trained volunteers across more than 80 locations in New Zealand, required a comprehensive website solution built on Silverstripe. The project involved creating a robust public website with advanced knowledge base search functionality and a user-friendly intranet to support their nationwide team. This new system ensured streamlined access to critical information for both the public and CAB volunteers.
Outcomes:
- Fast, easy-to-use intranet for thousands of volunteers.
- Significant time savings and improved reporting capabilities.
- Seamless migration of millions of pieces of data to the new platform.
Interislander
KiwiRail partnered with Somar Digital to revamp the Interislander website, addressing critical usability and navigational challenges. Using Silverstripe, the website was redesigned to deliver a significantly enhanced customer experience. The focus was on simplifying the booking process, improving transparency, and making the site more intuitive for users.
Outcomes:
- A more user-friendly website for seamless customer interaction.
- Time savings for customers with optimised navigation.
- Greater transparency, improving communication and trust.
How Much is Silverstripe in New Zealand?
The cost of using Silverstripe varies depending on factors like website complexity, hosting, and customisation requirements. As an open-source platform, Silverstripe itself is free to use.
However, businesses typically invest in development, hosting, and maintenance to get the most out of the CMS. For a tailored estimate, it’s best to consult with experts like Somar Digital.
Somar Digital’s Expertise with Silverstripe
Also based in Wellington, New Zealand, Somar Digital is a trusted partner for businesses and organisations looking to leverage Silverstripe’s full potential. With extensive experience in building and optimising Silverstripe websites, Somar Digital ensures tailored solutions that align with your goals.
From local nonprofits to government agencies, Somar Digital has a proven track record of delivering impactful results using Silverstripe. If you are looking to switch over to Silverstripe or just want to find out a bit more we are happy to help!
