After an exhaustive process, a contract for providing the design and technology for a new encyclopedia was signed by Prime Minister Helen Clark on 14 May 2003. The successful tenderers were Shift, who were responsible for the design, and Optimation, who provided the Microsoft content management system. Shown at the contract signing at Shift's offices are, from left: Selwyn Feary (founding director, Shift); Mary-Beth Rousseau (general manager, Shift); Jock Phillips (general editor, Te Ara); Helen Clark; Martin Matthews (chief executive, Ministry for Culture and Heritage); a representative of Microsoft; Dave Roberts (account manager, Optimation) and Sir Geoffrey Palmer (chair, Te Ara Advisory Committee).