Sunday Nov 2
Communities Making the Most of the Knowledge Society
What do communities need to make the most of our Knowledge society? Maps of their assets, digital snapshots of their
regions or laptop warriors who will help them plan for their future ICT needs?
This is on the agenda of a Connecting Communities Conference being held in Wellington this week which has attracted 400
community, research, private sector and government
representatives who want to sort it out.
“This conference hopes to ‘set the agenda’ for ways communities in New Zealand can be strengthened using information and
communications technology over the next five years,” says conference organiser, Jan Symington, Connecting Communities
Relationships Manager of the Community Employment Group, a service of the Department of Labour.
“It’s all about how government can be more strategic, how private and public partnerships can add value to our
communities and its about harnessing the community innovation and research energies that are already out there.”
On Wednesday, the last day of the conference, all participants will be playing a planning game developed by Making The
Net Work. This is based around a strategic ‘wish list’ of programmes identified by community groups and local agencies
over the last 18 months. The programmes being considered include support for Digital Champions, toolkits for going
on-line, running networks and promoting the benefits of ICT, and the introduction of ‘e-riders’ sometimes called ‘laptop
warriors’.
“The three top needs from each group playing the planning game will be presented at the end of the conference. We will
then collate all the priorities and other key issues that delegates identify and this will become a blueprint for us to
work towards over the next five years,” says Ms Symington. “This has the potential to make a significant impact on how
communities use technology to become stronger in the future.”
The conference organised in collaboration with a number of government agencies and community groups, will be the first
to bring community people, researchers, government representatives and the private sector together to highlight positive
community ICT stories, identify barriers and thrash out a five year agenda for action.
Key speakers at the conference will include the Chief Executive of the Department of Labour James Buwalda; Gene Crick,
Executive Director of a not for profit TeleCommunity Resource Centre in Texas which works to create community internet
tools and networks; Hana O’Regan, a co-manager of the Ngai Tahu Maori language unit; Julie Inman of Microsoft, who will
be talking about a new community support programme ‘Unlimited Potential’; Chris Cszekely, Manukau City librarian who has
helped Manukau libraries win a national innovation award for their ICT response to youth needs; Steve Maharey, Minister
for Social Development and Employment who will discuss the wider implications of the Knowledge Society, the Hon Parekura
Horomia and the Hon Tariana Turia, both Associate Ministers for Social Development and Employment. A UNESCO
representative is chairing the panel on cultural and intellectual property on Wednesday.