Advisory Group meeting notes, 6 September 2005

Room 101, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington

Participants:  Rakiihia Tau, Georgina Johnson, Ross Bell, Peter Sykes, Ruth Gardner (Chair), Bill Dashfield, Kaeti Rigarlsford, Antonio Seiuli and Katarina Rangi (Minutes).

1. Welcome

Rakiihia opened the meeting with karakia at 9:00 am.  Ruth welcomed all attendees with a special welcome to Puipuifatu Antonio Seiuli.

2. Health and Safety briefing

3. Minutes and Matters Arising

There were minor corrections to the draft minutes.

Matters arising: To be discussed at general business

MOVED:  That the amended minutes of the meeting of 9 June 2005 be accepted (Moved/seconded: Kaeti/Georgina).

4. Website Developments

Usage climbed steeply in July by 17% to another record high. Usage dropped back slightly by 5% in August, at least partly due to a technical problem for 4 days.  This problem did not affect visitors directly, but resulted in reduced visibility in Search Engines.  Overall, we’re getting nearly 3 times as many visits as a year ago.

In August there were 52,014 visits, in July there were 53,533  and in June there were 45,421.

The Most popular How to Guides in July were:

• IT and Internet (1,843 visits)
• Legal Structure (1,614 visits)
• Community Research (1,556 visits)

5. Communications, processes and guidelines

Communications Plan update (paper pre-circulated)

The CommunityNet Communications Plan has been completely revised and updated.  It has been reviewed with DIA Communications Manager, and the Advisory group.

The new brochure has been well received.  It has been sent to DIA offices, to CAB (for evaluation), to 300 public libraries (with Library Association of NZ endorsement) and is being included in DIA induction packs and LG&C joining packs.

To date about 10 CABS (of about 70) have requested brochures, a disappointing result.  However, it is very pleasing that Waitakere City Council are including a copy with their newsletter mail-out to 1000 community groups. A number of other organisations have asked for stocks of the brochure and it has been picked up at various forums and meetings attended.

Over the next 2-3 months it will become available at more Citizen’s Advice Bureaux, and other locations.  Bill will follow up about it being included in various welcome packs:  e.g. when organisations register on the Societies Database or join umbrella organisations; and also at Community Law Offices.

Bill is presenting on CommunityNet at Energise, the two-yearly Local Government Community Development worker conference in New Plymouth, on 22nd September.  We will also have a CommunityNet stand there.

ACTIONS:

• Bill to organise with regional offices to have brochures sent out with COGS mail out in February 2006.
• Bill to make minor changes to the Communications Plan as requested by the group.

6. Review of Long Term Plan items

Items in the plan that were due for review were reviewed and updated. 

ACTION: Bill to organise a draft paper for the group around Tangata Whenua/Tangata Pacifica items.

7. Practical session (Miraz Jordan)

Miraz showed the group how easy it was to design their own Flickr (photo filing and tagging page) on the website.  For more information please contact Miraz.

8 & 9. Digital Strategy and Connecting Communities Strategies Update and discussion (Ann Reeves)

Rik welcomed Ann to the meeting.

Anne Reeves updated the Advisory group on what was happening with Digital Strategy within DIA. For more information on Digital Strategy please visit the website on www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz.

The announcement of the Broadband challenge and Connecting Communities funds, and the community member for the Advisory Group won’t be until after the elections.

The Advisory group asked if anything would change in the way Digital Strategy would be run, should there be a change of governing party after the election.

Her reply was that the Digital Strategy has a funding comment for 4 years and if government was to change the only thing likely to change is whether the new government keeps building on it or whether things slow down.

10. General Business

New members for the Advisory Group

There have been several enquiries but no applications have yet been received.

The group was requested to nominate people they thought would be interested in becoming Advisors on CommunityNet.

ACTIONS:

• Peter to contact REAP to ask for any nominations
• Ross to contact ANGOA to ask for any nominations
• Bill to contact FIS to ask for any nominations

Discussion of website linking requests declined

There was discussion of the NORML website, which had requested linking. It was decided that although there was some useful material on the website, it did not meet the selection criteria agreed earlier this year. 

11. Next Meeting

Next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 29 November 2005.  Accommodation and meals are to be confirmed.  It was suggested that Antonio chairs the next meeting.