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Conference: Flaxroots Technology Conference 2002 Communities Creating the Future "Araa kee noa atu ngaa painga ka puta." "making a world of difference". Unitec Auckland: 11-12 April 2002. One-day satellite conferences in Christchurch and Dunedin on April 11th.http://www.flaxroots.net.nz/
As part of the Flaxroots Technology conference, a discussion forum has been set-up to provide a friendly space for people interested in flaxroots technology to share stories, ask questions, or debate issues.
A feature of the discussion will be: An Agenda for Community Technology in Aotearoa Special Forum, 13-20 April.
This is a facilitated, week long forum after the conference which will provide a chance for further discussion of themes raised offline. Join in and add your thoughts.
Facilitated by Duncan McClachlan, Wellington City Library.
Award: Age Concern Senior Achievers Awards 2002 These annual Awards recognise the voluntary contributions of older people in communities throughout New Zealand. Positive role models for healthy ageing are encouraged, with six regional awards that culminate in the announcing of a New Zealand Senior Achiever for each year.
28.03.2008 - Website has been removed as it is no longer active http://www.seniorachievers.org.nz/
Award: Green Ribbon Awards The Green Ribbon Awards are presented by the Minister for the Environment to recognise individuals, organisations or businesses that are doing their bit to sustain, protect and enhance New Zealand's environment. Categories Caring for the rural environment Caring for the urban environment Caring for our biodiversity Raising awareness of environmental issues Business caring for the environment State of the environment reporting Kids who care - Youth Award Nominations close 30 April 2002. http://www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/awards/green-ribbon.html
Network: Maori Business Network The Maori Business Network is being resurrected in the Bay of Plenty and invites members. If you would like information on the benefits of being a member or an application form, email Alicia Conklin. alicia@indigenous.co.nz
Survey: The Lived Experiences of Women with Student Debt The Aotearoa Tertiary Students' Association is investigating the personal experiences of women living with student debt.
As part of their research, ATSA have developed a survey to be completed by women who have had, or currently do have, student debt. The research is focussing on the post-study experiences of women with student debt, so they ask that only women who are no longer studying complete the survey.
Deadline for receiving the surveys is the 19th April, 2002. http://www.geocities.com/marysrow/
New Links: See the Links/Recently Added page for recent additions.
Sailing for the Blind Since 1988, sailing opportunities have been offered to all New Zealand blind people through the New Zealand Council for Sailing for the Blind and Vision Impaired Inc. http://www.sailingblind.org.nz/
Family Planning Association fpa works to promote a positive view of sexuality and to enable people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being. http://www.fpanz.org.nz/
Whanganui Rivercity Maori Wardens The ultimate goal of this Association is to pivot Nga Rangatahi Watene Maori o Te Awa o Whanganui into arenas where Maori Wardens are rarely seen and in doing so, endeavour to create financial independence in the long term while at the same time, fostering and promoting Maori Warden initiatives in the wider community. http://members.tripod.com/~ngarangatahi/
Disarmament and Security Centre The Disarmament and Security Centre is a specialist arm of the Peace Foundation. It provides a resource centre for alternative thinking on disarmament and security issues, both within Aotearoa / New Zealand and internationally. http://www.disarmsecure.org/
Tip: Go Home with the Logo
Every CommunityNet Aotearoa web page has a logo in the top left corner. Just click it and it will take you to the Home Page.
Bonus Tip: this is very common on websites; try it out on a few others.
Site: Family Planning (FPA)
Family Planning provides sexual and reproductive health information, clinical services, education, training and research.
Sections include FPA Philosophy, Info & Resources, Links, an Online shop and information about how to support FPA. The site allows you to make a donation online, and gives information about volunteering and other forms of support.
The Need Help Now? section provides basic information about urgent issues or problems.
News releases are available, and this section includes information about the website launch, including the opportunity to download Helen Clark's speech. Unfortunately that's only available in Windows Media Format, rather than the more standard Quicktime, Real or MP3.
The online shopping basket allows you to gather resources for purchase, but it worked a little erratically on this reviewer's visit. Many free resources are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs, so you can simply download them and read or print as you prefer.
The site has a clean, clear look, though the navigation is a little inconsistent. The links across the top and bottom seemed fairly consistent, but it would make it easier for users to find information if the left-hand navigation bar appeared on all pages. The SiteMap though gives quick access to the whole site.
The site includes some use of the Maori language and includes the essential alt text on images.
All in all this is an effective and comprehensive site which should provide useful information for pretty much everyone.
http://www.fpanz.org.nz/
The Role of Community in e-Government
This month's contributors are: Andy Williamson and Mary Gardner.
Local government in New Zealand appears to be struggling towards a model of e-government with little inside knowledge of what this means, how it should work or what value it as government can add. Many early attempts to develop local e-government strategies have been hopeless failures, caught up in the hyperbole of new technology and lacking focus on the role that communities play in the electronic future. Supposedly leading-edge strategies have simply floundered in a sea of ignorance and inaction. The Waitakere eDemocracy Group (WeDG) was formed last month to help put the community perspective squarely into place because, as the British Government's e-Envoy recently noted, successful e-government comes about because citizens are given a role in defining it.
The founding members of WeDG are not only ICT professionals but also community activists, experienced in both local issues and using ICT to make things happen. WeDG aims for effective and equitable use of ICT in Waitakere City. This involves separate but complementary issues for both citizens and council. As the British Government puts it "a key success factor in achieving effective e-government is for all citizens to have access to technology as well as the necessary skills to exploit its use." WeDG sees different governments overseas taking the lead and solving problems such as affordable access to computers and the Internet, broadband access, training, community hosting initiatives and high quality localised content. WeDG wants to see this happening in Waitakere City, in the Auckland region and throughout New Zealand.
Use of the Internet for local government is so new that most citizens, council staff and politicians want advice and direction. This is a role that WeDG performs in Waitakere City, already acting as a community-based source of advice to council and others. WeDG does not attempt to represent 'the community', rather it offers a critical voice and the opportunity for active partnership. Already, through the website [HTTP: www.wedg.org.nz], critiques of local attempts and examples of best solutions from around the world are posted. Soon we will launch a suite of projects that will see WeDG helping both community and council to work together to make things happen.
The opportunity offered by new technologies is to enhance government and the democratic process bringing it closer to and more connected with citizens. Effective involvement will help council and community interactions and could even turn around voter apathy. The threat is that ineffectiveness and a 'digital divide' will distort this opportunity, undermining democracy of any sort. Groups such as WeDG can help tip the balance for the better and would be an asset for every city.
Andy Williamson and Mary Gardner
Waitakere eDemocracy Group
Waitakere City, New Zealand
http://www.wedg.org
andy@wairua.co.nz
A monthly opinion piece from the community.
Want to have a say? Contact: information@community.net.nz. Please put "Panui opinion" in the subject line.
The CommunityNet Aotearoa Panui is a monthly newsletter emailed free to subscribers. The Panui will keep you up-to-date with developments on the website, as well as news and views for people interested in community networking throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
We are happy to share news or views that you think may be of interest to other subscribers. Email suggestions to: information@community.net.nz. Please put "Panui suggestion" in the subject line.
We're happy for you to use material from this Panui but please acknowledge the source, like this: taken from the CommunityNet Aotearoa Panui, August 2001, [http://lists.netlink.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/panui].
Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication, the publishers accept no liability for any errors and omissions. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors, not the publishers.