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The CommunityNet Aotearoa monthly newsletter.
"News and views on community networking throughout Aotearoa."
While the CommunityNet Aotearoa website will be open throughout the summer, the staff will be taking leave. You're welcome to send in notices, but they are not likely to be approved or published between approximately 21 December and 23 January. We wish you all the best for your summer break, if you're taking one.
Because of the summer break, the next issue of Panui will come to you in mid-February.
For family reasons, Bill Dashfield, the CommunityNet Programme Analyst is returning to England for some time. For most of the last three years Bill has been looking after the operation and development of CommunityNet, working with Miraz, content editors, technical developers and the CommunityNet Advisory Group. Bill finishes at the end of January and the Department of Internal Affairs will begin the recruitment process shortly. If you or someone you know may be interested, the vacancy will be advertised on the CommunityNet Notice Board.
Everyone associated with CommunityNet Aotearoa would like to thank Bill for his outstanding work on CommunityNet over the past few years. Under his stewardship CommunityNet has grown and developed new features, and increased both its readership and its scope. We wish Bill all the best for the future.
Complete a short survey to help us improve the New Zealand Webguide by 24 December and you'll go in the draw. The Webguide is an online resource for community groups, iwi groups, and not-for-profit organisations to help them use the internet to achieve their goals. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/webguide-survey.htm.
The Minister of Social Development, Hon David Benson-Pope has announced a new fund to support community-wide initiatives for preventing family violence. Closing date: 16 February 2007. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/family-violence-initiatives.htm.
Results include information about population and dwellings, as well as regional data. More detailed information will follow in early 2007. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/census-shows-growth.htm.
Vision's Mission is to give a different perspective to the youth of NZ into regaining their cultural identity and redefining it to suit them regardless of what ethnic / religious / cultural background they are from. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/vision-dance.htm.
Issue 2 of the AEN Journal focuses on creativity, identity and ethnicity. A timely topic considering that national identity is one of three strategic policy goals of government. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/creativity-identity-ethnicity.htm.
SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust have made over $490,000 in grants to 120 community and charitable groups. Successful recipients come from arts, culture and entertainment; community; education; health, welfare and medical; rescue and emergency; family, group and individual support; and tourism. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/waikato-gambling-funds.htm.
The next UPLIFT training course is scheduled for 20 February 2007. Applications must be submitted by 19 January. UPLIFT is a free, four-day course for community project workers designed to provide training and build skills in information and communication technology (ICT). Travel, food and accommodation costs are provided and arranged through the event organisers. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/uplift-course.htm.
Organisations with community Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects throughout New Zealand are being urged to submit their Expressions of Interest to the Community Partnership Fund. Expressions of Interest close on 19 December 2006. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/ict-funding.htm.
The 2006 edition of Statistics NZ's New Zealand Official Yearbook documents government, business and social developments that have occurred in NZ since publication of the 2004 edition. It focuses on NZ's place in the world and how NZ measures up statistically against other OECD countries. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/2006-yearbook.htm.
Almost half of all NZers believe they have been discriminated against in applying for a job. Encouraging people to work post-65 would have positive benefits for the workplace; demand for healthcare would outstrip supply. 54% percent of Kiwis are assessing the funds they will require in their later years based on back of envelope calculations. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/ageism-articles.htm.
Would you or your community group like to make a documentary? If you have something interesting to share with New Zealand, this is your chance. Apply today! Website address: http://www.opendoor.net.nz . www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/open-door-tv.htm.
The government has released a discussion document on a draft New Zealand Digital Content Strategy, and is inviting feedback from any organisation or individual with an interest in New Zealand digital content. We are also holding a series of Workshops to hear your views. Please send your response by: 20 December 2006. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/digital-content-invitation.htm.
The draft New Zealand Digital Content Strategy takes a wide view of digital content, examining the economic and social benefits to New Zealand and taking a strategic view on how we all create, access and leverage content that is created for many different purposes. The National Digital Heritage Archive means that in 50 or 100 years time people will be able to look back on New Zealand's digital memory and discover the legacy of what was important to our national identity. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/digital-content-strategy.htm.
Race Relations Commissioner, Joris de Bres is inviting public feedback on a statement setting out the rights and responsibilities relating to religion and belief in New Zealand. "In the context of current global conflicts it is important that we recognise the diversity of religions in New Zealand and encourage understanding and communication between them. This will help us to avoid the types of conflicts happening elsewhere". Closing date: 15 December 2006. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/religious-diversity.htm.
The Human Rights Commission is undertaking a review of its Guidelines on Insurance and the Human Rights Act 1993 (HRA). This is particularly important to people with disabilities or chronic illness, or a history of illness in their family, as they can find themselves discriminated against when applying for insurance. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/insurance-and-human-rights.htm.
A significant increase in lottery profits has enabled the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board to set aside over $8 million to reintroduce community facilities funding in 2007-08. The Lottery Community Facilities Fund will support a wide range of projects to build or improve community facilities where community members can meet and interact in ways that strengthen the community. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/community-facilities-funding.htm.
Four fact sheets were published recently: Charitable purpose; Your rules and the Charities Act; The name of your organisation; How the Charities Act affects your tax status. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/charities-fact-sheets.htm.
Migrant women who become new mothers in New Zealand say their cultural needs are often not met or understood by health professionals. Recommendations as a result of the study include making improvements to support services and communication, providing translations of relevant information, and more training in understanding cultural needs. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/migrant-women-and-birth.htm.
The Department of Labour wants to hear your views about quality flexible work arrangements. We want to know what you think will best help employees achieve quality flexible work and meet the needs of businesses. Closing date: 15 December 2006. www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/quality-flexible-work.htm.
The comprehensive Community Resource Kit contains much valuable information on setting up and running community and voluntary groups. (See below for details) www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news/national/new-community-resource-kit.htm.
Latest community news, events, jobs and ads are online at: www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news.
For details, see News item above. www.vision-dance.co.nz.
This Guide will help you use the Internet and set up and run one of the most effective community websites in the world. Community groups, iwi groups, and not-for-profit organisations will find this information particularly useful. www.webguide.net.nz.
Providing support and information to families and educational facilities that have a child in their care with a disability, health impairment or special need. www.supportconnection.org.nz.
ARMS conducts weekly First Steps to Employment workshops for new settlers to Auckland. Workshops are held every Tuesday and are free of charge. To register, please call 09 625 2440. www.arms-mrc.org.nz.
Drama New Zealand is an organisation for educators and community theatre workers offering curriculum support and guidance. www.drama.org.nz.
Helping teens and their families where ADHD & other learning difficulties are an issue. www.teenadders.org.nz.
WaiNet is an electronic community network that provides access, content, support and training to community groups and people in the Waikato area. Its goals include providing: free hosting of Waikato community group websites, news of ICT-related events, resources that enable better use of the Internet, links to training and resources, a central resource for Waikato residents to access information about community groups and services in the region. wainet.org.
You'll find these and more links at: www.community.net.nz/links.
These Events are coming up in the next few weeks. Find details at: www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/events.
These Training events are coming up in the next few weeks. Find details at: www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/training.
It's summer. If we're lucky the sun will shine occasionally and we can get out into the outdoors, relax, take a break, recharge and refresh. But whatever you're doing, there are some handy websites to know about.
The Met Service has free weather forecasts, UV forecast, pollen count, tides: www.metservice.co.nz.
The Poisons Prevention and Education site has an emergency phone number (0800 POISON), useful easy-to-read information, games for kids. It also includes information about pets and poisons: www.poisons.co.nz.
Land Transport NZ — Ikiiki Whenua Aotearoa have all the information you could want about road safety and road rules, fuel economy and anything to do with land transport, while AA Roadwatch has constantly updated information on road conditions:
Get Ready Get Thru will help you plan for and get through civil emergencies such as earthquake, volcano or tsunami. It also has links to your local council, where you may also find information about local conditions and summer events.
Lost or found a pet? Pets on the Net is a free service: www.petsonthenet.co.nz.
The Department of Conservation have plenty of information about tracks and trails, huts and campsites, hunting and fishing, the great outdoors: www.doc.govt.nz.
New Zealand Webcams can show you where you're going, or maybe where you'd like to go: www.webcam-newzealand.info.
And after the holidays, be sure to visit CommunityNet Aotearoa to catch up on all the News, Training, Events and Vacancies in 2007: community.net.nz.
Have a great holiday!
[December 2006] Prepare for a relaxing summer.
Summer's on its way and while some community groups move into high gear, others are winding down and taking a break. Paid staff and volunteers may shut up shop for a few weeks, the office may be closed, the normal order of business may be suspended.
But the Internet never sleeps: the web site is still available 24 hours a day, emails continue to arrive, and spammers just keep pumping out garbage that clogs up the works.
Although spammers are a nuisance in general, they can do real damage on unattended websites and email boxes. Before shutting up shop for a few weeks it's a good idea to work through a short checklist of arrangements.
Locate all the relevant passwords, settings and contact information for your website and email services. Store these in a safe place, known to all committee members.
If your unattended email boxes overflow with spam, or your website is successfully defaced or attacked by porn spammers you don't want to have to wait for the one person who 'knows about the site' to get back from several weeks on a remote beach.
If there's an emergency that would see your group taking extraordinary action (think Boxing Day tsunami) you don't want to be unable to update your Home Page because only one person knows how to make things happen on the website and she's out of contact in Outer Uzbekistan.
Consider finding a volunteer or paying a temporary worker for a few hours over the summer to monitor email systems, website comment forms, online forums and so on. Their job would be to check emails regularly and look in on the site, especially any parts where the general public can add information, for example Contact forms, notices or forums. If they find spam their job would be to remove it.
CommunityNet Aotearoa recently suffered an attack from scripted submissions to the Notices section. Luckily all submissions have to be approved before they go live and we were able to delete the hundreds of spam notices that arrived daily. As they accumulated though, it became difficult to identify genuine notices amongst the 'noise'. Imagine returning from three weeks holiday to thousands of junk items, and having to spend literally hours sorting through the mess.
Similarly, there were recently hundreds and hundreds of spam messages sent to the Panui mailing list address. Again, it took some time to delete the mess. Over a period of a couple of weeks this could amount to thousands and thousands of emails, that can cause a mailbox to exceed its limit and prevent genuine messages from getting through.
Spammers use scripts to send dozens, hundreds and even thousands of messages every hour. When you suffer an attack it can create havoc.
Add a prominent notice to your Home Page about holiday services. Is the office closed for a while, or open less often? Are there any emergency numbers the public should have access to?
There. It's a short checklist, but it's worth considering these points. Have a great summer.
Past Website tips are all available on CommunityNet Aotearoa.
The full Community Resource Kit is online in browsable form. This complements the download files, already downloaded 750 times.
The browsable version includes all 12 chapters plus navigation and index pages.
The online format keeps the print format 'look and feel', but with some advantages:
We are getting hundreds of visits to the regional Notice Board summaries, which was suggested by community feedback. Check it out!
In November 2006 there were 27,456 visits (October: 29,680).
Last month, 66 new community items were published (October: 56).
Send in your free community advertisement at: www.community.net.nz/about/submit.
The most popular file download was: Managing Well Catalogue: 532 downloads, with downloads equivalent to 500 full copies of the Community Resource Kit.
Find CommunityNet statistics at: www.community.net.nz/about/website/statistics.htm.
Remember: please forward the complete Panui to others who'll find it useful.
Miraz Jordan, Webmaestro.
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"Reproduced from CommunityNet Aotearoa Panui, December 2006, www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/panui ".
Panui and CommunityNet Aotearoa are guided by an Advisory Group drawn from community organisations and are published by Department of Internal Affairs, PO Box 805, Wellington. Phone: 04 4957200. Email: information@community.net.nz.
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.