Aotearoa New Zealand People's Network bigger and better
The Aotearoa New Zealand People's Network will now be bigger and better thanks to additional funding. The project, which falls under the Government's New Zealand Digital Content Strategy, received funding as part of the 2007 Budget.
The Aotearoa New Zealand People's Network is a collaborative project that will give New Zealanders greater access to computers and the Internet through their local public library.
Increased People's Network funding means that the first phase rollout will now include Canterbury's Waimakariri, Selwyn and Hurunui Districts, taking the total number of libraries covered to 35.
Adding Canterbury will also increase the spread of the project over New Zealand; the other phase one regions are Wairarapa/Tararua, Taranaki, South Island West Coast, and Kawerau. The project will provide libraries in these areas with free IT equipment, networking, training for their staff, and access to web based tools and services.
The Aotearoa New Zealand People's Network covers all three strands of the Governments New Zealand Digital Strategy. Connectivity because the project offers broadband access to Internet tools and services; Confidence because it offers an environment (the library) where people can safely learn and/or enhance their knowledge and ICT abilities; Content because anyone can access content using Aotearoa People's Network computers, meaning New Zealanders will be able to visit their local library to create and store their own stories, histories, or content.
