Wairoadot com

Scott Illingworth

wairoa.com1@xtra.co.nz

“Wairoa Hopupu Honengenenge Matangi Rau“

The Beginning

Name of Partners and Organisations.

• Partners: WWMTB, Tairawhiti REAP and SeniorNet.
• Other Organisations: Ihug, Telecom, Funding, Affco, CEGS, MED, COGS, Tairawhiti, Development Task Force, Tindall Foundation and Wairoa District Council.

Key Words:

• Coordination.
• Resources.
• Technical Support.

Tairawhiti Development Task Force

• Wairoa community has met to plan for its future frequently over the past 5 years.
• ICT access is seen as a critical component of development for the region.
• TDTF was born in 2000 as the first regional economic development initiative under the auspices Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton.

TDTF has five partners:

1. Gisborne District Council.
2. Wairoa District Council.
3. Te Runanga O Turanganui A Kiwa.
4. Te Runanga O Ngati Porou.
5. Kahungunu Ki Te Wairoa.

TDTF has strategically planned for social and economic development in the whole of Tairawhiti.

One initiative the TDTF has bought to the area is lessening “The Digital Divide” through accessing ex-government computers, recycling these and making them available through the KAWM Project and communities through hubs, which WAIROADOT COM was the pilot.

Three Partners

Partners:
WAIROADOT COM came about through the vision of 3 strong community organizations.

1. WWMTB: A Maori PTE.
2. Tairawhiti REAP: Rural Education provider.
3. SeniorNet: ICT Training and Support for Senior Citizens.

The structure of WAIROADOT COM is that of a Charitable Trust. The management committee has representatives from all partners. Each of the partners are users of WAIROADOT COM. Tairawhiti REAP is also a co-tenant who runs ICT courses and brings with it foot traffic. WWMTB uses the facility for several courses 4 times a week. SeniorNet uses the facility for ICT training once a week. Partnerships will expand in the future. WAIROADOT COM has now been in existence for 16 months and continues to grow.

Overview of Facilities

Coordinator meaning I am in a good position to see how people in a small rural community are responding to Wairoadot com, who the people are and how we are helping them.

Quick over view of WAIROADOT COM facilities

• Foyer.
• Reception.
• 2 Offices.
• 2 Computer Labs.
• Lounge.
• Several Large Storage Areas.
• Toilets.
• Kitchen.

Walkthrough

Location

• Central to town.
• Opposite Information Center.
• On State Highway.

Entrance

• Large welcoming doors.
• Wheelchair access.

Foyer

• Educational Advertising.
• Access to Tairawhiti REAP Offices and Reception.
• Access to Cyber Café, Lounge and Computer Suites.

Reception

• Reception used by REAP and DOT COM.
• We have a Beneficial Relationship.

Lab 1 – Cyber Café

• 10 PCs in Lab1 for public use, all with Internet access.
• PCs came from MED.
• Internet server, ihug 128k satellite connection.
• EIT PC with ghosting software.
• Desks and chairs afforded later through grants.
• Access to kitchen and outside lunch area.
• Handy to reception when hands on help is needed.

My Desk

Please note how organized my desk is.

Ramp

Wheel chair access throughout the building.

Lounge

• Relaxing area for students.
• Toilets.
• Access to car park.

Lab 2 – Conference Room

• 12 PCs also with Internet.
• External Phone lines.
• Data Projector & Overhead Projector.
• White boards.

Users of WAIROADOT COM.

Maori Trust Board

• Alternative Education.
• Caring for the Elderly.
• Retail.
• Work Action.
• Future Skills.

SeniorNet (50+ age group)

• How to make friends with your Computer.
• Basic Computing skills.
• Word Processing.
• Publishing.
• Genealogy.
• E-mail & Internet.
• Questions and Answers.
• Tairawhiti REAP
• Drivers License Programs.
• Computer Training.

Eastern Institute of Technology

• Word Processing.
• Spreadsheets.
• Basic Computer Skills.
• PowerPoint.
• Internet and E-mail.

Cyber Café

• Local Community.
• Tourists.
• Business People Passing Through Wairoa.

Private Groups

• Users range in age from 12 through to 80.
• All ethnicities, Male and female.
• (Brandon Allen ‘Pedigree Dog Breeder’ Story).

Typical Weekly Usage

Currently WAIROADOT COM is not being used to full Capacity however we are working towards working relations like that of EIT with Tairawhiti Polytechnic and The Open Polytechnic of NZ. It is really important to build working relationships like these as they can provide a significant and reliable long-term income.

Groups like these contribute 50% of our total Generated income.

• 25% is made up from room hireage.
• The Cyber makes up about 5%.
• The remanding 20 of our actual generated income comes from rent and other resources.
• (The Generated income does not include the various grants).

Growth of Cyber Café Usage

The number of users was increasing 100% each month for the first four months. The average number of users is still growing however we have an increased number of tourists during the summer months.

Our Charges

• Groups
  • PTE - Private Training Establishment: $80.00 incl GST.
  • Business: $50.00 incl GST.
  • Non Profit: $20.00 incl GST.
• Individuals
  • Waged or Tourist: $5.00.
  • Non-waged or Student: $2.00.

We could increase the cost and still be competitive however the goal here to provide a community with an average income of around $10,000.00 with IT access and maintain our financial viability in other ways.

Strengths

• Community Owned.
• Location.
• Physical nature of the building as you could see with the wee tour.
• Relaxed atmosphere.
• Mutually beneficial having Tairawhiti REAP working within our offices. We have access to management and staff through having them on site.
• Central Government has a vested interest in seeing us succeed because we are a pilot scheme to help “Bridge the digital divide”.
• Support from telecom and ihug providing us with phone and satellite connection.
• Good staff and technical support.
• The Ghosting software provided to us by the Eastern Institute of Technology.
• We share resources with Waikaremoana Maori Trust Board, REAP and SeniorNet.
• We have provided the vehicle for other learning institutions to reach into our community.
• They have added value to us and our community and in turn we have added value to them.

Barriers

• The length of time that the Central Government is taking with the Digital Divide policy.
• Lack of Broad Band accessibility in our area however there is a pilot Broad Band study being done in our region and should bring about +ve change.
• Although as far as human traffic goes we are in a good location however our building is prone to flooding.
• Keeping the communication channels open between committee members due to their other commitments.
• Lack of new hardware and software. We really couldn’t cope without having technical support to keep the outdated machines working.
• We can’t compare ourselves with similar organisations in our area as we are the first of this kind
• However we are being noticed by the rest of the country more than I imagine we would if we were in say Wellington.
• Breaking down the technical phobia of a small rural community.
• Continuing support of funders. Often people only fund once but there is a need for continuing help.
• Wairoa doesn’t have large industries to provide support so we rely on Central Government support. We will never be entirely self-funded through user pays.

Future

• Proliferation of ‘Dot Coms’ throughout NZ supported through corporate good, government policy and funds and community cooperation.
• In the future we could see Tanae accessing Mr. Mitsubishi to discuss and strategise the affects of native deforestation.
• Wairoa will be an I.T. skilled community and continue to provide access to I.T.
• A lessening of isolation through I.T. which will allow participation on all levels; locally, nationally, globally.
• It will expand the education options for the community with online learning.
• Short term to medium term sustainability. We are currently about 50% self sustaining. Short term 60%, Medium term 75%, Long term 90 – 95%.
• We would like to forge relationships with businesses and agencies to inherit their redundant equipment.
• Build a pool of professional and technical expertise locally around Wairoadot com.
• Continue to develop creative initiatives to break down the “Digital Divide” in Wairoa.