Only two weeks remain before the TUANZ Member Awards are announced.
For Digital Inclusion Whanganui, this is both a time to reflect and a chance to look forward.
The finalists are a strong group, each with their own inspiring stories. To be in their company is an honour in itself—one that brings valuable lessons about what can be achieved when communities act with purpose. For us, it is also a moment to build: to network widely, reinforce existing relationships, and forge new ones that can strengthen our capability and capacity.
By selecting Digital Inclusion Whanganui as one of four finalists for Community Initiative of the Year 2025, the TUANZ judges have recognised us against their five criteria: leadership, measurable outcomes, broad impact, inspiration, and feedback. Their decision is more than validation—it signals that our work has promise, integrity, and potential. It also creates an opening to attract the calibre of partners, collaborators, and supporters we need most.
Click here for more information about the TUANZ Member Awards
From One-Man Band to Anchor Circle
Reaching this milestone—completing our Needs Analysis, presenting it on time, and now seeing our mahi recognised—is deeply satisfying. Yet the reality is we are still a one-man band. For now, that simplicity is a strength. It allows us to remain nimble and leverage this recognition without being weighed down by bureaucracy.
In the medium term, a more formal structure will be essential. But in the immediate future, I will lead Digital Inclusion Whanganui with the guidance of a small Anchor Circle—trusted individuals I consult one-to-one and informally. Their role is to help me prioritise strategies and tactics, ensuring momentum while keeping true to our kaupapa.
Part of what may have impressed the judges was our Strategic Business and Funding Plan 2025–26, which clearly set out how we intend to grow. Between that plan and the Anchor Circle, we now have a framework strong enough to move us forward with confidence.
A Personal Shift
Behind the organisational progress lies something more personal. I am discovering how much I enjoy this new work in digital equity as an independent social entrepreneur. Constantly learning, adapting, and refining my working style has been energising.
Recently I came across an article in New Scientist by psychiatrist Rami Kaminski called “The Power of One.” It introduced the idea of the otrovert—someone who values autonomy of thought and doesn’t need group identity for validation. Otroverts can belong to groups when useful, but maintain emotional independence and resist the pull of the “hive mind.”
This description resonated. My own suspicion of groupthink—no doubt rooted in my hospitality background—has often left me working from first principles rather than following the crowd. The article’s caution about tribalism, where groups punish dissent, also struck a chord.
An Otrovert’s Toolkit
Thinking about otroversion as a working style rather than a fixed label has been helpful. With ChatGPT’s prompting, I’ve been exploring how to lean into its strengths while guarding against its risks:
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Strengths: independent judgement, problem-solving from first principles, calmness under pressure, and the integrity that comes with not simply telling people what they want to hear.
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Risks: isolation, under-listening, or seeming aloof. The antidotes include keeping a small Anchor Circle active, deliberately practising deeper listening, and narrating intentions when working quietly.
Applied to Digital Inclusion Whanganui, this mindset can be an asset. For example, hosting small “red-team” sessions where people poke holes in an idea; convening tiny salons around one powerful question; or writing short evidence-first memos to guide practical decisions. Otroversion, channelled well, can be a leadership strength.
The Bottom Line
Becoming a TUANZ finalist is not the end goal but a catalyst. It highlights that our mahi has value and offers a platform to build from. For me, the challenge is to balance independence with belonging: to keep warm ties, share my thinking openly, and use structured tools to avoid the traps of groupthink.
If I can do that, Digital Inclusion Whanganui can offer something distinctive—clear, independent leadership rooted in data, integrity, and service to community.
As Kaminski suggests, the power of one is real. But it only achieves its full potential when directed towards the good of many.
Click here to visit the Digital Inclusion Whanganui webpages
This blog post is a collaborative creation by Alistair Fraser, with the innovative assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 5 highlighting the synergy of human creativity and advanced AI technology.