Welcome
Our Vision: Building a Digitally Inclusive Community
Digital Inclusion Whanganui is an initiative dedicated to empowering our community by bridging the digital divide. Whether it’s through improving access, skills, safety, or motivation, our goal is to ensure that every person in Whanganui can confidently and meaningfully participate in the digital world.
Digital Inclusion in Motion – Whanganui’s Action Plan
📍 Tuesday 20 May | Midday to 2pm | The Backhouse | Part of Techweek2025
💡 About the Event
Join us for a powerful Techweek2025 session unveiling the Digital Inclusion Whanganui Needs Analysis, a landmark report mapping digital equity gaps across our district.
Presented by Alistair Fraser, long-time digital inclusion advocate, the session runs from 12–2pm and is split into two parts.
Feel free to bring your lunch, or enjoy our food and stay for the whole session — we welcome kai and conversation throughout.
Please click here to RSVP and register you are coming so we can make sure we have your catering details
🕛 12:00–1:00pm – Presentation of the Needs Analysis Report
Discover:
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The nine priority population groups most affected by digital exclusion
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Key barriers across access, skills, motivation, and online safety
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The real social and economic impact of being left out
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Actionable next steps for local collaboration and leadership
🥪 1:00–2:00pm – Open Discussion: What Comes Next?
After a short break, we’ll explore future directions for Digital Inclusion Whanganui:
- What could a steering group or governance structure look like?
- Which pilot projects should we prioritise first?
- How can we design this mahi together?
This second hour is flexible and interactive — bring your ideas and join a shared conversation. If time allows, we may also host a spontaneous panel discussion with community voices.
Whether you’re in education, social services, health, council, tech, or community development — this event is for you.
🧭 Help shape the next chapter for Whanganui’s digital future.
Discover what’s holding people back — and what we can do about it together.
📥 Get the Report and Business Plan
Our two flagship documents are available here for download and sharing:
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📘 Needs Analysis Report – May 2025 (PDF)
In-depth, locally grounded, and insight-rich. - This comprehensive report outlines the state of digital inclusion across the Whanganui region, identifying key barriers, opportunities, and community needs. Based on local data, national research, and grassroots engagement, it provides a clear picture of who’s being left behind digitally — and what we can do about it. The report highlights priority groups, presents strategic recommendations, and includes a timeline of action aligned with Techweek 2025. It’s a working document, designed to evolve as we bring more voices and partners to the table.
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Download the Techweek2025 Digital Inclusion in Motion Poster A4/A3 (PDF)
- 📊 Digital Inclusion Business Plan – 2025–2026 (PDF)
A practical roadmap for action and partnership. - This draft business plan is a companion to the report, offering a practical roadmap for action. It outlines how we’ll coordinate, fund, and deliver digital inclusion initiatives across Whanganui, including potential pilot programmes, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability strategies. It reflects a start-up mentality, but with scalable ambitions. We hope this will guide partnership-building and attract investment, while keeping our kaupapa people-first and responsive.
We welcome feedback, reuse, and collaboration — please share widely.
📥 Download Additional Focus Summaries
Each of these companion summaries highlights a key audience or strategic angle of the full Digital Inclusion Whanganui Needs Analysis Report – May 2025. Use them to spark targeted conversations, brief decision-makers, or take action in your own organisation.
🌐 General Overview Summary
The Big Picture at a Glance
A clear, compelling overview of the key findings, priority groups, and gaps addressed in the full Needs Analysis. Great for briefing colleagues or introducing new stakeholders.
👉 Download the General Overview Summary (PDF)
🏥 Health & Digital Equity Summary
Bridging Health Gaps Through Digital Confidence
This summary outlines urgent digital barriers in healthcare access and literacy. It calls on health providers, libraries, and community services to partner on practical, patient-focused solutions.
👉 Download the Health & Digital Equity Summary (PDF)
💰 Economic Benefits Summary
The Case for Investment
This evidence-based briefing highlights how closing the digital divide delivers major returns — an estimated $10–15 million annually for Whanganui. Ideal for funders, councils, and business leaders.
👉 Download the Economic Benefits Summary (PDF)
📚 Library-Focused Summary
Libraries as Frontline Digital Support
This summary acknowledges the critical role libraries play as trusted access points, especially for seniors, caregivers, and beginners. It makes the case for resourcing and scaling their mahi.
👉 Download the Library-Focused Summary (PDF)
✅ Actions & Recommendations Summary
From Insight to Impact
A quick reference guide to what happens next — pilot initiatives, partnerships, and a roadmap for local leadership. Perfect for anyone ready to move from ideas to action.
👉 Download the Actions & Recommendations Summary (PDF)
🏛️ WDC-Focused Summary
Why Digital Inclusion Matters for Council
Tailored for Whanganui District Council leaders, this briefing outlines how digital equity intersects with housing, wellbeing, civic strategy, and infrastructure. It includes specific recommendations aligned with the new community portfolios.
👉 Download the WDC-Focused Summary (PDF)
Digital Inclusion Whanganui Needs Analysis
The Digital Inclusion Whanganui Needs Analysis aims to comprehensively illuminate the digital inclusion landscape of the Whanganui District.
- By identifying key barriers and opportunities, it will guide the creation of actionable strategies to reduce digital inequities, enabling tailored solutions that empower the community.
- This work aligns with the vision of fostering a digitally inclusive society where everyone has equitable access to technology, connectivity, and skills.
During Techweek 2025, 19-25 May, Alistair Fraser will present a summary of findings, plus provide actionable recommendations for addressing digital inequities.
- The analysis will consider and identify gaps to address through target initiatives.
- It will look at the current landscape for digital inclusion, investigate what is happening and not, plus identify opportunities to collaborate and share resources.
- Surveys and interviews are being carried out with community groups, individuals and organisations.
The needs analysis is being undertaken between March and April 2025 by Alistair Fraser, long-time Whanganui digital inclusion advocate and programme facilitator.
- He will be prioritising engagement with focus stakeholders groups from within targeted demographics.
- Quantitative and qualitative insights into access, skills, motivation and safety will be gathered.
New Key Documents and Resources Page from 31 January 2025
We have added a new Key Documents and Resources pages to this site to incorporate all our news and important information so you can easily find what you need.
Our Values: Guiding Our Work Towards Digital Inclusion
At Digital Inclusion Whanganui (DIW), our values reflect a commitment to building a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the digital world. These principles are deeply rooted in inclusivity and sustainability, ensuring our actions align with Whanganui’s diverse needs and Māori principles.
- Equity
We strive to ensure that every individual in Whanganui, regardless of their circumstances, has equal opportunities to access and benefit from digital tools and resources. Our focus is on fairness and reducing inequities to create a more balanced digital landscape. - Accessibility
Making digital tools, training, and resources universally available and easy to use is central to our mission. Addressing physical, cognitive, and financial barriers ensures no one is excluded from digital participation. - Community-Centric Approach
DIW prioritises local solutions tailored to Whanganui’s unique needs, recognising the value of cultural sensitivity and local input in building successful digital inclusion initiatives. - Sustainability
Our efforts are designed to have lasting impacts, balancing economic, social, and environmental factors to ensure the longevity of digital inclusion initiatives. - Collaboration
Working together with organisations, businesses, and individuals amplifies our impact. We seek partnerships that foster cooperation and shared success in bridging the digital divide. - Empowerment
Empowering individuals and groups with the confidence, skills, and tools to independently navigate the digital world is key to fostering long-term digital inclusion. - Respect
We value and acknowledge the diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives of everyone in our community, ensuring all voices are heard and included. - Innovation
Embracing creativity and forward-thinking solutions allows us to address challenges and seize opportunities in new and impactful ways. - Transparency
Open communication and accountability in all our initiatives build trust and credibility with our stakeholders and the community. - Wellbeing
Digital inclusion should contribute positively to the holistic wellbeing of individuals and communities, fostering connection, learning, and growth.
Living Our Values
These values guide every action and decision we take at DIW. From developing initiatives to engaging with the community, our commitment to these principles ensures a consistent and effective approach to digital inclusion.
By embedding Equity, Empowerment, and Collaboration into our work, we aim to reduce barriers, foster independence, and build partnerships that make a tangible difference for everyone in Whanganui.
Get Involved
Your voice matters! We invite you to:
- Engage with us – get in touch https://crystaladventures.co.nz/contact/
- Explore the documents available on this page for a deeper understanding of our initiatives.