End-of-year reflections, 2025
As the year turns and Whanganui settles into the long light of summer, it feels like the right moment to pause, breathe, and look back on how far this kaupapa has travelled. Digital inclusion work rarely arrives in grand announcements or dramatic breakthroughs. It grows through small, steady acts of service — the quiet conversations in libraries, the unexpected moments of trust, the gentle problem-solving that slowly builds confidence and safety for whānau.
- This year has reminded us that every step we take is built on years of learning, relationships, community energy, and the support of many people who have walked alongside us.
Re-grounding the kaupapa
When our formal Digital Ambassador role within DIAA ended in 2024, we found ourselves at a crossroads. Instead of waiting for the next grant cycle or the next formal invitation, we simply carried the kaupapa forward. From January 2025, under Digital Inclusion Whanganui and the backing of Crystal Adventures Ltd, we committed to staying present in our community — on our own terms, with our own rhythm, and deeply anchored in local realities.
- This independence wasn’t a declaration of going it alone. It was a recommitment to listening first and letting the mahi grow from the needs and voices of the people we serve.
A year shaped by people, not programmes
Much of 2025 unfolded not in boardrooms or reports, but in the everyday spaces where digital life becomes confusing, vulnerable, or overwhelming.
At Gonville Library, our SENSE digital safety drop-ins became a weekly rhythm — low-pressure sessions where neighbours came to talk about scams, logins, two-factor authentication, online banking, phone settings, or just the anxiety of “not wanting to break something”. Each encounter reminded us that digital confidence is built person by person, through patience, trust, and manaakitanga.
We also took the kaupapa outward — into Stone Soup, into neighbourhood spaces, into one-to-one visits, and into kōrero with seniors’ groups and informal support networks. Every time, the same pattern emerged: when the environment feels safe, learning becomes possible.
And as always, there were the small, quiet moments — a blind user learning new accessibility tools, a kaumātua updating their emergency contacts, a nervous parent navigating school apps — each creating ripple effects far beyond the interaction itself.
Strengthening our foundations
Alongside the practical mahi, this year was deeply shaped by reflection and re-framing. We spent time revisiting what truly matters at the heart of digital inclusion and created a set of First Principles — equity, Te Tiriti alignment, safety, evidence, stewardship, and the 4R Rule — to anchor every decision.
We identified DIW’s canonical priority groups for Whanganui and began reshaping our Needs Analysis and Business Plan as living, iterative documents rather than static reports. These frameworks don’t sit on a shelf; they guide choices, refine focus, and make sure the mahi grows in the right direction.
Over time, these foundations have allowed DIW to carry itself not as a project but as a long-term community asset.
Walking within a wider ecosystem
Although DIW stands independently, we never stand alone. This year reaffirmed the strength and generosity of the national digital equity ecosystem we’re part of.
We’re grateful to continue walking alongside organisations such as:
- TUANZ and the national conversations around connectivity, AI, and cyber-safety
- DIAA, whose early trust and leadership helped shape our understanding of this mahi
- InternetNZ, whose advocacy and thought leadership continue to push digital equity forward
- Digital Seniors, Recycle a Device (RAD), Netsafe, Katoa Connect, and DECA — each playing a vital role in the wellbeing and empowerment of communities across Aotearoa
These connections remind us that while our feet are firmly planted in Whanganui, the kaupapa is shared nationwide.
Learning, listening, and staying ahead
Throughout 2025 we kept a steady rhythm of professional development — webinars, briefings, research on emerging technologies, and engagement with national events. Not for prestige, but because we know the digital world is changing quickly.
Part of our role is to stay ahead of that change, interpret what it means for everyday life in Whanganui, and share those insights in clear, practical ways through blogs, safety guides, conversations, and quiet support.
Looking toward 2026
If this year taught us anything, it’s that nothing is automatic. Momentum doesn’t carry itself. The mahi only grows when we absorb the lessons of the year before, stay open, and keep listening to our community.
- We move into 2026 with gratitude — for the whānau who trusted us; for every conversation in the library; for every moment of patience, courage, and humour shared with someone trying to wrangle their device; and for every organisation, neighbour, and colleague who helped strengthen this kaupapa.
Digital inclusion in Whanganui is not an initiative. It’s a long, unfolding journey — one we’re privileged to walk, one relationship at a time.
- Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui – be strong, be confident, be patient
- Here’s to more learning, more connecting, and more digital confidence for all in the year ahead.
This blog post is a collaborative creation by Alistair Fraser, with the innovative assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 5.1 highlighting the synergy of human creativity and advanced AI technology.