Over the past year, Digital Inclusion Whanganui has quietly moved from idea to action.
What began as a concern about digital exclusion in our community has gradually taken shape as a locally grounded initiative focused on improving digital access, confidence, safety, and capability across the district.
During this first phase we have concentrated on three things: listening, learning, and testing practical ideas.
Now, as we move into the second year of the work, it feels like the right time to share a brief reflection on what has been achieved so far — and where the kaupapa is heading next.
Starting with a Simple Question
Digital Inclusion Whanganui began with a simple observation.
The digital divide in our district is not abstract or hidden. It appears in everyday situations — a person unable to access a health portal, someone struggling to apply for work online, or a family without reliable internet at home.
The initiative was established in January 2025 as a locally led effort to better understand these challenges and explore practical responses.
From the beginning the approach has been deliberately small-scale and exploratory. Rather than launching large programmes immediately, the goal was first to build an evidence base, develop relationships, and test ideas in real community settings.
Building the Foundations
During the first year several key pieces of groundwork were completed.
A district-wide Digital Inclusion Needs Analysis was developed, bringing together interviews, observation, national research, and local insights.
Alongside this, a set of Digital Inclusion Whanganui First Principles was created to guide decision-making and ensure the work remains grounded in equity, collaboration, and community voice.
The initiative also produced its first Strategic Business and Funding Plan, outlining a vision for building a locally led digital inclusion ecosystem in Whanganui.
Taken together, these documents helped clarify both the challenge and the opportunity: while digital exclusion remains a serious issue locally, Whanganui also has the scale and community networks needed to respond creatively.
From Planning to Practice
A key milestone was reached late in 2025 with the launch of SENSE Whanganui — the initiative’s first practical pilot.
SENSE (Safe • Educated • Navigating • Secure • Empowered) is a weekly digital help drop-in hosted at Gonville Library.
The sessions provide:
- help with devices and connectivity
- guidance navigating digital services
- support for online safety and scam awareness
- confidence-building for people unsure about digital tools
Over the first months more than fifty people attended the sessions, confirming something important: people want help — but they want it in calm, trusted environments.
Libraries and community venues turn out to be ideal places for this kind of support.
The pilot also demonstrated that tools such as AI assistants can sometimes help explain digital processes or draft messages in ways that build people’s confidence rather than replace it.
Learning Along the Way
In March 2026 a review was undertaken of the original strategic plan.
Several useful lessons emerged.
Some early expectations proved premature. For example, formal stakeholder interviews were less effective than informal conversations and relationship-building in understanding the local ecosystem.
Likewise, the idea that sustainable funding would emerge quickly turned out to be unrealistic. The experience of the first year suggests that credibility and partnerships must come first.
In many ways this has been a healthy discovery.
The work has evolved organically into something slightly different — and arguably more valuable — than originally imagined.
Understanding the Role DIW Can Play
Through its first year of activity, Digital Inclusion Whanganui has begun to find its natural place within the wider digital inclusion landscape.
Rather than becoming a large service provider, the initiative appears to function best as a community-embedded connector and experimenter.
In practical terms this means:
- identifying emerging digital barriers in the community
- testing small practical pilots
- connecting local experiences with national programmes
- advocating for solutions that work in real settings
This role complements the work of larger national organisations rather than competing with them.
Emerging Themes for the Next Phase
Several themes are becoming clearer as the work continues.
Digital Safety
Helping people stay safe online — particularly around scams and misinformation — has proven to be a strong entry point for engagement.
AI Literacy
There is growing curiosity about artificial intelligence and how tools such as ChatGPT can be used safely and constructively in everyday life.
Digital Health Literacy
More health services are moving online, and many people need help navigating patient portals, appointments, and telehealth systems.
These areas are likely to shape future pilots and partnerships.
The Importance of Listening
One of the most useful tools developed during the past year has been the Digital Listening Board.
Used at community events such as Stone Soup, the board allows people to write down their digital challenges and experiences directly.
This simple method often reveals insights that surveys and reports miss. It also reminds us that digital inclusion is ultimately about people’s lived experiences, not just infrastructure or technology.
Looking Ahead
The next phase of Digital Inclusion Whanganui will focus on strengthening partnerships and building on the proof-of-concept work already underway.
The goal is not rapid expansion but steady consolidation.
If the SENSE model continues to prove effective, it may gradually expand to additional venues and community contexts. At the same time, opportunities to collaborate with national digital inclusion programmes will be explored.
Over time, sustainable funding pathways may emerge through partnerships, pilot programmes, and shared delivery models.
A Continuing Journey
Digital Inclusion Whanganui remains a young initiative.
Its first year has focused on building foundations: understanding the landscape, developing relationships, and testing a practical pilot.
The second year will focus on strengthening what works and deepening collaboration with organisations already working in the digital inclusion ecosystem.
The goal remains unchanged:
A Whanganui where everyone can confidently participate in the digital world.
And while the path forward will continue to evolve, one thing is already clear.
The conversations have started — and they matter.
If you’d like to explore the work mentioned in this article, you can find more information here:
• Digital Inclusion Whanganui overview
• Whanganui Digital Inclusion Needs Analysis
• Digital Inclusion Whanganui First Principles
• SENSE Whanganui digital help sessions
• Digital Listening Board community engagement tool
This piece was developed collaboratively , blending Alistair’s lived experience with AI-assisted reflection.