As we wrap up the students home internet access initiative at the Ministry I wanted to acknowledge the support from the industry, community, schools and the MoE team over the past 4 years. Manaiakalani Education Trust and Fusion Networks New Zealand will continue operating the https://EDOS.kiwi platform that offers discounted service to those families who wish to self-fund their connections. This wouldn't have been possible without everyone putting the children in front of any other business consideration.
In the industry, big shout out to our fibre companies: Chorus NZ Limited, Tuatahi First Fibre, Enable New Zealand, and Northpower Fibre, the mobile operators, particularly 2degrees, and the many small Wireless ISPs(WISPs) in the outback ensuring no child is left behind because of lack of access to the Internet.
The core MoE team: Stuart Wakefield, Mark Horgan, Peter Bisley, James Shand, Nick Griffin, Paul Stephen, and many others who helped getting up to 70,000 students online at one point, connecting kids living in remote areas, on boats, in buses, at motels, or the unregistered garage in the backyard for them to continue learning. I'm hoping NZ rises up to the challenge of closing the digital divide, once and for all, before AI widens the gap even further. Your legacy will live on!
NB: Other digital equity initiatives such as Zero Data (zero.govt.nz) and eduroam for Schools will continue to live on thanks to our government partners in Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and REANNZ Ltd.
On the back of getting to know and work with so many awesome people I have started working on a project that aims at using state of the art engineering for good (something we need when robots take over!). Reach out if you would like to know more or take part: https://lnkd.in/gYfV_4t2
