On the most remote tip of the East Cape of the North Island is Te Araroa. Our community trust runs the information centre for tourists and for our own community. We help them complete things online with access to the internet which they do not have at home. We have public computers in our communal space and private computers in the office for people to do confidential business. Digital Wings computers mean everyone has access to services and other activities including:
- Gisborne District Council (GDC) information and consultation meetings (roads, public toilets, water, footpaths, playground etc)
- Māori Land Court hui and notifications
- DIA Funding information meetings and IRD meetings
- MY MSD here at the hub to help our local people apply for grants and assistance online instead of travelling to Ruatoria
- Access to MY MSD online helps our community young and old with assistance online from Work and Income in their own space and time without having to spend money to travel 45 km to the nearest WINZ
- Teaching our elderly and new people how to connect to internet for online shopping and making appointments
- Staying in touch with family who have moved away and overseas by Facebook, Skype etc
- Internet banking is really important because the nearest banks are 2hrs’ drive away. People can pay their bills, rates etc
- The Digital Wings laptop and data projector makes it possible for us to run GDC meetings locally and also run training sessions for locals. Before we had to all squint at presentations on our cellphones
- The local police run Mountain Safety courses
- Running the Te Whare Manaaki Trust’s own Facebook page is important to engage the community and announce what is going on, post reminders etc
