Background

The Aotearoa People’s Network owes its origins to a similar programme in the United Kingdom and rolled out through over 4000 public libraries - The People's Network. Funded from the Big Lotteries Fund, the 170 million pounds provided PCs, training, free Internet access and a brand, which not only boosted new growth and use of public libraries, but was a catalyst for the uptake and development of rich broadband capability in the UK.

Digital Strategy

In May 2005, the New Zealand government-based Digital Strategy signalled the importance of the three ‘Cs’ – connectivity, confidence and content – as key enablers to ensure New Zealanders benefited from the digital revolution happening around the globe. The Aotearoa People’s Network was a key project within the Digital Strategy and a successful bid was made to the Community Partnership Fund for initial funding of the People’s Network.

That bid was to provide a number of libraries, grouped in regions, with the technology, communications, training and content gateway to enable free access to the Internet for customers. Since then further interest in progressing the Aotearoa New Zealand People’s Network to public libraries across the whole country has seen additional funding made available.

Additional funding was made available from 1 July 2007 through the Digital Content Strategy, a National Library of New Zealand-led initiative which focuses on developing digital content across the whole-of-government.

Public Libraries of New Zealand

The public libraries and their funders and associated stakeholders also saw the People’s Network as a key initiative to provide digital opportunities to New Zealanders, particularly those who require support to learn skills and to find quality information for their needs. At the Public Library Summit in February 2007, a wide group of decision makers and thinkers from across central and local government, business, community, education and media agreed that the implementation of a whole-of-government People’s Network in public libraries was a key priority for action.

Announcements

18 August 2008
Computer installations have been completed in Gisborne, Wairoa and the Central Hawke's Bay towns of Waipukurau and Waipawa.  Preparation is now under way for the South Taranaki District libraries in September and the Top of the South libraries (Tasman, Marlborough and Nelson) in October.