Technology changing lives in Porirua

Today, Hewlett-Packard and the Digital Porirua Trust announced an initiative that will dramatically improve the Porirua community’s access to essential new technologies.

The Digital Porirua Trust has used a $400,000USD education grant from HP to build a network of community access points in church halls, marae, community centres and schools within Porirua. The centres are designed so people feel safe to explore new ideas and develop themselves through the use of technology.

The community access points form part of the wider Digital Porirua project. It recognises the important part technology plays in connecting our communities, helping people work together, increasing business productivity and helping individuals reach their aspirations.

"Digital Porirua aims to make access to technology easy: Whether it's meeting the broadband needs of our high tech industries, better connecting our communities with the use of community portals, or bringing the benefits of technology within the reach of all in our community," says Dr Roger Blakeley, Trust Chair and CEO Porirua City Council.

“With the help of Hewlett-Packard, we are on a clear path to achieving our goal to become a digital city. The Digital Porirua Trust has been created to administer the grant and oversee the community activity on a day-to-day basis.”

“It is exciting to see access to technology having such a profound influence on the lives of people from all ages in our city. With many children using the centres to do their homework while retired community members learn how to keep in touch with friends and family online.”

One group of children is setting up its own internet radio station from the Porirua Gospel Church so they can share their creativity with over 800 homes within their community.

HP made the decision to focus the entire grant on one deserving community with a clear goal of effecting considerable change to the way everyone within that community used technology.

“The Digital Porirua Trust received the grant because Porirua could already demonstrate its commitment to becoming a digital city through ICT infrastructure development and community programme initiatives,” says Brent Kendrick, General Manager, Personal Systems Group, Hewlett-Packard New Zealand

“The Digital Porirua Trust’s vision for its community was very compelling for HP, particularly alongside our own commitment to helping New Zealand businesses, communities and individuals grow through the use of HP’s innovative products and services.”

“HP is proud of to be part of a community project of this magnitude.”

About the HP Education programme
The 2008 Education Grant from HP is worth $400,000USD – comprising approximately $55,000 cash and $345,000 of HP products – including servers, desktop and laptop computers and printers.
HP continually re-focuses its strategy to align its social and community investment more closely with its business objectives as they evolve.

For example, In 2007 three out of thirteen education grants (Technology for Teaching grants) awarded across the Asia Pacific region went to New Zealand projects, and included:
· Brooklyn Primary School, Wellington: Enhancing student numeracy capability through the use of digital learning objects on tablet PCs.

· Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology: Building and using interactive engagement software.
· Massey University, Palmerston North: Fostering integrative learning using mobile learning technologies.
In 2006 a Technology for Teaching grant was awarded to Canterbury University.
In 2003 the University of Auckland received an HP mobility grant.

About Digital Porirua Trust
Trustees come from: Porirua City Council, Porirua City Community IT Educational Trust, Porirua Community Access Points, Porirua Chamber of Commerce, Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Mana Prinicipals Association, Ngati Toa Rangatira, Pacific Islands Forum, Quorum Group Consultants.
It's vision is for Porirua to be a city of well connected communities where taking part in new technologies is easy.

It is working toward the achievement of this vision via the Porirua Digital Strategy which focuses on four areas:

Content – ensuring local content meets local community and business needs.
Confidence – advocating for or ensuring high levels of service delivery
Connection – providing ready access to technology and skills development,
by fostering Collaboration within communities, including residents, businesses and the government.

About HP
HP, the world’s largest technology company, simplifies the technology experience for consumers and businesses with a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.