Kiwi Scrum Newsletter - May 2010

	Kiwi Scrum Newsletter: May 2010
	"Be the change you want to see in the World" Mahatma Gandhi

NZ Online Networking

Name: John Stephen VeitchDate: 10 May, 2010

I've commented often on the LACK of online networking in New Zealand and the general neglect of the Internet as a tool. Those in the ICT industry scream in anger at my comments, but they are among the worst networkers in the country. They connect only to each other, and they talk only "shop". I do understand. Your work can't be your social life too. We need technical people, but they are generally not good community leaders, and they are dreadful examples as networkers.

See my survey here: http://www.ate.co.nz/survey2009.html

In February 2008 I wrote about NZ being a small country on the Internet.
Be the Master of your own Online Activity

The NZ Digital Strategy is a dismal failure. NZ can do better but there's no point in waiting for the government to do it for us. That's waiting for a dead hand to clap. The METHOD and PROCESS for making NZ a LEADER on the Internet is to embrace JOINING groups and talking to each other much more.

Joining Kiwi Scrum is only a start.
Where are the groups for your industry?
Where are the community lists like Canterbury Issues?
Where are the street groups?

There's work to do. YOU are the guy who needs to do it.

Definite Progress in NZ

Name: Yvonne PhillipsDate: 11 May, 2010

I think there is definite progress happening though. In my organisation we have web portals, Twitter, and Google groups for collaboration between different organisations. It really just takes one project manager to start using a technology and, if successful, it seems to spread fast.

I think what would be really useful is a video conferencing tool that lets you see all participants as if in a virtual room and can be used from your PC. Of course it won't work so long as we're stuck in the broadband slow lane.

Yvonne Phillips
Warm Home Survey

Tourism Industry, Online Leader in NZ

Name: Louise FowlerDate: 12 May, 2010

The Tourism Industry in NZ has had to be a leader in the online marketing environment to stay competitive in the International market. To attract tourists to NZ we need to be advertising and engaging with them online - social media has become a major tool in the last few years. Its all a learning curve for most but new initiatives such as eTourism conference in 2009 and again this year help keep us up to date with what is happening. There are also many Tourism blogs for general industry disscussion such as Motella and Tourism Industry Blog.

Louise Fowler
Motel Association of NZ

Name: Nick TaskerDate: 29 May, 2010

John, I was interested to see your comments on the NZ digital strategy. Coming back to NZ from the Northern Hemisphere I see the problems you highlighted mirrored within the UK but to a lesser extent. Perhaps part of the problem is end-users attitude specifically regarding social networking in this space with the focus being only the "fun factor". The value I have derived from approaching the internet from a "business goal" perspective in networking for research, business development, spotting hiring trends etc..has been incalculable. However many of my current colleagues have only now began to develop groups/contact networks and see the value of this after 2 long years of persistent pushing by myself.

In Scotland currently we have the "pathfinder project" which is seeing the entire refresh and build of broadband into schools. This has been a refreshing step forward but was really driven by community effort (business, school etc) highlighting the vital need to government.

I hope to be able to contribute positively from a community perspective upon my arrival in November.

Nick Tasker
Munro Consulting

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