Stay in the know!

Add Us to Your Favorite Network and Keep Updated

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Flickr Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Linkedin Blog Feed

Accelerating Aotearoa Celebrates 7th AGM

Date: September 29, 2014

AGM Date: 25th September 2014

Accelerating Aotearoa held its 7th Annual General Meeting at New Zealand School of Education's Manukau Campus. Our thanks to NZSE for hosting the AGM and Core Group Meeting prior to that.

The following extract contains some of the highlights of the Chief Executive’s Report to members at the AGM.

Report from the Chief Executive

"Now in our 10th year of operation I am increasingly encouraged and inspired by the work of Accelerating Aotearoa and those that support its delivery. Over the past decade Accelerating Aotearoa has built a strong delivery platform with measurable successes in:
• Leadership in creating collaboration across both public and private sector organisations
 Development of sustainable social solutions for under-served and in-need communities.

I am pleased to report that the organisation is in good heart with an impressive 2014 report card and a strong forecast for 2015. 

2014 Deliverables

As I reported at the last Core Group meeting, since late 2012 Accelerating Aotearoa’s work has focused on the design and delivery of the ACCELERATING AUCKLAND programme. Accelerating Auckland is being delivered under the auspices of Auckland Council’s “Digital Leadership Forum” leveraging Central Government’s investment in Ultra Fast Broadband (UFB).

ACCELERATING AUCKLAND leverages digital access and its opportunities as the foundation for community wellbeing and New Zealand’s economic growth.

In 2014 nearly 2000 Aucklanders most in need, have taken part in our work:

• Digital Foundations - bridging effective digital practice for transition to school 
• Geek Camp - free digital holiday programmes igniting educational success 
• Park Jam - free local digital activities building connections with skilled work

The attached infographic contains more specific metrics on these programmes.

Infographic

In 2014 the organisation has enjoyed financial and resource support from a range of new supporters including Auckland Council, ATEED, The Trusts Community Foundation, Samsung, NZSE, The University of Waikato, Auckland Libraries, High Tech Youth Network, the Good Seed Trust and MPIA.

In recent weeks we have re-established our internship programme to recruit and place 4 recent digital graduates with the highly esteemed social media agency, OMD.

Plans for 2015 and beyond
With the establishment of these strong foundations we are currently working on plans to expand Accelerating Auckland in 2015 with significant increases in the number and frequency of programme delivery. While at this time we plan to continue our focus on Auckland’s south there is an increasing call to bring the programme to Auckland’s Western suburbs. 
We will keep you informed on these developments.

In closing
At this time it is fitting to express our appreciation to those that have ensured these encouraging outcomes; our unfaltering Chairman John Holley, Cr Arthur Anae who as programme sponsor is unfailing in his vision and encouragement, John, Pete Macaulay and Filemoni Timoteo as our Funding Sub-committee.

Most importantly I wish to acknowledge the remarkable contributions of our programme Steering Groups and delivery teams without whom we would be unable to deliver this remarkable work.

Illustrating this commitment of both organisations and individuals was the participation of 75 volunteers in the delivery of our inaugural Park Jam event at Otara. Around this event alone, 22 organisations collaborated to deliver including; Auckland Council, Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board, Fresh Gallery Otara, OMAC, Auckland Libraries, ATEED, Samsung, New Zealand School of Education, The University of Waikato, AUT University, Otago Polytechnic, High Tech Youth Network, the Police, Army, Air Force and Navy, CareersNZ, Good Seed Trust, Coconut Wireless, the Roots Collaboration, CoLAB and Otara Unlimited.

Sincere thanks to each of you, we are indeed most fortunate"

Judy Speight, Chief Executive 
25th September 2014