Wellington Digital Divide

Why did we select this case

New Zealand's InternetNZ and 20/20 Trust have developed two complementing databases, one for mapping the digital divide throughout the country and another for mapping digital inclusion resources.

About the case

Digital Divide provides a geographical representation of where the most digitally disadvantaged are mapped based on the following factors:

Digital inclusion based on:
- Infrastructure (% households able to receive broadband)
- Access (% households with access to internet)
- Skills (frequency of engagement in ICT activities and necessary ICT skills)
Social well-being based on the New Zealand Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation that takes into account:
- People under 65 with no Internet access at home
- People 18-64 receiving a means tested benefit
- People living in equivalised households with income below an income threshold
- People aged between 18-64 who are unemployed
- People aged 18-64 without any qualifications
- People not living in their own home
- People under 65 living in a single parent family
- People living in equivalised households below a bedroom occupancy threshold
- People with no access to a car

Digital Inclusion is the complementary resource that offers visibility to digital inclusion projects and resources in New Zealand, with the following goals:

make it easy for people to find digital inclusion projects and resources near them
encourage greater take up of, and support for, digital inclusion initiatives
encourage cooperation and knowledge sharing between projects

Resources are categorised as computer access, computer training, digital inclusion organisation, digital inclusion project, research and resources, or wireless/wifi. The Digital Inclusion Map is an initiative as a result of 20/20's digital divide manifesto strategic goals. Their initiative aligns with the New Zealand government's digital economy strategy.