August 2008 - Community Partnership Fund: a workshop to share experiences and make links with other projects.

The 2020 Communications Trust and the New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations would like to invite you to a workshop to discuss the Community Partnership Fund (CPF).

When: Friday, September 5, 2008 Š 10:00am -3:00pm
Where: Wellington (TBA based on numbers)

Click here for more information.

August 2008 - eDay 2008 has potential to divert 1,000 tonnes of e-waste from landfills

Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest growing type of waste being sent to landfills globally, New Zealand being no exception.

The Computer Access New Zealand Trust (CANZ) today announced another eDay (free computer recycling day), for the weekend of October 4th and 5th 2008, with the aim of diverting 1,000 tonnes of e- waste from landfills in up to 30 regions Š a substantial increase from the 12 regions that participated in 2007.

View the Full Press Release (PDF - 140KB)

July 2008 - Dignitaries show support for Far North families at Computers in Homes graduation.

37 Far North families celebrated today at a Computer in Homes graduation attended by the Honourable John Carter, National Party MP for Northland, Kelvin Davis, Te Tai Tokerau Labour candidate along with other local dignitaries.

Through the national Computers in Homes programme, local families are provided with computers and internet access along with training, skills and support to use this technology, via their local schools.

The programme brings computer technology within reach of all New Zealand families with school-aged children and allows parents and grandparents to connect with their childrenÕs learning.

View the Full Press Release (PDF - 716KB)

June 2008 - New Trust to focus on developing digital skills in the Far North.

A new trust was established this week to help all people living in the Far North develop their digital skills and the literacy necessary to participate in a world that is increasingly being driven by digital technologies.

The new trust, to be known as The 2020 Far North ICT Trust, is modelled on the successful national 2020 Communications Trust, originally set up in Wellington some 12 years ago. The Far North trust joins four other affiliated local community-based ICT trusts in Wellington, Porirua, Rotorua and Hamilton.

Laurence Zwimpfer, a trustee of the national 2020 trust and spokeperson for the new trust, said that this is an exciting opportunity for the Far North. “The 2020 Trust and a number of other groups have had to lobby government and the telecommunication companies for a long time to get decent digital connectivity for rural New Zealand, including the Far North,” he said.

View the Full Press Release (PDF - 84KB)

June 2008 - Prime Minister applauds eDay for diverting toxic waste from our landfills.

As part of the World Environment Day week of celebrations, the 18th annual Green Ribbon awards were presented to nine recipients last night in a special award ceremony at Wellington Town Hall.

The Computer Access New Zealand Trust (CANZ), organiser of the national eDay programme, was honoured as the recipient of the award for Community Action for the Environment.

"The winners and all the nominees for these awards are providing leadership which is inspiring and invaluable," said the Right Honourable Helen Clark, Prime Minister, who attended the awards last night.

View the Full Press Release (PDF - 135KB)

June 2008 - (Press Release): “e-Waste Eddie” helps schools kick the e-waste habit

As part of World Environment Day week, e-Waste Eddie the puppet and the eDay collection truck will be visiting selected Wellington schools to raise awareness of the hazardous nature of electronic waste (e-waste) when dumped in landfills.

e-Waste Eddie, puppeteer Tony Collis and the eDay collection truck are visiting schools
during World Environment Day week to educate schools and children about the dangers of
e-waste in landfills and the importance of IT energy conservation while at the same time
providing a method for schools to recycle their old computer equipment.

View Full Press Release (PDF - 83KB)

The 2020 Communications Trust was established in 1996, initially to fulfil a variety of projects and obligations set out under the Wellington City Council's InfoCity project.
Since then, the Trust's reach has expanded nationally via a number of highly acclaimed initiatives - each has a particular focus on empowering people to use ICT as a pathway to engage more fully in their communities, their countries and in today's global village.

The ongoing aim of the Trust is to promote dialogue and understanding through local action. Separate regional trusts have subsequently been established to ensure local responsiveness .
Collectively, this network of Trustees, along with our affiliates, operate under a common mission:

To help ALL New Zealanders benefit from the opportunities of the new digital era - especially from the internet.