Hi,
WCN have provided WTMC and over 600 non-profit/community web sites in Wellington for over 10 years – free of charge! I can only describe the idea as being visionary. It is the envy of many community groups in other NZ cities. It would be a tragedy to see that destroyed by a short sighted cost cutting exercise.
Check these links too
http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=6073
http://work.miramarmike.co.nz/2009/05/3-simple-steps-to-save-570-wellington.html
A bit more info about WCN
Wellington Community Net
In 1996 the Wellington City Council (WCC) and the national 2020 Communications Trust identified the need for all citizens in the Wellington region to have access to education, information and communication resources to help make the region a better place to live, learn, grow and prosper.
It was decided this would be achieved by “… providing an independent communications network for the Wellington region, providing people (with) worldwide access to education, information and communication resources, promoting participation in civic life and enhancing the community socially, culturally and economically. This network is to include community website hosting system, to be known as the Wellington Community Net (WCN) “.
The responsibility for managing and operating WCN was transferred to the Wellington Region 2020 Communications Trust (Wellington ICT) when the Trust was established in 2002.
WCN’s primary purpose is to offer a range of information and communications services to the Wellington region, including free web-hosting for non-profit organisations as well as training and other support services.
The key requirements for access to WCN and its services are laid out in the Hosting Agreement. Signing up to this agreement is the key first step in the online application process.
WCN caters for a wide range of community groups and organisations, drawn from these categories:
* Arts
* Civic Advocacy
* Clubs and Societies
* Education and Schools
* Environment
* Health
* Neighbourhoods
* Professional Associations
* Religion and Spirituality
* Sports and Outdoors
Over 700 community groups and organisations are now registered to use WCN, and more than 600 of them now have live websites. Growth averages 10-15 registrations per month.
These primary statistics substantiate the major contribution WCN is making to Wellington’s reputation as a ‘digital capital’ and as one of New Zealand’s more future-focused city. This level of contribution has been sustained by aligning WCN with new ideas, opportunities and needs as expressed by the community groups and organisations it is there to support.
WCN is seen as one of the better ways to ensure that, just like our wider society, Wellington’s information society includes people from every part of the community. It was noted at the original launch that information technology is at the heart of Wellington’s future development, and with the passage of time that has proven to be correct.
Further information about WCN is available through the WCN website.
http://www.wcn.net.nz
