Each year InternetNZ reports on the State of the Internet here in New Zealand. They cover what they think are key and useful metrics for analysing and understanding the Internet, grouped around three topic areas: access, trust, creative potential. Each year they have a special theme that they take a deep dive into. This will enable them to tap into less frequently conducted research and surveys without creating gaps in their routine metrics and analysis.

By Colin McGregor, Director, ACE Aotearoa 

In late October Tracey Shepherd (ACE Aotearoa Co-Chair) and I, with the support of UNESCO New Zealand, travelled to Suwon in South Korea to attend the mid-term review of the Sixth International Conference on Adult Learning and Education (CONFINTEA VI).

As well as the conference itself we attended a pre-conference forum organised by the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE).

In Tongan epistemology, ako has a broader meaning – where the relationship of mind body and soul, individual and collective provides complex notions of how one sees the world. It does, as in Māori, refer to the teaching and learning relationship, but it also embraces the process of the collective sharing of knowledge, skills, wisdom and reciprocity.

‘Queen Street’ is a vocational IDEA services centre (under the umbrella of IHC) in Masterton, meeting the needs of twenty young adults (mostly in their 20s) with a learning disability. They offer programmes funded by the MSD, based on the interests of their service users. It’s a very active programme with classes such as zumba, swimming futsal, touch rugby, taekwondo, and cooking.

Over the last two years Queen Street has been working in partnership with Wairarapa REAP to provide more learning opportunities for their service users.

MCLaSS (Multi-Cultural Learning and Support Services), Red Cross and Changemakers Refugee Forum are three Wellington refugee and migrant settlement organisations.

Red Cross Wellington is the largest settlement region for quota refugees, Changemakers Refugee Forum focus is working with former refugees to help them participate fully in New Zealand life, and MClaSS provides adult ESOL education and employment support.