Digital inclusion — ensuring all New Zealanders can access and use digital technology — is a social equity priority. The digital divide affects older adults, low-income communities, rural households, Māori and Pacific communities, and disabled people. This guide covers the key funding sources.
MBIE funds digital inclusion:
- Digital Inclusion Action Plan: National digital inclusion strategy
- Rural broadband: Connectivity for rural and remote communities
- Community connectivity: Broadband infrastructure for underserved communities
- Digital skills: Workforce digital capability
MSD funds digital access for low-income communities:
- Digital literacy: MSD-funded digital skills programmes
- Device access: Government-funded devices for beneficiaries
- Technology for community: Community digital support funding
Gaming trusts fund digital inclusion:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community digital access programmes
- Grassroots Trust: Community technology and digital access
- Pub Charity: Community digital literacy
- Lion Foundation: Community technology programmes
Gaming trust digital inclusion applications:
- Refurbished computers for communities
- Digital literacy workshops
- Internet access subsidies
- Community technology hubs
Telcos with community programmes:
- Low-income broadband plans: Subsidised internet access
- Device lending: Tablets for school students
- Digital literacy: Free digital skills training
Lottery Community Wellbeing: Community organisations building digital capability.
Regional foundations fund digital inclusion:
- Community trusts: Regional digital access investment
- Auckland Foundation: Auckland digital divide programmes
Key digital literacy organisations in NZ:
- Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa (DIAA): Coordination body
- Stepping UP: Digital skills for older adults
- NetSafe: Online safety and digital skills
Senior digital access:
- Age Concern NZ: Digital skills for older adults
- Stepping UP: Digital skills training in libraries
- Gaming trusts: Senior digital literacy programmes
- ACC: Technology for rehabilitation
Digital equity for Māori and Pacific communities:
- Te Puni Kōkiri: Māori digital equity
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples: Pacific digital inclusion
- Māori broadband: Te Korowai Whakaihuwaka connectivity
Rural connectivity:
- Rural Broadband Initiative: Government-funded rural internet
- Mobile blackspots: Mobile coverage extension
- Community connectivity: Community access points in rural areas
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Population reached: People connected by age, ethnicity, and income
- Devices: Devices provided for households or community
- Connectivity: Internet plans subsidised or provided
- Digital literacy: Skills outcomes — what people can now do online
- Equity: Reaching communities most affected by digital divide
- Sustainability: How people maintain digital access after programme
- Safety: Online safety as part of digital inclusion
- Social outcomes: Health, employment, education outcomes enabled by digital access
Tahua's grants management platform helps digital inclusion organisations manage grant applications across MBIE, MSD, gaming trusts, and community foundations, tracking device distribution, connectivity, digital literacy, and equity outcomes.