Northern New Zealand Provides A Time for Learning

The Getting Connected New Zealand Outbound Team is pictured above. (From left to right) Jillian Hermansky, World Learning program associate; Chris Pedersen, Connected Nation VP of Planning and Development; and Robyn Krock, Valley Vision project leader for Food and Ag Economy. 

Far North, New Zealand (March 28, 2019) – Connected Nation (CN) is in New Zealand to share its best practices in closing the Digital Divide. But, today our team got the opportunity to learn from experiences of people who have a unique perspective on the issue.

Chris Pedersen, CN’s Vice President for Development and Planning, was in Far North,  New Zealand to meet with indigenous groups including Māori Iwi leaders, tribes, and chiefs to the hear the tribes' point-of-view on food and agricultural economy and learn what challenges they face.

Pedersen and Valley Vision's project leader for Food and Ag Economy, Robyn Krock, are taking part in a week-long exchange program dubbed "Getting Connected New Zealand Outbound."  The program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Office of Citizen Exchanges, was organized by World Learning.

The pair spent the first half of the week in Dagarville, Whangarei, and Wellington New Zealand. During that time they shared best practices for closing the Digital Divide, improving farm connectivity, how to leverage public-private partnerships to improve broadband access, and took part in a Digital Skills conference.

Today, Pedersen and Krock visited with the local leaders to hear their thoughts. They then shared information on best practices and professional experiences that could be leveraged in the Northland region to help farmers, small communities, and tribal groups.

The two will next head to Waitangi where they will wrap up their work in New Zealand during the Getting Connected Workshop Forum.  The forum will include sessions on increasing broadband access, strengthening local food systems, digital inclusion, and group analysis and modeling.

Related Links:
March 27, 2019 - Let’s Get Digital: Connected Nation Takes Part in Skill Conference
March 26, 2019 - Having the Digital Revolution for Breakfast
March 25, 2019 - Greetings from New Zealand
March 12, 2019 - Connected Nation Taking its Mission of Digital Inclusion International