Welcome to the September edition of our new monthly update on what’s happening in the DECA world. Much of this happens behind the scenes, some initiatives take weeks or months to get off the ground and we are conscious we are often heads down doing the mahi and forget to share. 

The current environment continues to pose unprecedented challenges for not-for-profits, particularly those in the digital equity space. With rising operational costs, donor fatigue, and an uncertain economic outlook, many not-for-profits are feeling the pressure to not just survive but to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Welcome to the August edition of our new monthly update on what’s happening in the DECA world. Much of this happens behind the scenes, some initiatives take weeks or months to get off the ground and we are conscious we are often heads down doing the mahi and forget to share. 

Following our recent blog post about moving forward together, many of you have reached out to explore how we can achieve this goal. Through these rich and ongoing discussions, kōrero with government, philanthropy, and corporate stakeholders, it has become evident that our first priority must be to change the narrative.

Everyone in the Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa (DECA) community understands the immense strain the current funding climate is placing on all of us working in the digital equity space. Government funding for crucial initiatives, like internet access for whānau with school children, and in classroom skills programmes and support for underserved communities, has all but dried up

In April, the Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa (DECA) reached out to government ministers with an urgent plea: prioritise affordable internet access for all New Zealanders. The letter highlighted the critical nature of affordable connectivity and called for a collaborative, whole-of-government approach to tackle the digital inequities impacting many New Zealanders.

The Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa (DECA) is urging the New Zealand Government to establish a Digital Equity payment to ensure internet access for low-income families. Revealed in DECA's Affordable Connectivity in Aotearoa report today, 58,000 families in Aotearoa currently are without internet connectivity. This initiative would directly address their critical needs.

Digital equity is foundational to councils in ensuring our communities are connected, engaged and thriving and you can let them know this April through your local LTP process why digital equity matters for your region and the services councils provide now and into the future.

DECA guest blogger, Holly Davies, is particularly interested in online harm space. She shared with us her lived experience of online harm and difficulties seeking sufficient support and advice and how this led her to create a survey to raise up the experiences of other rangatahi.