Spark: Good news for Taranaki

This recent article from Netguide

Spark has rolled out 4G across existing cell cites in the Taranaki region, the telecommunications firm revealed today.

The move enables Taranaki residents to have better access to Spark mobile coverage.

Colin Brown, general manager of Networks for Spark, says the vastly improved mobile network will allow locals and visitors to the area to stay constantly connected with family, friends and colleagues.

“We’re always looking to improve access to mobile coverage across New Zealand and we’re excited that Taranaki is now able to access the benefits of 4G,” Brown says.

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Taranaki Reaps the Benefits

Two New Classes running in Taupo and Turangi

Two Computers in Homes classes in the Taupo area began training at the beginning of May.
Tongariro Area School in Turangi is hosting the class of ten families.  Their trainer, Dion Nurse, is very capable and popular.  
Comments from Dion's students:

Ki a ora Christina and Dion,
I have already learnt a lot in tonights lesson.
Thank you. I am very grateful.
In today's lesson I finished filling and signing the forms required. We talked about internet browsers, how to bookmark ( new to me), tabs, security when logging in. Thank you for the opportunity to learn. Engari, Dion, you are the bomb, churr for the tuition.

Nga mihinui atu ki a korua



Kia ora Christina.raua ko Dion. Nga mihi ki a korua.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for the chance in advancing my knowledge to do with Computers.
I need to keep up - especially with my grand children, and tertiary studies, as well as other areas.
Looking forward to the challenge.

No reira

Heoi ano

Whaea 

  And in Taupo,  another nine families are training at Central Plateau Reap.  They are excited to learn more about how to use a computer and they and their children are looking forward to graduation day, when they can take their computers home. 

Graduation at Central Plateau REAP, Taupo

On December 10th, 2015, eight people graduated from their Computers in Homes course.

Why we need a computer (or laptop) to access the internet for learning.

Many low-income students use only their phone to get online. What are they missing?

by Crystle Martin

What do students miss when they access the Internet only through mobile devices?

Graduation at Eltham 3/7/15

Karen and Mary congratulate our graduate 

Karen and Jane with graduates

Graduate Tyson excited to take his computer home

A letter from a Computers in Homes Student

20 June 2015

Hello Christina

This is Ngaire from the first term Thursday course Tongariro School. I thought i would let you know that i am taking another course up at the Literacy Centre Turangi and i have been so surprised at how much i have recalled from doing the CIH one.

I have been on the course with Dion for four weeks now with another six to go and enjoying everything that we are doing. I am looking at doing another course at the centre again after this one finishes.

So Christina i am just keeping you in the loop to what i am up to as i think i was the only one who never had any computer skills to talk about, but i now am feeling a lot more confident about it. ­­

Thank You

Ngaire

Dear Ngaire

Oh, that is so great to hear, Ngaire. Thank you for letting me know.

Do you mind if I put your letter on our Facebook page? It's such exciting news.

Regards,

Christina

Hello Christina

No i do not mind you putting my letter on our Facebook page as i feel there others like me who may be uplifted by my comments and carry on with the CIH course and know there are other avenues to continue learning about computers.

So Christina thank you for replying and it has given me an eagerness to carry on with gusto with my computer course.

Thankyou

Ngaire

Parihaka's Sustainable Energy project

Five of our Computers in Homes families will be taking part in a sustainable energy project being set up at Parihaka.

The sustainable energy project will be looking at where and how Parihaka residents use power in their homes, and researcher Josh Curd is using the internet to collect data over a 12 month period.

Ten Parihaka families will have a small device installed, which will then send incremental data to a central hub for collection and analysis.  Five of our families agreed to be part of the project.  They were chosen because they have an internet connection, which is part of their Computers in Homes experience.

Four of the other five houses do not have internet connected, so CIH Champion, Charissa Waerea put in a call to our Computers in Homes tech, Ian Andrew, to see if he had a solution to the problem:  "how can information be collected from homes with no internet?"

He did!  Ian took a look at the devices that Josh will be using, the map of the houses and the distance from house to house, and reassured Josh that his equipment is capable of transmitting data from those houses to the Education House where the central control computer will be, without the need for those families to pay for an internet connection that they don't want.

The project, called Taiepa Tiketike Sustainable Energy Research, is a collaboration between Parihaka Papakainga Trust, Te Puni Kokiri, Massey University, Otago University and PowerCo.  The data collected will help Parihaka decide how to best provide power to their community into the future.