Whanau Net

Kia ora Kia ora Kia ora!!

Ka nui te mihi roa e te whanau

I know this sounds obvious but what do you use the internet for?

Over the next week, I will be bringing a series of interviews with whanau whom I know utilise the internet in their everyday lives.

From those who keep in touch with whanau to those who work from home, I want to move beyond the technical and open up korero around practical uses of the internet.

For now, here's 2 valuable ways that Whanau Net helps us.

The first is that I received this panui from Aunty Norma Sturley (kia ora aunty Norma!), wh had it forwarded to her by Tina Ngatai.  That means PANUI are digital and are gold.

The second is that is a for an open vacancy.

Titito mai!

Raptor Conservation Intern @ Wingspan – Rotorua

Position Available; September 2016 – March 2017

Hours; 8 hours per day, 5 days per week (Sunday-Thursday), and must be available to work weekends, plus public and school holidays to the requirements of the programme.

As part of an extended, dedicated team of staff, members, and volunteers, Wingspan’s Board of Trustees are seeking a highly motivated person, to complement our multi-tasking small team unit, for a six month internship at the Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre.

The position is twofold – it’s about working with people, and it’s about working with raptors.

This is considered an entry position and training will be provided. However, ideally, your passion and experience for conservation will contribute in core areas such as;

• Te Reo and protocols
• Communications, both oral and written
• Retail and customer interaction
• Captive management.

The Wingspan National Birds of Prey Centre is a conservation-based programme for New Zealand’s raptors including falcons, hawks and owls. Formerly registered as a charitable trust in 1992, Wingspan is established for the research, captive management, rehabilitation, and public awareness of New Zealand birds of prey. The Centre is based in Rotorua and remains the only national facility of its type in New Zealand.

Information about the Wingspan programme is on our website: www.wingspan.co.nz

or facebook – Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust

Applications for this position should be sent to:

Executive DirectorWingspan Birds of Prey Trust
P.O. Box 993
Rotorua 3040 

E-mailed to: wingspan.nz@gmail.com

Or delivered to:

Wingspan National Birds of Prey Centre1164 Paradise Valley Rd
R D 2, Rotorua 3072

Applications close: midday Thursday, 4th August 2016.

Pokemon Go, IT Policy and Waahi Tapu

Gotta Catchem All!

Pokemon Go is everywhere.

When I was an English teacher in Seoul South Korea back in 2000/2001, my students started bringing in a little yellow doll called Pikachu. They would talk about Ash and his search for Pokemon. Apparently there are millions but he and his team had discovered 120.  I loved how passionate the kids spoke about this cartoon so incorporated it into my teaching lessons.

A couple weeks back, Niantic, Inc brought the search for Pokemon back to life but this time, infused augmented reality, location-based tec, a smart phone app and the world has gone nuts!

We had a girl hit by a car whilst out searching for digital Pokemon, 2 men fell from a 50ft cliff, 1 guy was stabbed (but still continued playing) and a group of teens lured and attacked a man who had gone to a Pokemon Go checkpoint.

Rotorua got together today in the Government Gardens and had a Pokemon Go meeting.

We even heard about a Pokemon Go Gym being right outside a gang pad!  Can only imagine what the bro's inside were thinking when everyone started turning up.

And then a friend contacted me with a concern - did I know that some Pokemon Go locations could be found inside urupa and waahi tapu (cemeteries and sacred places)?

He sent me this; Hey, maybe don't go play Pokemon Go at the Holocaust Museum.

So then it got me wondering - who is looking after waahi tapu and sites of historical significance when it comes to games, augmented reality and virtual reality?  

It is safe to assume that there are some restricted places, such as prisons, army camps, the Prime Minsters residence (maybe) but what about places that matter to us?

It is more a talking point for now but I do believe a group should be brought together within Internet NZ to at least korero and start wider discussions with the Maori community and the Developer community.

Hopefully, I will get that opportunity.

If you still don't know what I'm talking about, check out this page on The Basics of Pokemon Go.

If you still don't go....move along lol....


Photo Credit: Oryan McLean (kia ora bro!)

Celebrating Digital Maori Music

Last week, rangatahi led the way and made a fully te reo Maori song #1 in Aotearoa. 

Maimoatia by Pukana and Whanau swept the online charts, pretty much catching mainstream music listeners by surprise. 

Not Maori though.  We are singing waiata more and more and with the recent release of the Poi E movie, it was an awesome reminder that our passion, our talent and our music matters too.

What I love about this waiata is that it celebrates our language, is really catchy and invokes that spirit dudes like me felt when we first heard You Will Know by Black Men United back in the 90's. 

Another cool korero is one of the singers is Puawai Taiapa, from the hilarious Facebook page 'Hey Puawai'. Her kapa haka commentary is on point!

You can check Maimoatia here:

http://youtu.be/BJD1fzHHm3Q

And Hey Puawai can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/heyPuawai/

It was such a wonderful finish to Te Wiki o te reo Maori 2016.  

Akina te reo Maori!

Credits:  Maimoatia (feat. Nathaniel Howe, Makaira Berry, Raniera Blake, Puawai Taiapa, Pere Wihongi, Awatea Wihongi, Hoeata Maxwell-Blake, Tawaroa Kawana, Meto Tagivale Schmidt-Peke, Katerama Pou, Te Awhina Kaiwai-Winikau, Mereana Teka)

Open Polls, Heavy Kaupapa, Free Webinar

"Wise leader, forgive me. 
I am only a fledgling new to flight."

Koro Paka, Whale Rider


Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou!

What a beautiful start to a new journey.  

Thank you all very much for reading, liking and sharing my little blog.  The response has been amazing, with over 1400 views, 130 likes and 40 shares. It is amazing to receive your kind support and I am truly thankful.

So the polls are open to vote for Internet New Zealand.  

There are 10 amazing candidates besides myself, 5 being Maori (that I'm aware of at least) and 6 wahine, so that is amazing to stand alongside such a diverse pool of talent. Aotearoa is very fortunate to have depth and passion in the IT sector.  Kia kaha tatau.

Here is the election page link:

https://internetnz.nz/council-elections

For those keen to join, it costs $21 per year and while I know that is a lot of money, I can assure you that Internet NZ do a lot of mahi on behalf of all New Zealanders. 

If you are not a member and want to join, please click here.  You will be able to vote online once you register.


So the 3 major kaupapa that Internet NZ are facing of relevance to me are:

* Reviewing the Telecommunications Act

Companies will charge like an angry boar and I'm sure many of us flinch at the high prices paid for broadband. Some pay $60 per month, others pay upwards of $120 per month.  I think it's criminal that large companies make huge profits and many whanau cannot afford to connect, if they can connect at all. If you are interested in this review, we are meeting in Rotorua on Wednesday 27th July, 3pm at the Rotorua Lakes Council to korero and will prepare our own submission. You are all welcome to join or please send me a message and I will table your thoughts (potaua@gmail.com);

* Privacy when registering your web domain name (WHOIS)

When you register a domain name, should your details be public or private?  If they are public, are people allowed to search your details and possibly hassle you? Yes e te whanau, cyber-bullying is real, even at the highest levels. The WHOIS Review is on now; and

* A new website to know the things that your ISP should tell you

Many of us sign up to get broadband with a company, pay our bill and expect the best service possible.  But are those companies looking after you, or just their profits?  InternetNZ are supporting a new website that can tell more information about 15 of the 70 internet service providers (ISP's) and what they should be doing for you.


At the same time, the 3 issues that I am interested are:

* Is the NZ Government spying on us?

We hear about what the US is doing to its citizens. Do you think the NZ Government is listening in to our mobile phone calls or reading private emails without our permission? I reckon they are.  What do you think?

* When will our whanau in rural communities be connected?

A few years ago, Telecom (now Spark) and Vodafone spoke to a hui in Whakatane and promised that whanau in rural areas will be connected via their marae, but too my knowledge that hasn't been followed through. So then why not?  When will whanau in the Urewera, the East Coast, up in the Far North, down the Whanganui River or out in the Rotorua Lakes district be finally connected? With the amount of putea these guys make, why isn't anyone giving them a hurry up?

And finally, is 2 Degrees still a Maori company?

Launched in 2009, 2 Degrees started with Maori spectrum but over the years, the Maori share in the company has reduced but no one knows why, how or what the future ahead looks like. I've been with 2 Degrees since the launch and have paid my hard earned bucks to top up ever since. I've meet the Maori Trustees of Te Huarahi Tika Trust and even spoke to ex-CEO Eric Hertz but never got any clear answers.  With over $250m invested, am I right to believe that Maori still have a role in the company, or nah?  Be a shame if we had nuk today but who can I ask?  Do any of you know?

Anyway, enough of the heavy stuff.  


I was honoured to be involved with a cool free webinar last week that discussed a framework for indigenous evaluation with the whanau from Community Research. With over 200 people in attendance, we heard from Nan Wehipeihana and Dr Chelsea Grootveld.  It is an incredible hour korero and you can watch for free here.

Two more free webinars are coming up soon.  Check out the website below for more information.

And finally for today, ka nui te aroha ki nga whanau a Nice. 

Aue te mamae. Our hearts go out to all those whanau affected. Kia maia. Kia manawanui. 

Kia tau te rangimarie hoki.

Thanks for your support.
na Potaua
potaua@gmail.com




References

Telco Review: http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/technology-communications/communications/regulating-the-telecommunications-sector/review-of-the-telecommunications-act-2001

Also: https://internetnz.nz/news/telco-act-review-demands-careful-thought

WHOIS Review: https://dnc.org.nz/whoisupdate

ISP Website: https://internetnz.nz/ispreview

2 Degrees: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2degrees

Community Research Webinar: http://www.communityresearch.org.nz/webinar-complex-projects-short-stories-july-26/

Taku Manawa: My Heart

"I'm your dreamtime

and dreams are free

I want you to be

A walking artistic man of beauty..."

These beautifully haunting words from the classic song 'Greenstone' by Emma Paki are how I would like to start this new journey.

It may seem unusual but life usually is.  

You see, this is my campaign page as I stand for a seat at the table of Internet New Zealand's Council for 2016.  In the past I would amplify my CV, talking about some of my geekiest accomplishments, mentioning high profile people with whom I had worked with and cherry-picking the golden projects that give me a little shine.

Not this time.

This time I want to wear my heart on my sleeve and just speak for the next 3 weeks, with the hope that perhaps, that just maybe, someone might notice.  

If you are reading this now, you are that someone.  Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

Now I'm not your average geek.  Shucks, I wouldn't even rate myself as a sub-average nerd.  What I am is a passionate papa who loved to play Double Dragon in the dairy and have since gone on to respect the transformative nature that IT has had in my life.  

At best, I'm mildly interesting.  But before all of that, my I please introduce myself.

Ko Ngongotahau raua ko Matawhaura ko Maungapohatu oku maunga.

The mountains of Ngongotaha in Rotorua, Matawhaura in Rotoiti and Maungapohatu in the Urewera are my ancestral connections.

Ko Te Utuhina raua ko Te Ohau ko Te awa o Tauranga oku awa.

I share deep connections with the Utuhina Stream in Ford Block, with the Ohau Channel that binds both Lake Rotorua with Lake Rotoiti and with the Tauranga River that runs through Te Waimana.

Ko Te Rotorua Nui a Kahu raua ko Te Roto iti kitea a Ihenga oku moana.

As often as I can, I like to swim, reflect and take my tamariki to the lake shores of Rotorua and Rotoiti.

Ko Ngati Whakaue raua ko Ngati Pikiao me ko Tuhoe ahau

I am a son, a mokopuna, a descendant of Ngati Whakaue, of Ngati Pikiao, of Tuhoe

Ko Potaua Biasiny-Tule au

This is me.  Potaua.  

Not the flashest guy, but a man nonetheless.

I'm standing here in this photo next to my wife Nikolasa, who is infinitely more interesting than me. You will meet her over the coming days.

Now this blog has 3 basic purposes.

The first is obvious. I am keen to put my oar up and help paddle this amazing ship called Internet New Zealand.  For me, they are one of the most important groups in Aotearoa today.  I have meet so many people, had the opportunity to attend a great number of amazing gatherings and respect dearly their work. So yes, this is a blatant campaign page (oh and it is authorised by myself, Potaua Biasiny-Tule, 10 Awatea Terrace, Rotorua, potaua@gmail.com just in case).

The second is to remind all that without People, the machine cannot work, much like without a heart, the body cannot move.  We all to easily forget the human element when talking about hardware and innovation.  It is too easy to relegate communities to nothing more that data on a spreadsheet and target markets to exploit. My favourite saying remains - what is the most important thing? I say it is people, it is people, it is people.

The third and probably not so obvious is that Our Whanau Needs a Voice.  I have been in IT long enough to know that bro's like me are few and far between.  When I attend IT Conferences, there is a glaring lack of diversity, in addition to there being a huge gap between ordinary people and technocrats who speak above the heads of others.  Now I know they don't always mean too, as IT is complex.  But if many of the voices are white, male, middle class and insiders of the IT industry, then what hope is there for the rest of us? 

Actually, it is pretty simple.  This blog is my platform to korero, to raise issues, to start a wider discussion on the role of Internet NZ and to campaign hard so that a regular fulla like me stands a fighting chance.

So I run a website called TangataWhenua.com, which is an online tool to share positive Maori news.  My wife Nikolasa and I also operate a kids coding hub called Digital Natives Academy (DNA) in Rotorua.  I have 2 actual day jobs - the first is that I am a senior animation student at the Rotorua Animation College; the second is that I currently sit on the Rotorua Lakes Council as an Iwi representative.  This means I attend lots of meetings, speak with staff and councillors and decide on issues that come before committee.  It is here that I learn Governance, to which I believe my experience there will be crucial on the council of Internet NZ.

Dang. I've started bragging about my life.  That wasn't what I was here for, so I think for now I'll finish there and come back tomorrow for more.

I hope I haven't bored you too much and will end by saying that I look forward to the next step in this exciting journey. Again, thanks for reading.

"He pounamu

E pirangi anu au

Mauri atu

Tenei pounamu e

Kia koe

kia koe"

Aroha nui,

Potaua

potaua@gmail.com