This time next week, hundreds of people will be gathering at Te Papa in Wellington for NetHui 2019. They’ll be participating in discussions and debates on this amazing programme, and considering safety, inclusion and wellbeing on the open Internet. 

And it isn’t too late to come and join them! Tickets are still available and we are really keen for you to come too, on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th at Te Papa. The more the merrier but this is nearly your last chance for tickets!

You might want even more of a NetHui experience too. We are really proud to be working with a range of Partners as part of this agenda. That includes an additional day of side events at this year’s NetHui, on Wednesday the 2nd. These side events are spaces for focused conversations, though many of them are open to you too, should you wish to learn more. For example:

• Ally Skills Hosted by Lauren Peate and Teresa Bass of Ally Skills NZ. Do you want to create a more welcoming, inclusive workplace or community? The Ally Skills Workshop provides simple, everyday ways for allies to stand with people who are targets of marginalisation. The bulk of this three-hour workshop is spent in small groups discussing real-world scenarios and ways to respond, to enable more allies to use their voice and influence in support of equity. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ally-skills-workshop-nethui-tickets-73092195725   
• Web Accessibility - The web is for all, but is it really? Hosted by Mike Clarke from Erudite Software. When we see “www” we recognise it as the “world wide web,” but for many users with disabilities it’s more like the “wild wild west.” We all have the right to inclusive and delightful digital experiences. Accessibility is what makes these experiences open to all. Register here: https://nethui-web-a11y-workshop.lilregie.com/booking/attendees/new
• Get your Copyright game on! Hosted by our friends at Tohatoha Creative Commons. The name of the game for this session is fun, pure and simple. Join us to learn how to play the best games about copyright available in the world today, including The Copyright Game (developed in the UK), Datopolis (an ‘Open Data’ board game), and The Academic Publishing Trap. Register here: https://event-6446-2a6d.lilregie.com/ 

In addition, we are pleased to be hosting ReadNZ/Te Pou Muramura on the Thursday evening of NetHui, as they launch their exciting and interesting new research report on Reading in the Digital Age. By 2018 New Zealand had become one of the most internet-addicted nations in the world and consumer research showed that we own an average of 6.5 digital devices each, with 67% of them being connected to the internet. How is this changing the way we read? It’s not all bad news! Read NZ Te Pou Muramura (formerly the Book Council) will join forces with Internet NZ to launch its 2019 reading research at this year’s NetHui. If you’re already coming to NetHui then you’re invited to this launch too - it’s taking place on Thursday evening after the networking drinks. Or if you’d just like to come to this launch, then RSVP here.  

This really is one of the most exciting, varied and challenging programmes that NetHui has ever seen. And we would love you to be part of it too. Register for your ticket now, and check out these Partner events. See you next week at Te Papa!

A blog post by Andrew Cushen, InternetNZ Engagement Director