Vibrant communities and culture

In the past, physical geography often forced us to choose between the local and the global. People in small towns built strong local communities, but didn’t have access to the services and employment opportunities of larger centres. New Zealand artists and creatives reflected us back to ourselves, creating a sense of our own place and identity, but we sometimes had limited access to other cultures. The digital world offers a whole new level of communication and interaction, allowing us to create culture and communities that are both locally grounded and globally connected.

Given the advantages of engaging in the digital world, we have a shared responsibility to ensure that all New Zealanders – including those in rural and remote areas, older people and those with disabilities or on lower incomes – can participate.