Funded by the Department of Internal Affairs, the report ‘Digital inclusion and wellbeing in New Zealand’ examined two main questions relating to internet (and other ICT) access:
- Which groups have a lower likelihood of being digitally included in New Zealand (and why)?
- How does digital inclusion relate to waiora/wellbeing?
Using four large-scale surveys, the researchers identified several groups whose members are prone to relatively low internet access:
- people living in social housing;
- disabled individuals;
- Pasifika;
- Māori;
- people living in larger country towns (10,000-25,000 people);
- older members of society (particularly those aged over 75 years);
- unemployed people and those not actively seeking work.
- Those in social housing and disabled people are particularly disadvantaged with respect to internet access.
- Disabled people are also at greater risk than others from a virus infection or other internet interference.
The authors recommended that policy consideration be given to two particularly at-risk groups: social housing residents, and individuals with disabilities.
A range of policy interventions already addresses issues faced by each of these groups. There appears to be a strong case that interventions be extended to enabling internet access for these individuals.
Click on the link below to download and read the full report.