Quick summary

Here are the key points:

1. We’re running a project that looks at the impact of climate change on Internet infrastructure, and the role of the Internet in supporting communities to respond to climate change impacts.
2. We’ll be drawing insights from recent events in early 2023, including the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle, Cyclone Hale and the Auckland Anniversary floods.
3. Our core focus is on taking action so communities are more reliably connected to the Internet in extreme weather and climate change events.
4. We’re seeking expressions of interest from people who might like to participate in any way, including through sharing your insights or experience.
5. We’re happy to share more information or answer any questions, reach out to us if you’d like to hear more.
6. If you’d like to find out about participating as a member of the 10-12 person research coalition let us know so we can follow up with you for a conversation. Follow up conversations will start the week of 6 April 2025 so drop us a line asap if interested, as coalition membership will be confirmed on a rolling basis over the coming weeks.

Important!

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We need people with direct experience of things like climate change impacts and disruptions to Internet infrastructure, especially community members and first-line responders.

We’ll also be including researchers, technical people, community organisations, infrastructure companies, and local and national government departments.

If you’re interested in any way, we want to hear from you.

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Key information

Here’s a little bit more information:

• Climate change and extreme weather events are testing the resilience of New Zealand's Internet infrastructure. Cyclone Gabrielle in particular led to loss of power and communications networks in the Hawke’s Bay region, among other devastating impacts.
• Internet access is a critical part of our everyday lives as well as a lifeline for communities during emergencies. This year, we’ll be conducting an action research project looking at the way New Zealand’s Internet infrastructure is affected by climate change and how this will go on to impact people and communities.
• The work will be driven by a coalition of people who bring knowledge and experience dealing with extreme weather events and their impact on the Internet. We’re recruiting potential members of the coalition now through this expression of interest form.
• We want to connect in particular with people with lived experience of recent events, particularly in local communities, as well as government, industry, technology, and research sectors.
• You don’t have to be a coalition member to contribute to this research. We’re also looking to connect with other people who might like to share information with the project, or present to coalition members.
• The lead researcher for the project is Dr Ellen Strickland, with the project team based at the Brainbox Institute and working closely with Pāua Interface. The work is also supported by an expert advisory group. The project is made possible with support from the Internet Society Foundation.

Learn more + contact

To learn more, or reach out for a further discussion, click through to these pages: