Donor story: NZTE
At a glance
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Te Taurapa Tūhono (NZTE) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s international business development agency. NZTE was an early donor of devices to Recycle a Device and continues to provide support through networking and ongoing device donations. While every donor’s journey is different, as a government agency, NZTE provides a good case study for the motivations, internal processes and outcomes that can influence a working relationship with RAD.
“It’s a great way to ensure the resources that you no longer want or can use will have a very very very good second life ”
326
laptops donated by NZTE to RAD
75
ākonga engaged in RAD focused DT learning outcomes at 5 schools & kura. Laptops were gifted into local communities after refurbishment
Why did NZTE want to work with RAD?
NZTE identified several reasons to work with RAD: when it came to outdated hardware, the options in the marketplace seemed to be limited to taking them to the rubbish tip or an IT recycler until RAD provided an alternative option that aligned with NZTE’s culture and values and helped to ensure a relationship to the community and provide an opportunity to those who don’t have it. Working with RAD gave NZTE peace of mind that good-quality used devices would be kept in circulation sustainably and continue to benefit people and communities within New Zealand.
What obstacles were faced?
VALUES ALIGNMENT & PROCUREMENT
RAD can sometimes expect to face challenges in fitting in with pre- existing hardware end of life procedures but that was not the case here - it very quickly became clear how well aligned NZTE and RAD's values and goals within the community were, it was a short undertaking to merge working with RAD into the current NZTE end of life process for laptops.
DATA SECURITY
While RAD works with Entelar to provide Enterprise grade data sanitisation, NZTE chose to wipe its own devices before donation - this ensured that NZTE was comfortable with releasing these devices and was found to be rewarding by the staff working to wipe devices as it made them feel close to the person who would eventually receive the donation.
INTERNAL COORDINATION
With more than 50 offices in NZTE’s global network, getting devices back from staff in New Zealand and around the world was a challenge. However, RAD eased the burden through great communication and partnership with NZTE within New Zealand – taking responsibility and a lot of work off their shoulders by organising distribution and philanthropy alongside community groups.
