We thought this was far too valuable an event not to be pounced upon. A conference about the web for community, non-profit and voluntary organisations.

In or around Wellington? Mark your calendars now - 4 September 2008, Wellington at Massey University: Engage Your Community - a web conference for community organisations.

If you’ve ever wondered how the web could be better used by your organisation; or know what a blog is, but not how it could be useful; or are a little nervous about opening a Facebook account, then this is a conference for you.

If you think the internet is for geeks, or young people, or those with nothing better to do with their time, then this is a conference for you.

And if you want to move beyond using email and having a simple website, then this is a conference for you.

It’s also a conference aimed squarely and unapologetically at the community sector. At those voluntary and non-profit organisations working at the grass-roots level.

We know that you’re stretched and busy and over-worked. We know that you may even be thinking, “There’s no way I can spare a day going to a conference! I’ve got too much going on right now.”

But we also know that it’s vitally important for organisations like yours to engage with the web and to engage with those members of the community growing up online.

The Engage Your Community conference will give you an introduction and lead you to the next step. If you can use email and navigate your way around a website, then you’ve got all the technical knowledge you’ll need to get something from the conference.

Register now for early-bird pricing.

Let NZLive.com be your travel guide through the wonderful world of NZ art. There is plenty to look at in galleries and museums all over the country. We’ve got details of who is showing where, as well as links to artist’s sites, news and reviews.

We thought this month we would try a rundown of arty picks from around the country…..

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New Zealand architects Patterson Associates has been included as a double finalist in the World Architecture Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious architectural awards, being held in Barcelona this October. The announcement from Barcelona was made yesterday.

Auckland-based Patterson Associates has been nominated for two separate buildings, one located in Auckland and one Queenstown. Both projects draw heavily on New Zealand cultural traditions.

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has named Pattersons as finalists in both the Private Home and Sports Building categories, for their ‘Mai Mai’ house in Auckland, and the Hills Golf Clubhouse in Queenstown.

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TheNewDowse was prepared for complaints about its exhibition, Assume Nothing.

It does, after all, feature intimate and, in some cases, naked portraits of people with alternative gender identity – exactly the sort of thing that is likely to create controversy.

But according to the exhibition curator, Claire Regnault, the Lower Hutt gallery has not received a single complaint since Assume Nothing opened in April.

“The reaction has been incredibly positive,” she says. “It’s obviously the right time for an exhibition like this – people are more open to talking about the subject.”

Read the rest of this NZLive.com featured article here.

‘Māori Language Week is a special time every year to focus on and encourage and celebrate the use of Māori language. This year it takes place from 21 – 27 July 2008.

‘The week targets Māori language speakers, encouraging them to use the language more often and in more places. Many beginners and non-speakers are becoming more and more involved in celebrating the week too…’

Check out the full featured article on NZLive.com:

• Read it in English.
• Read it in te reo Māori.