Movers and shakers: OMGTech!, Liverton and Ulfrafast Fibre

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OMGTech! a programme to raise the interest of Kiwi kids in technology was launched at the Spark headquarters.

The not-for-profit education initiative founded by Vaughan Rowsell (CEO of Vend) and Dr Michelle Dickinson (aka Nanogirl), aims to run a series of events targetting primary and intermediate schools across New Zealand in the next three years.

More than $600,00 pledges from ICT leaders and businesses were raised for the charity during the launch. The initiative has attracted support from a growing coalition of technology focused organisations including Spark, Huawei, Accenture, Fuji Xerox, Network for Learning (N4L), Vend, Touchcast, Baldwins, Clemenger Group, IAG, Microsoft, Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Shine, Red Hat, Aurecon, Ericsson, Infosys, Halo Consulting and Office Max.

N4L, meanwhile, has announced OMGTech! will be using its online learning hub Pond to make its educational resources accessible to all New Zealand schools.

Pond will serve as a primary platform for OMGTech! learning resources and ongoing discussions about its programmes among the education community. Every teacher in New Zealand will be able to find OMGTech resources in Pond, use them to help deliver OMGTech programmes in their own communities, and connect with other teachers wanting to get involved.

“Supporting teachers and volunteers to help them deliver our workshops in their own communities is key to getting more Kiwi kids exposed to the wonders of science and technology,” says OGTech co-founder Michelle Dickinson. “We see Pond as a trusted and valuable online community for teachers, a place where they can go and share the knowledge they’ve learned in our workshops with their peers, access our learning resources, and provide support to other teachers.”

N4L CEO John Hanna says “The future of today’s young people will involve a lot more of the technology that OMGTech! is bringing to schools and it is fantastic to be a part of their plans to build a supportive community for teachers through Pond.”

IN PICTURES: Focus on Kiwi kids as OMG Tech! launches in Auckland

Liverton expands network business

New Zealand technology and managed services provider, Liverton Technology Group has acquired Knossos Networks Limited and its sister company On Networks.

Knossos and On Networks are managed network, ISP and VOIP providers specialising in the hotel, hospitality and SME vertical, with particular focus in the lower north island.

“This is Liverton’s third acquisition, and expands and complements our existing ISP and managed network business, which provides ISP and managed network services in New Zealand, Australia, and USA,” says Liverton CEO Justin De Lille.

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As part of the purchase, Knossos OnNetworks Director Don Stokes will be joining Liverton as network manager, the company says in a statement.

All existing Knossos and On Networks customers will continue to be supported by their existing

account manager and will transition across over the next few months.

In addition, Liverton has recently appointed former Deloitte partner, Ian Perry, as General Manager of Services and Solutions, to drive its public sector business in New Zealand and Australia.

Hamilton-based local fibre company, Ultrafast Fibre, is named the Deloitte Fast 50 Regional Award for Fastest Growing Technology Business in the Central North Island.

Ultrafast Fibre was also confirmed as listed in the Deloitte Fast 50 Index.

Ultrafast Fibre CEO, William Hamilton, says the recognition “even more motivation for us to grow stronger”.

“Ultrafast Fibre is a young, local business on a mission,” says Hamilton. “We are close to completing the build of our fibre network across the Central North Island, which is tracking ahead of schedule.”