What Happens When Community Meets Access: TechMate x RAD

When we talk about the RAD ecosystem, we’re not just talking about laptops, we’re talking about people-powered change. About volunteers who show up week after week. About community organisations who see a gap and step up. About clubs who believe that access to technology shouldn’t depend on postcode, income, or circumstance.

One of those long-term legends in the RAD whānau is TechMate.

Based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, TechMate has been part of the RAD ecosystem since late 2022. But their story, and their commitment to digital equity, began long before RAD entered the picture.

From internet café to digital equity kaupapa

A TechMate volunteer refurbishes a RAD device ready for community donation.

TechMate’s journey started back in 2001 as Addington.net, an internet café created to provide affordable access to computers and the internet for people who didn’t otherwise have it. At a time when being online was far from guaranteed, TechMate was focused on removing one of the most basic, yet powerful, barriers to participation.

It quickly became clear that access alone wasn’t enough. Teaching people how to use technology, how to navigate digital spaces, and how to build confidence became central to the kaupapa. That focus on learning laid the foundation for what TechMate would become: an organisation dedicated to uplifting those left behind by technology through access, education, and ongoing support.

That equity-first lens is exactly what makes TechMate such a natural fit within the RAD ecosystem.

Finding RAD and unlocking momentum

Joseph and some of the TechMate volunteers

TechMate joined RAD in late 2022, and the alignment was immediate. There was already strong demand for devices among the people TechMate was supporting: people ready to study, train, look for work, or reconnect digitally, but held back by the simple absence of a laptop.

RAD didn’t just introduce devices into the mix. It brought a structured, trusted pathway for laptops to be refurbished, reused, and gifted back into the community. It also created meaningful opportunities for TechMate volunteers to work hands-on with hardware in between supporting community members.

“There was instantly an obvious need for devices amongst the people we were helping — and our volunteers loved the chance to work on hardware.” - Joseph,
TechMate’s Service Delivery Coordinator

That combination unlocked momentum. RAD laptops became a catalyst enabling TechMate to support more people, more effectively, while also growing volunteer skills and confidence along the way.

The magic moments ✨

Every RAD club has stories that stay with them, moments that perfectly capture why this mahi matters.

For TechMate, one of the most memorable came early on. One of the very first RAD laptops they donated went to someone who had written their previous three university papers on their phone.

Not by choice, but because they had no other option.

Being able to place a laptop into the hands of someone with the motivation to succeed, but without the tools, is at the heart of the RAD kaupapa. And the journey doesn’t end at the handover.

TechMate often sees people return after receiving a device, wanting to learn how to use it properly: how to manage files, access learning platforms, apply for jobs, or simply feel confident navigating their own laptop. Supporting people through that transition, from access to confidence, is where the real digital equity magic happens.

Building skills on both sides of the bench 🔧

RAD’s impact doesn’t stop with the people receiving laptops. It’s just as powerful for the volunteers doing the refurbishing.

At TechMate, RAD has provided hands-on opportunities for volunteers to diagnose issues, open laptops up, replace components, and truly understand how devices work. Alongside practical technical skills, volunteers build problem-solving ability, confidence, and experience that carries well beyond the refurb bench.

Over the few years, TechMate has refurbished more than 700 RAD laptops! Each laptop carefully repaired, tested, and gifted back into the community. That’s hundreds of devices diverted from e-waste and transformed into tools for learning, employment, and confidence-building. It’s a powerful example of what’s possible when skilled volunteers, the right systems, and a steady supply of laptops come together.

One of TechMate’s biggest internal milestones has been the creation of a custom refurb app to support this mahi. The app includes step-by-step refurb instructions, clear explanations for each stage, and the ability to leave notes on individual laptops. This innovation has been a game-changer, helping TechMate scale their refurbishing while maintaining quality and consistency.

And of course, there’s always room for a great fix story.

Their best ever? A laptop running at a scorching 100°C, brought down to a cool 40°C simply by reducing CPU usage in the power plan by just 1%. Sometimes the smallest tweaks make the biggest difference.

Why this kaupapa matters right now

As TechMate puts it plainly: “having a laptop is no longer optional.”

At every level of education, digital access is assumed. Study, training, job applications, and everyday communication increasingly require a device. Allowing perfectly good laptops to become e-waste, when they could instead support rangatahi and community members into education and employment, is a missed opportunity we can’t afford.

Initiatives like RAD ensure that technology is reused, skills are shared, and access is extended where it’s needed most. This kaupapa isn’t just about sustainability; it’s about participation, dignity, and opportunity in an increasingly digital world.

The challenge 📣

Just like RAD’s 38 other clubs, TechMate is ready.
Their volunteers are skilled.
Their community demand is clear.

But right now, laptop supply is the limiting factor.

Th incredible team at Rātā Foundation donat ing their laptops to RAD.

Clubs like TechMate could refurbish and gift significantly more devices if RAD had more laptops coming in. The demand is there but the bottleneck is donations.

“Just do it. RAD ensures data is fully wiped, and the difference these laptops make in people’s lives is massive.”

If you’re an organisation with used laptops sitting in storage, this is your sign.

✨ Donate your laptops
✨ Support the RAD club ecosystem
✨ Help more devices find their second dance

Together, we can keep clubs like TechMate doing what they do best… turning access into opportunity, one laptop at a time.