This is the project page for Mike Dickison's (User:Giantflightlessbirds) Wikipedian-at-Large project based in Christchurch, New Zealand, January to December 2025. This initiative is supported by a grant from Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand which in turn is funded by donations to the Wikimedia Foundation. The goal is to improve the Wikipedia, Commons, Wikidata and Wikisource coverage of Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula, help Banks Peninsula institutions engage with these Wikimedia platforms, and build the community of volunteer Wikimedians in Christchurch with projects and on-site events.
Background
editFrom mid 2018 to mid 2019 Mike Dickison was New Zealand Wikipedian at Large, supported by a one-year grant from the Wikimedia Foundation. His job was to travel the length of New Zealand to help heritage and research organisations engage with Wikimedia projects as a Wikipedian in Residence, and support the New Zealand editing community through meetups and workshops. Later while based in Hokitika he undertook short contracts as a West Coast Wikipedian at Large for Development West Coast in 2020, 2022, and 2023. When newly-formed Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand was successful in gaining continuing funding from the Wikimedia Foundation in 2023, funds were set aside to continue supporting the role of a Wikipedian at Large, based on its demonstrated success in spurring the growth of the Wikimedia Movement in Aotearoa. Mike was Aotearoa Wikipedian at Large in 2024, engaging with Christchurch Art Gallery, Canterbury Museum, and the University of Canterbury, and starting a regular editor meetup in Christchurch.
Scope
editThe 2025 Aotearoa Wikipedian at Large is a half-time role running from 15 Jan to 15 December, based in Christchurch but working with institutions and community groups over Banks Peninsula. The Peninsula is geologically, biologically, and historically significant, as well as being a major tourist destination on Christchurch's doorstep, but its coverage in Wikipedia is poor, with at best C-class articles for its main features, Stub or Start for most localities, poor photo collections, and patchy coverage even in Wikidata. To improve this, the Wikipedian's job includes:
- Working with gallery, library, museum, and archives (GLAM) to organise uploads of public-domain photos and documents into Wikimedia Commons.
- Running training for GLAM staff, introducing them to Wikipedia, Commons, and Wikidata, and helping institutions develop a Wikimedia strategy for their collections.
- Running several public edit-a-thons, where volunteer Wikipedia editors can get together and tackle a particular topic.
- Running a series of free workshops, online and in person, where people can learn the basics of editing Wikipedia and donating photos to Commons. These would be of particular interest to community historical and heritage societies, students, iwi, and genealogists.
- Supporting the monthly in-person meetup for Christchurch Wikipedians and coordinating field trips and and a retreat.
Volunteers
editIf you're a Wikipedian who'd like to help with this project, add yourself to the list below and note any particular areas of interest (e.g. "Commons, Akaroa history, Wikidata about scenic reserves").
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Reports
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- Email me at mike
rove.wiki (that's all, there's no .com, which confuses some websites like Blogger…) - Leave a message on my Wikipedia talk page
- Join the Wikipedia Aotearoa New Zealand Facebook group
- For more information about Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand, and to join up, see www.wikimedia.nz
- The short link for this project is bit.ly/WikiBanks
I'm happy to talk to media for a story about Wikipedia. Pick any publicity photos you like from the Mike Dickison gallery on WikiCommons. Note that these photos are free to use, provided you credit the photographer by name (i.e.: not "Wikipedia" or "supplied").