Q&A Stage 1 Auckland

Questions to LoI of the Auckland Team:
=== Air quality in the venue ===
Related to COVID safety: What are the air quality facilities in the venue?
Specifically:
- Are there CO2 monitors?
- What kind of air purifying is in the indoor areas of the venue? Filtering, UV?
Ivansanchez (talk) 01:52, 26 February 2024 (PST)
==== Answer from Auckland LOC ====
Our venue at the AUT City Campus is a very modern academic institution and all venue areas have modern air purifying and conditioning systems
In addition AUT’s campuses became smoke free in 2012, helping provide a healthier environment for students, staff and visitors. Being smoke free is consistent with AUT's position as a leading university in health science education and research.
=== Diversity and Inclusion ===
==== Answer from Auckland LOC ====
===== We kindly ask for a statement about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in your country. =====
New Zealand is a vibrant, multicultural nation, enriched by the perspectives, experiences, and traditions of its diverse population. We recognize that building a truly inclusive and equitable society requires a conscious and unwavering commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
* Diversity: We celebrate the rich tapestry of our people, acknowledging the unique contributions of different cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, abilities, religions, socio-economic backgrounds, and all other dimensions that shape individual identities.
* Equity: We understand that systemic and historical factors have created disparities and that true inclusion requires recognizing and addressing these barriers. We are committed to ensuring that everyone has fair opportunities to participate, thrive, and reach their full potential, regardless of their background.
* Inclusion: We strive to create a society and a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and has a sense of belonging. We foster an environment where diverse voices are heard, represented, and integrated into decision-making processes.
===== What is the legal status of same-gender relationships and/or marriage in your country? Can our members travel safely with their same sex partner? What about transgender members, are they safe? =====
New Zealand is a socially progressive country with a reputation for making many different types of people feel at home, and is often called one of the most LGBTQIA+ friendly countries in the world.
Most New Zealanders are open-minded, accepting and positive towards the LGBTQIA+ community, which is also sometimes known as the ‘rainbow’ community or the LGBTIQ+ community.
In terms of Laws, in 1993, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation was outlawed. In 2004 New Zealand instituted civil union (for both same-sex and opposite sex couples), and in 2013 same-sex marriage was legalised. Child adoption by same-sex couples was also legalized in 2013. 
Auckland has been rated alongside Toronto, San Francisco and London as one of the top gay-friendly cities in the world, with a remarkable pride festival.
In addition, our venue partner AUT, is Rainbow Tick certified.
===== How safe is for a woman to travel alone in your country? =====
New Zealand is a very safe place to travel (ranking 4th on the Global Peace Index), but it pays to prepare and take a few precautions so that your time here is comfortable and trouble-free... Health and Safety
===== Is your venue accessible for wheelchairs and other disabilities? =====
The AUT City Campus is a very modern academic institution and all venue areas have modern full accessibility facilities.
AUT are a founding partner of Be. Accessible in 2011, and since then have supported accessibility initiatives for Auckland and for the university. Be. Accessible website
=== Postpone to the coming year ===
Are there any possibilities of holding the conference the following year or are there any specific reasons why you would prefer 2025?
Luca Delucchi, 29 February 2024 (CET)
==== Answer from Auckland LOC ====
That could potentially be possible (depending on OSGeo Oceania board approval), however we would need some sort of guarantee that at a very minimum extra weighting/preference would be given to a proposal that missed out in the previous year and ideally we would prefer that if the 2 of the proposals for 2025 were of similar quality and Proposal A was awarded 2025 then Proposal B would be automatically awarded 2026.
The local organizing committee has secured generous commitments from our venue partner AUT for 2025. While the LOC would consider resubmitting again in 2026, we cannot guarantee the same level of support from our venue sponsor and key supporters, or the continued availability of committee volunteers. Our strong preference is for a 2025 conference.