SFD26

Saturday 19 September 2026

10am-5pm at Sydenham Community Centre

25 Hutcheson Street, Christchurch, New Zealand

Onsite help to build and maintain secure PCs using GNU/Linux FOSS distributions with artificial intelligence kept OPTIONAL

"EndOf10" Windows service provision - sustainable computer hardware reuse - SFD26 INSTALLFEST

Open, no-cost workshop - participation is invited, for both new *nix users and volunteer installers, BYO tech - please book in here: software-freedom-day-sydenham-sfd26-tickets or just show up :)

Our other event links:

gnulinux-otautahi-workshops-tickets monthly meet-up, BYO tech to fix

From last year, 2025: software-freedom-day-2025-sfd-south-christchurch-christchurch-new-zealand

Our team has run local events every year since 2004 SFD inception, except for 2022-24, though the online SFD archive is no longer available due to infrastructure changes.

Interesting content:

https://codeforthepeople.com/

Event Report

Six participants - a 200% increase over the previous year.

Core lesson - event was more an enjoyable and useful activation of an aging and often quiet local community centre, this time around, rather than a deep philosophical or technical exploration of FOSS. FOSS was the organising principle and sole communications / demonstration platform of the event, nonetheless, which proved eminently viable and robust.

Lesson details:

First attendee had noticed the event online (probably our Facebook event) and just wished to pass on some old Windows software to someone who might use it. They wanted no further PC help, saying “I can barely use my phone”. The scope for computing assistance in this suburban area is immense.

Second attendees saw our SFD banner outside and wandered in from across the road, where the couple stay (residents or Air BnB?). Language barrier slowed explanation engagement and they seemed mostly to want Wifi access - were asked to come back after venue setup was completed, for some temporary Wifi access, which they agreed but did not return. Google translate or similar working could have improved this, but mostly ...

Third attendee, same language barrier though not so pronounced - a polytechnic language student and technician wishing to help out, to gain a CV reference for volunteering locally. If they had arrived sooner, they could have significantly assisted the previous two attendees.

Fourth attendee greatly contributed to the day, by bringing a device along for a Mint install. Unfortunately this was a Microsoft Surface with an ARM CPU - proprietary closed hardware, unsupported for GNU/Linux and open source. A very practical demonstration of what we are here for and the third attendee was able to verify that they too had tried and failed at an ARM device conversion. A solid discussion of a related technical field (amateur radio) - also making good use of community venues and volunteers - entailed. Good learning all round.