New Zealand Computer Society chief executive Paul Matthews yesterday said many small non-ICT businesses in Christchurch were looking at getting back into business.
But in many cases, they did not know where to start when it came to their ICT requirements.
"We see it as the responsibility of our community across New Zealand to assist where we can and the computer society is putting together a major initiative in conjunction with several other ICT bodies and associations to help make a difference," he said.
Qualifying non-ICT small businesses in the Canterbury region could contact the society, which would connect them with an independent IT professional who would provide free initial advice on what was needed to get them back on their feet.
The concept was to give those businesses an independent "helping hand".
In most cases, that would be provided remotely by phone and email and would be restricted to independent guidance and support rather than actual IT support.
Among the things the advisers could offer were initial discussions about the current situation of the business, consideration of that in discussion with other IT professionals, provision of a broad outline of how to get back into business, and help in reviewing quotes from providers to ensure the businesses got what they needed.
"Assisting in this way and in these circumstances goes to the very core of what it means to be an ICT professional and we really hope a huge representation of New Zealand's IT community will come together and assist with this project," he said.
A call had also gone out for the donation of computers, printers, mobile phones and networking equipment.
RemarkIT Solutions managing director Tim Findlay said New Zealand Trade and Enterprise had already collected 500 personal computers, printers and networking devices, but many more were needed.
Non-government organisations were working hard to provide IT equipment to those who needed it most.
It did not matter what operating system the hardware used because it could be refurbished.
The minimum specifications were: Pentium 3 3Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 80Gb hard disk drive, DVD ROM.
Once donated, the hardware would be re-imaged with free copies of Microsoft XP and Office 2007 Professional.
Microsoft had waived all licensing fees.
As a Microsoft-approved refurbisher, RemarkIT worked to a set of criteria to ensure organisations qualified for the donated equipment.
