Word Form Help

These help questions are designed to provide some basic advice for using the Word version of the application form.

Updated 4 April 2006

Please note using the Word version of the form is optional.

æ I don’t understand the form. Who can help?
æ What are the advantages in using the Word version of the form?
æ Is there anything to watch for in using the form?
æ I’ve got formatted text, tables and graphics to include. How can I do this?
æ Why are you using the Microsoft Word format?
æ What word processors can I use?
æ This is all very PC focused. What about Apple computers?
æ What other information is available to help with ideas and planning?

I don’t understand the form. Who can help?

  • For questions relating to the Community Partnership fund or form, please email cpf@dia.govt.nz or ring 0800 824 824 (within business hours)
  • For questions relating to the Broadband fund or form, please email bbc@digitalstrategy.govt.nz or ring 0800 824 824 (within business hours)

What are the advantages in using the Word version of the form?

Some expected advantages are that you can:

  • Copy and paste from existing documents.
  • Include as much or as little text as needed in each reply field – so you don’t have to squeeze answers into a box or attach separate sheets. (Use ‘Enter’ and ‘Shift & Enter’ for new paragraphs and lines as usual.)
  • Use email to easily circulate drafts to your stakeholders and partners for review.
  • Revise and edit your responses.
  • Keep a permanent copy in your electronic records.
  • If your EOI was successful, use your text as a starting point for the comprehensive application.

Is there anything to watch for in using the form?

  • As with any word processing, save your work frequently.
  • When copy and pasting from other documents into the fields, formatting such as bullet points, tables, italics etc. is lost or simplified, as are graphics. See next question for more details.
  • Take care when adding new information not to delete other questions and / or change the nature of the question - please refer back to the original to double check you have everything in order. The comprehensive application form is not locked like the EOI form - this is to allow for greater flexibility in entering data.


I’ve got formatted text, tables and graphics to include. How can I do this?

  • Paste formatted text and tables in and check.  Bullets are converted to characters, table cells separated by tabs. Read through the pasted text to see if it is clear – you may need to insert different non-bullet characters, extra tabs or spaces for clarity.
  • For complex formatting and graphics, print and attach a separate document.

Why are you using the Microsoft Word format?

  • Microsoft Word format is a de-facto standard for word processing documents and the most widely used. The format is supported (in at least a basic fashion) by all the widely used Office Suites currently listed on Wikipedia.

What word processors can I use?

  • We tested the form with Microsoft Word 2002, and also used Word 2000 and Word 97, Word for Mac (2004) and OpenOffice 2.0 without problems.
  • All commonly used word processing software will read Microsoft Word format, so try your current software; but as not all read all versions of Word documents you must compare the form very carefully with the original printed version or Adobe Acrobat (PDF) to make sure nothing is lost. Please note there is no pdf version of the Broadband Challenge form.

This is all very PC focused. What about Apple computers?

  • We’ve used Word for Mac (2004) on an iMac without problems, and all recent versions should work. 
  • Several of the Office Suites listed on Wikipedia also run on Apple computers.

What other information is available to help with ideas and planning?