Learn to Edit

The content in Wikimedia Foundation projects is written, edited and curated by volunteers who are just like you.

There are many ways to get involved and activities to suit the interests of everybody. We have outlined below some of the main Wikimedia Foundation projects and how we can support you to get involved and contribute to the sum of all human knowledge.

Mike Dickison (@adzebill) • Commons • CC BY 4.0

Wikipedia

Wikipedia is a free-content online encyclopedia, written and maintained by a community of volunteers, collectively known as Wikipedians, through open collaboration and using a wiki-based editing system called MediaWiki. Wikipedia is the largest and most-read reference work in history. Have you seen Wikipedia pages that you would like to correct, or add to? Previous experience is not required to start editing Wikipedia. Visit The Teahouse for a friendly place to learn about editing. Experienced editors are happy to answer questions and help new editors become accustomed to Wikipedia culture. Contact us to learn how to improve existing articles and create new articles in Wikipedia.

Wikimedia Commons

Wikimedia Commons is a dynamic media file repository. Its core mission is to provide unrestricted access to public domain and freely licensed educational media content, encompassing images, sound, and video clips, accessible to users worldwide in their preferred languages. This repository distinguishes itself by being crafted and sustained by a dedicated community of volunteers. Wikimedia Commons champions the principles of freedom. Users are granted the liberty to copy, use, and modify any files housed on the platform, provided they adhere to the terms specified by the original authors. Typically, this involves crediting the source and author(s) appropriately, and any copies or improvements must be released under the same freedom for others to benefit. Contact us to learn how to contribute and work with media content in Wikimedia Commons.

Wikidata

Wikidata is a comprehensive, free, and open knowledge base, accessible for both human and machine users. This collaborative platform empowers individuals and automated processes alike to read and contribute to its wealth of information. At its core, Wikidata acts as a central repository, efficiently managing structured data originating from various Wikimedia sister projects, such as Wikipedia, Wikivoyage, Wiktionary, and Wikisource, among others. All content within Wikidata is offered under a free license, promoting the principles of open knowledge sharing. This content is not confined within the Wikidata platform; rather, it is exportable in standard formats. Contact us to learn about Wikidata, and how to contribute and use data in this platform for a wide range of purposes.

Wikisource

Wikisource is an online digital library, curated with an extensive collection of freely accessible textual sources. This innovative platform operates within the expansive framework of the Wikimedia Foundation. Multiple Wikisources collectively contribute to the comprehensive and dynamic repository that is Wikisource. Contact us to learn how you can contribute to making text sources such as old books freely and immediately available in Wikisource.

Join or plan an edit-a-thon

Edit-a-thons are a great way to learn about editing Wikipedia. Come together with others with similar interests and work on Wikipedia articles around a common theme, creating and improving articles. Experienced editors will always be available for training and mentoring people interested in being involved. Email info@wikimedia.nz for more information and to talk about the potential for funding.

Wikipedia workshop participants in Te Whanganui-a-Tara at the Nola Millar Library, Te Whaea (4 March 2023). Preparation for the Wellington WikiCon.

L Maule • Commons • CC BY 4.0

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Donations to Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand may be eligible for tax credit purposes in New Zealand, because we are a registered charity (Registration number: CC60357).

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