Welcome to OpenOffice.org.nz, an independent information site about office software for readers in New Zealand. We explain how word processors, spreadsheets and presentation tools work, how the main office suites compare, and how to get everyday document tasks done without wading through jargon.
We are not a software company. OpenOffice.org.nz is not run by, affiliated with or endorsed by The Apache Software Foundation, The Document Foundation, Microsoft, Google or any other software developer. We do not develop or sell office software, and we cannot give official product support. What we do is describe the tools, the options and the trade-offs, so that you can decide what suits you.
What we do
On OpenOffice.org.nz you will find practical guides and plain-language explanations covering the office tools New Zealanders actually use at home, at school and at work. Our content falls into a few main areas:
- Apache OpenOffice and LibreOffice – what the free, open-source suites include, how Writer, Calc and Impress work, and what to know before you install them.
- Microsoft 365 and Office – how Word, Excel and PowerPoint are packaged and what the different plans mean for households and businesses.
- Google Workspace – step-by-step help with Docs, Sheets and Slides.
- File formats and conversion – what ODT, ODS, ODP, DOCX and PDF files are, and how to open or convert them.
- Alternatives and comparisons – side-by-side overviews of office suites, written to inform rather than to sell.
- Templates – how to find and use ready-made documents such as budgets and planners.
In all of it we aim to:
- Explain technical terms in everyday language, so that someone opening a spreadsheet for the first time can follow along.
- Write with New Zealand in mind – New Zealand English, local context and, where prices matter, New Zealand dollars.
- Present the facts neutrally, including the drawbacks of a product, rather than steering you towards one supplier.
- Keep guides current as software versions, plans and features change.
Our principles
Everything we publish rests on three principles: it should be fact-based, independent and easy to follow.
Fact-based. We check details against primary sources – the developers’ own documentation, release notes and security notices from the Apache OpenOffice project, The Document Foundation, Microsoft and Google. If we cannot confirm a claim, we leave it out. Details that change often, such as subscription prices and plan inclusions, are described as they stood when the article was last reviewed, and we encourage you to confirm them with the supplier before you buy.
Independent. We do not favour one product over another, and how the site is funded has no bearing on what we write. If a program is no longer actively developed, or has known security concerns, we say so plainly – even when the program shares a name with this website.
Easy to follow. A guide is only useful if you can act on it. We write in short steps, name the menus and buttons you will see, and avoid assuming prior knowledge.
The editorial team
The content on OpenOffice.org.nz is written and reviewed by a small editorial team focused on clear, fact-checked information about office software.
Imogen Wetherby – editor and responsible publisher. Imogen plans the topics we cover, writes and edits the guides, and is responsible for making sure that what we publish is accurate, neutral and kept up to date. She reviews every article before it goes live and handles corrections when readers point out an error.
How we use AI
Parts of our content are prepared with the help of AI tools, including Claude from Anthropic (claude.ai), which support our research, structuring and drafting. Nothing is published straight from an AI tool. Every article is checked against sources, edited and approved by our editor first, and responsibility for the published content always rests with us. You can read more in our AI policy.
Contact
Have you found an error or an outdated detail, or do you have a question about something we have written? Please get in touch through our contact page and we will look into it. Feedback from readers helps us keep the site accurate and useful.
Please note that we cannot troubleshoot individual installations, recover lost documents or answer account and billing questions for any software product. For those matters, the developer’s own support channels are the right place to turn.
You can also read our privacy policy, cookie policy and terms of use.