"We're hoping it's going to be a better and quicker service," Te Kooti Whenua Maori district manager Blair Anderson said.
Already making use of ultrafast broadband to do work he likes in Wanganui is another stallholder, Aaron Pearce, of Sunya Apps for Anyone. He and Melanie Hylton launched their business three days before TechEx 2012. Now, at 21, he's able to work in it full-time. One of the smartphone apps he's made is used by local organisation Mainstreet Wanganui.
Several internet service providers were there to tell prospective customers what they had to offer.
Wanganui's library, museum and art gallery all had stands with evidence of their work in the digital world. Young people congregated in the Pioneer Room, where there were bright graphics and computer-aided song and dance in action.
Resident John Turner was one of the older generation, who went to see what was new. "If you don't keep up with technology you get left behind, don't you?" he said.
He has an e-reader, but wanted some help from the library stand to use it to its full potential. And the internet at his house is boosted by provision to nearby Churton School. He was wondering how much better and faster it would be if he hooked up to another provider and intended to find out.
Organiser Marianne Archibald said she was amazed by the commitment of the speakers who had come to Wanganui and shared their expertise for free. "None of them were paid - they paid all their expenses themselves."
In true TechEx style, the speaking programme was live-streamed online and Ms Archibald said she knew of at least one person who was watching from England.
But the highlight of TechEx for Ms Archibald was Kiwi Skills running a digital literacy competition, with one organisation winning the ultimate prize.
"The Ake Ake Centre at Castlecliff won an entire digital hub, which we were thrilled about."
But Ms Archibald said visitor numbers to TechEx were down compared to last year. "It was really cold and stormy on the opening day, so that probably didn't help. And I'm not sure it's the sort of event that should be held every year." She said the organisers would discuss the future of TechEx at a later date.
Ms Archibald thanked TechEx sponsors - internet NZ, TUANZ, The Skills Organisation, Whanganui Employers Chamber of Commerce, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment - for their support.