Chorus extending its fibre broadband network to Māhia Beach

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Māhia Beach residents and holidaymakers are finally to be connected to the Chorus fibre broadband internet network.

Chorus fibre frontier general manager Anna Mitchell said Chorus was extending its network to 59 rural communities (10,000 homes and businesses) throughout the country — a list of which includes Māhia Beach.

“We are acutely aware of rural New Zealanders’ eagerness to access fibre broadband,” she said. “We want to take fibre further and we remain dedicated to working alongside the Government, policymakers and the Commerce Commission to create an environment that allows for further investment beyond this initial phase.”

Chorus’ fibre build programme for the 10,000 premises has already started and is expected to be completed by mid-2025.

Ms Mitchell said this first phase of its fibre network expansion targets communities close to Chorus’ existing fibre network would allow for a more efficient and rapid roll-out.

“Research by Chorus continues to highlight that fibre remains the preferred technology choice for New Zealanders in the long term.

“As New Zealanders increasingly rely on digital platforms for economic and social activities, fibre stands out as a sustainable long-term connectivity solution, free from the ongoing capacity issues that wireless broadband alternatives can face.”

Nearly 1.4 million New Zealand homes and businesses are connected to fibre.

A statement on the Chorus website says communities not covered by the expansion plans are unlikely to be connected in the future.