Napier city councillors are being asked to spend $130,000 on new free wi-fi hotspots after council staff determined the existing service was not meeting its objectives.
The issue will be discussed tomorrow at a meeting of the council's city development committee, with staff recommending councillors spend an estimated $34,000 a year over four years to fund five new hotspots.
The council currently contributes to the cost of a free public wi-fi service launched in the Napier CBD in September 2011 by local telecommunications company Revolutionz, which operates via 13 hotspots.
The objectives of investing in the network included meeting "general expectations" that wi-fi be available for city visitors and residents, and to make public spaces "more vibrant by keeping customers in town for longer," council corporate IT manager Andrew Siddles said in a report to be considered by the committee.
"While generally available, the wi-fi isn't used for the purposes council would like, such as providing visitor information, council services and destination marketing," Mr Siddles' report said.