Dannevirke: Farmers held back by slow internet

Alastair Scott says the rural broadband initiative has been transformative in areas such as Pongaroa, but Dannevirke Community Board is not so impressed. Photo / File

Rural districts such as Tararua are unlikely to receive much benefit from the Government's funding plans to progress access to fast broadband services, the Dannevirke Community Board has been told.

"Our council put a lot of time and effort into applying for money from the rural broadband fund and, while there has been some assistance, it's been challenging," Richard Taylor, the Tararua District Council's governance manager said.

"Farmers and businesses have been hindered in their productivity because of the challenges a lack of suitable broadband poses.

"It (rural broadband) was a platform of this Government, but its intentions haven't benefited as we hoped," Mr Taylor said.

Community board member Tim Delaney said he believed our local MP National's Alastair Scott, failed to follow through.

"It's left me really disappointed," Mr Delaney, the local co-ordinator for Mr Scott's last general election campaign, said.

However, Mr Scott has said the ultra fast broadband rollout has been transformative for rural areas.

"It enables kids in Pongaroa to talk to kids in Tokyo. It's about the future," he said.

Peter Wimsett, the council's manager for district development and strategy, confirmed to the Dannevirke News rural schools and libraries had their connections, but there is still a real issue with the rollout across the rest of rural Tararua.

"The major issue for us is our hilly terrain and low population areas," Mr Wimsett said.

"To get into the valleys we need lots of wireless connections and it's a question of cost.

"We've three extra towers connected thanks to Inspire Net and we're lucky we've such a good relationship with them."

With the option of installing fibre cable sometimes not viable in many rural areas, this is where the Inspire Net wireless broadband can help, Mr Wimsett said.

Meanwhile, the Government recently set an aspirational target which would see 99 per cent of New Zealanders able to access peak broadband speeds of at least 50Mb per second by 2025.

And, Mr Wimsett is waiting to see what comes out of the rural broadband initiative 2 (RBI 2) decision on the release of money. "They are currently going through the tender documents in Wellington, but I'm not expecting anything before Christmas."

Communications minister Amy Adams, said the Government was now focused on extending the Rural Broadband Initiative to as many Kiwis as possible. "We've allocated an extra $100 million to expand the rural broadband programme as well as $50 million to improve mobile coverage in black spot areas along main highways and in popular tourist destinations."